The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is at the forefront of fostering inclusive innovation and excellence on Chicago’s South Side. Illinois is spearheading the Innovate2Market program in collaboration with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago (UChicago). This five-week community I-Corps program, inspired by the NSF’s acclaimed I-Corps program, enables community innovators to explore the commercial viability of their ideas and products. Instructors John Thode and Mark Karasek from The Grainger College of Engineering at U. of I. led the program.
Launched in October 2024, the pilot program recently concluded with 13 venture teams from local educational intuitions in Chicago gaining insights into customer discovery, establishing valuable connections, receiving individualized coaching, preparing to apply for federal grants and identifying potential partners. The Innovate2Market program featured a diverse array of venture teams showcasing a broad spectrum of innovation, from education and healthcare to technology and wellness.
John Thode, Richard and Gayle Landuyt Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Grainger Engineering said, “This cohort exemplified the spirit of inclusive innovation, showcasing the talent and drive of community entrepreneurs committed to making a difference on Chicago’s South Side. These innovators were eager to master customer discovery, refine their ideas and explore ways to create meaningful impact through their ventures. Having coached customer discovery for years, this program stands out as one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had as an instructor.”
Joint funding from UChicago and Illinois supported the program. Each institution received $25,000 for a combined $50,000 investment from the annual Inclusive Innovation Fund.
Each team also received funding from the Inclusive Innovation Fund. Brianne Caplan, Executive Director of Code Your Dreams, one of the 13 venture teams, shared, “Participating in the Innovate2Market program has been an incredible learning experience. I gained invaluable insights into intentional market research, particularly in understanding the pain points and needs of educators and administrators. The program helped us refine how we communicate these findings effectively and in a quantifiable way. Each assignment brought us one step closer to launching our CYD Hub—a platform designed to empower anyone to start their own coding club in schools or communities.”
The annual Inclusive Innovation Fund aims to encourage collaborative partnerships between academia and the community. These partnerships are designed to advance strategies and achieve impact goals outlined in the Inclusive Innovation Blueprint Plan, focusing on four key areas: STEM education, workforce development & employment, economic development and civic infrastructure.
The fund is a part of the Inclusive Innovation in Sciences (IIS) initiative. This initiative is a partnership between UChicago, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory. The IIS initiative aims to transform the South Side of Chicago into an inclusive innovation hub, driving equitable economic growth through science and engineering. Its mission is to enable the active participation of under-resourced populations both as contributors to and beneficiaries of new investments in scientific research and commercialization.