The Illinois Impact Incubator is a co-curricular incubation program for students of all majors and levels who have a passion to develop an idea or early-stage venture focused on social or environmental impact. All types of ventures (e.g., social enterprises, social businesses, nonprofits) are welcome, spanning diverse sectors such as healthcare, education, clean energy, inequalities, social services, opportunity employment, and environmental sustainability. Ventures that tackle issues related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals are especially encouraged. The incubator will amplify your impact by providing knowledge, tools, networks, and access to resources to help you launch and grow your venture.
Members participate in a 3-month Impact Bootcamp, including a structured startup curriculum with workshops, mentors, expert advisors, sponsored access to the BonBillo social entrepreneurship platform, feedback on milestone deliverables, and peer support in a Community of Practice. The Illinois Impact Incubator meets weekly on Wednesdays [5:00-7:00 p.m. (workshops and venture updates); 7:00-10:00 p.m. (co-working, mentoring, peer feedback)]. Members are eligible for micro-grants to support stakeholder discovery, prototyping, and pilot project implementation and have the exclusive opportunity to compete for seed funding at Illinois Impact Pitch. Active membership in the Illinois Impact Incubator beyond Impact Bootcamp includes ongoing access to educational programs, mentoring, expert advisors, curated resources, co-working space, networking, and funding opportunities.
Eligibility: Individuals or small teams may apply. ALL majors and levels (undergraduate and graduate) are welcome. Non-students, recent alumni, or students from another institution may join an Illinois team. Membership requires a serious time commitment of at least 5-10 hours per week focused on venture development during Impact Bootcamp, including regular participation in Wednesday night sessions, active use of mentoring and platform resources, demonstration of progress on venture deliverables, and intentional contribution to a culture of respect, collaboration, and inclusion. For questions, contact Valeri Werpetinski at werpetin@illinois.edu.
Application Deadline is Monday, Sept 20, 2021 (extended)
Program starts Sept 22. Rolling admissions. Apply early!
https://go.gies.illinois.edu/IllinoisImpactIncubatorFall21