This Week in Illinois Research
What a (Founders) Week!
Founders Week wrapped up Saturday, and if you attended any of the events, I bet you left energized and inspired by our soaring entrepreneurial ecosystem! The rooms were buzzing with new ideas, while students and faculty alike connected with mentors and investors, innovators shared discoveries with fellow entrepreneurs, and founders at every stage of their journey reminded us why Illinois is such a special place to innovate.
This year's Founders Week—our third—was our best yet, with so much to celebrate. From the panel discussion on the Science and Practice of Pitching and the TechRise-sponsored Startup Pitch Competition to the chance to welcome some of our incredible EnterpriseWorks alumni back to campus to a Fireside Chat with Chancellor Isbell, the jam-packed schedule attested to the richness and diversity of our innovation ecosystem.
Events like Founders Week are "all hands on deck" efforts, and the work to bring it to life is, as Gerald Wilson noted in his opening remarks, much like launching a startup company. Thank you to everyone who stepped up and in to showcase the University's entrepreneurial spirit that is absolutely skyrocketing across campus. After a week like this, I'm more excited than ever about what we are building together.
Sincerely,
Susan
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