Illinois Ventures
2026-08-27illinoisventures.com
Overview
What they do
Illinois Ventures is a seed and early-stage technology investment firm focused on research-derived companies in information technologies, physical sciences and life sciences, with a particular emphasis on those deriving from research conducted at the University of Illinois and other regional research institutions and federal laboratories.
Current investments reflect targeted practice areas in energy, device physics, advanced materials, biotechnology, medical devices and instrumentation, homeland security, and software.
Illinois Ventures works with inventors & entrepreneurs to mold concepts, vision, intellectual property, sweat and passion into breakthrough, high-growth companies, and was recently named by Entrepreneur magazine to its list of the top 100 venture capital firms nationally for entrepreneurs.
illinoisventures.com
What they look for
Illinois Ventures backs companies and people with University of Illinois DNA, investing early in deep tech, high-growth, and high-tech sectors while leveraging the university ecosystem.
illinoisventures.com
Stage
Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
illinoisventures.com
Sectors
AI, Deeptech, Food and agriculture, Healthcare
illinoisventures.com
Based
Chicago, US
illinoisventures.com
Sources
2026-08-27illinoisventures.comIllinois Ventures, the University of Illinois System’s venture capital arm, announced the…
2026-08-27illinoisventures.comFounded in 2000, Illinois Ventures is one of the largest and longest-running university-based…
2026-08-27illinoisventures.comNancy Sullivan CEO, Managing Director, and Managing Principal LinkedIn
Portfolio, cheque size and the rest
The 6 companies they have backed that we can see, the cheque they write, and whether they are deploying right now.
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