Innovate Springfield

Innovate Springfield is the business incubator run by the University of Illinois Springfield, based in downtown Springfield, Illinois. It supports startups, creators and social changemakers, and is also a hub of the Illinois Innovation Network. Its stated aim is to help ideas turn into viable ventures while strengthening the surrounding community.

What Innovate Springfield offers

• Business incubation: programming and workshops for founders, plus introductions to legal and financial consulting.
• Social entrepreneurship support: backing for founders building solutions to social problems.
• Coworking: a shared workspace for entrepreneurs who do not need full incubation.
• Events and workshops: professional development sessions, networking and pitch competitions, with a newsletter announcing them.
• Event hosting: space that outside groups can request for meetings and events.

Customers and markets

Students, early-stage entrepreneurs, creators and social changemakers in central Illinois.

Key facts

• Based in: Springfield, Illinois, USA
• Run by: University of Illinois Springfield
• Network: Hub of the Illinois Innovation Network
• Recent activity: an artificial intelligence workshop series for local businesses