Illinois Ventures
University of Illinois System venture arm that invests in early-stage companies connected to the University. Founded in 2000, Illinois Ventures has made more than 125 investments and helped portfolio companies raise over $2.7 billion in outside capital. The firm operates dedicated programs including a Deep Tech Fund, a Pre-Seed Fund, and an alumni angel network (Illini Angels), and provides capital, mentorship, and access to university and alumni resources.
Illinois Ventures
Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America
Services
Deep Tech Fund investments
Seed and Series A investments in deep-technology companies with a University of Illinois connection. Target initial check sizes are $250,000 for Seed-stage and $750,000 for Series A-stage companies.
Illini Angels (alumni angel network)
Angel investing network of University of Illinois alumni that makes early-stage investments and provides mentorship and network access. Typical investment range is $100,000–$300,000 per company.
Pre-Seed and early-stage investments
Pre-seed and early-stage investments in high-growth and high-technology sectors to support company formation and initial scaling.
Mentorship, advisory, and network access
Illinois Ventures and Illini Angels provide founders with advice, mentorship, and introductions to the University ecosystem and alumni networks.
Student fellowship (Edward L. McMillan Venture Fellowship)
Annual fellowship awarding a University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign student who will work with Illinois Ventures on due diligence, portfolio management support, financial modeling, and program duties.
Presentations, classes, and outreach
Illinois Ventures staff present to groups and conduct classes on business and startup topics across its Chicago and Champaign locations.
Deep Tech Fund investments
Seed and Series A investments in deep-technology companies with a University of Illinois connection. Target initial check sizes are $250,000 for Seed-stage and $750,000 for Series A-stage companies.
Illini Angels (alumni angel network)
Angel investing network of University of Illinois alumni that makes early-stage investments and provides mentorship and network access. Typical investment range is $100,000–$300,000 per company.
Pre-Seed and early-stage investments
Pre-seed and early-stage investments in high-growth and high-technology sectors to support company formation and initial scaling.
Mentorship, advisory, and network access
Illinois Ventures and Illini Angels provide founders with advice, mentorship, and introductions to the University ecosystem and alumni networks.
Student fellowship (Edward L. McMillan Venture Fellowship)
Annual fellowship awarding a University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign student who will work with Illinois Ventures on due diligence, portfolio management support, financial modeling, and program duties.
Presentations, classes, and outreach
Illinois Ventures staff present to groups and conduct classes on business and startup topics across its Chicago and Champaign locations.
Portfolio
Described on the site as 'Data Analytics for Always-on Compute-Intensive Workloads'.
#Data analytics / Information technology
Described on the site as a company focused on cancer therapeutics.
#Health / Cancer therapeutics
Described as developing molecular prosthetics for cystic fibrosis.
#Biotechnology / Health (cystic fibrosis therapeutics)
Described as treating invasive fungal infections.
#Health / Infectious disease therapeutics
Described on the site as 'Data Analytics for Always-on Compute-Intensive Workloads'.
#Data analytics / Information technology
Described on the site as a company focused on cancer therapeutics.
#Health / Cancer therapeutics
Described as developing molecular prosthetics for cystic fibrosis.
#Biotechnology / Health (cystic fibrosis therapeutics)
Described as treating invasive fungal infections.
#Health / Infectious disease therapeutics