Building a company from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign entrepreneurship
Review the documented university identity, entrepreneurship programs, and sources connected to University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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Startup and research standing
Where University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign stands
- in PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders
- #11
- 2026
- alumni founders, 936 companies
- 1,032
- 2026
- raised by those companies
- $51.1B
- 2026
- university rankings list it
- 7 of 13
- Rankings ledger
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders | 2026 | #11 | No change | B | Activity, Talent, Ecosystem |
| PitchBook University Rankings: Female Founders | 2026 | #21 | Down 3 | B | Activity, Talent, Ecosystem |
 CWUR World University Rankings (Global 2000 List) | 2026 | #22 | Down 2 | B | Research, Prestige, Talent |
| PitchBook University Rankings: Graduate Founders | 2025 | #27 | No prior edition | B | Activity, Talent, Ecosystem |
 Academic Ranking of World Universities | 2026 | #46 | No prior edition | A | Research, Prestige |
 Nature Index Research Leaders | 2026 | #81 | No prior edition | B | Research |
 SCImago Institutions Rankings | 2026 | #90 | No prior edition | A | Research, Innovation, Prestige |
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Turning research into a company
Research groups at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the programs that fund spinouts.
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Connected organizations
Around University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
01Research
Faculties, labs and teams
AI Interpretability @ IllinoisUniversity
Aviram Sustainability and Climate ProgramUniversity, since 2023
Biophotonics Imaging LaboratoryUniversity, since 2000
Cancer Center at IllinoisUniversity, since 2018
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity, since 2003
Carle Illinois College of MedicineUniversity, since 2014
02Community
Student and founder groups
Delta Sigma Pi - Upsilon ChapterCommunity, since 1927
IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) | Alpha ChapterCommunity, since 1904
Overview
The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has been known to foster a vibrant startup and venture capital (VC) ecosystem. It has contributed to the success of multiple notable startups and VC firms in diverse fields.
The Research Park at UIUC stands as a beacon that enables innovation and entrepreneurship within the University community. The Research Park is home to more than 120 businesses, offering a platform that encourages the advancement of technology and idea exchanges between the faculty, students, and industry partners.
The University has launched prominent technology companies in the recent past. Among its most successful ventures, PayPal co-founder Max Levchin is a UIUC alumnus. He has made invaluable contributions to the tech industry and continues to support early-stage startups via his San Francisco based VC firm, HVF Labs.
Another impressive example is the revolutionary search engine "Cuil", developed by Anna Patterson, a UIUC alumna. Patterson is currently managing Gradient Ventures, a Google-backed venture that focuses on artificial intelligence opportunities.
EnterpriseWorks, an incubator focused on high-tech startups, provides resources, support, and guidance to student-founded startups. Their efforts have nurtured companies such as PhotoniCare, a medical device company that uses light-based technology to diagnose middle ear infections.
UIUC is also home to the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership (AEL), which offers multidisciplinary curriculum and experiential learning opportunities in entrepreneurship. The academy aims to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students and faculty that goes beyond traditional classroom education.
In conclusion, it's clear that the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, promotes a healthy and productive ecosystem for startups and venture capitalists alike. The University's alumni, Research Park, EnterpriseWorks, and academic initiatives like AEL have contributed significantly to launching many successful ventures in diverse fields.
Ranked near University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders
Similar universities
| # | University | Founders | Companies | Raised | Raised per company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | University of Pennsylvania | 1466 | 1354 | $309.5B | |
| 7 | University of Waterloo | 1303 | 1006 | $62.7B | |
| 8 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 1085 | 1012 | $48.3B | |
| 9 | Tel Aviv University | 1084 | 918 | $46.7B | |
| 10 | University of Texas, Austin | 1036 | 948 | $34.7B | |
| 11 | University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignThis page | 1032 | 936 | $51.1B | |
| 12 | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology | 1019 | 864 | $45.5B | |
| 13 | Yale University | 887 | 825 | $55.5B | |
| 14 | Princeton University | 845 | 792 | $78.5B | |
| 15 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 840 | 807 | $32.6B | |
| 16 | Columbia University | 829 | 784 | $34.5B |
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