2009 Innovate Illinois Competition

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently opened registration for the 5th annual Innovate Illinois competition for a chance to win a share of $80,000 in cash prizes!

The Illini Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) is proud to support this entrepreneurial competition. Innovate Illinois is a statewide entrepreneurial and innovation competition where high-growth businesses compete on the merits of their innovations to be named the most innovative company in the state. Last year over 130 companies applied. Out of the hundreds expected to apply this year, 12 will be named statewide finalists, and four will win a total of $80,000 in cash prizes.

Interested companies can apply online (www.innovateillinois.org) to compete at the regional level. Two companies will be chosen by the Illini Entrepreneurship Center to advance to the statewide semifinals, one in each of the two tracks: early and later stage. These companies will travel to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a semifinals competition on September 24. Those companies will have the benefit of networking with other innovators, being exposed to potential investors and receiving statewide media coverage.

Additional information can be found on the Innovate Illinois website at www.innovateillinois.org. This is a unique opportunity for companies to showcase their innovative product or service offerings. Registrations are due by Wednesday, August 12.