CONTACT INFORMATION

Institute for Entrepreneurial
Studies (MC 244)
College of Business
Administration
815 W. Van Buren
Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60607-7107
Phone: (312) 996-2670
Fax: (312) 413-1265
E-mail: ies@uic.edu

IES Staff

About Us

The UIC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies expands awareness and knowledge of new venture opportunities, offers methods for creating and growing enterprises, and celebrates entrepreneurship. We champion the entrepreneurial mindset and skill set among the students, faculty and community by:

Providing faculty a forum to encourage collaboration for the entrepreneurial research and academic programs at UIC
Hosting annual events to celebrate entrepreneurial achievement and encourage advancement of entrepreneurs
Being a leading resource for business growth in order to advance the Illinois economy

Academic Support
UIC's entrepreneurship program started 20 years ago in the College of Business Administration and includes a bachelor of science, a MBA concentration, and PhD seminars in entrepreneurship. For the past seven years, our entrepreneurship program has been recognized as one of the Top 25 in the nation by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. All students majoring in entrepreneurship are required to participate in consulting projects with local entrepreneurs to help their businesses achieve stability and growth. Students also assist entrepreneurs in writing and editing business plans, and many students launch their own businesses while in the program.

Events
IES hosts a number of annual and monthly events to highlight entrepreneurial achievement. Our largest events are The UIC Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Awards Gala and the Concept2Venture Business Plan Competition.

The UIC Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Awards Gala, the oldest and most prestigious Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Award, recognizes innovators and leaders in business. For over 20 years, we have inducted over 500 distinguished entrepreneurs who have demonstrated entrepreneurial talent by founding and/or growing a local business.
Our business plan competition, Concept2Venture, encourages students to develop and grow new ventures based either on their own ideas and technologies or those developed by faculty, students, or alumni. Launched in 2005, C2V showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of our students and faculty under the direction of Professor Rod Shrader, Denton Thorne Chair in Entrepreneurship. IL SBDC at UIC
Since 2002, the College of Business Administration's Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies has been home to an Illinois Small Business Development Center. The IL SBDC at UIC works closely with students, faculty and the community to assist emerging and established business owners with market analysis, business planning, securing business loans, and looking for equity investment (angel and VC). By providing business consulting, business plan development, financing assistance, referrals to lenders, and equity investment preparation, the IL SBDC at UIC has secured itself as a leading resource for business growth.

Since January 2011, the IL SBDC at UIC has helped clients secure over $2 million in loans, $3 million in equity investment, five clients have successfully registered for a patent, and two clients have received over $200,000 in SBIR funds.

The IL SBDC at UIC is funded and supported by the UIC College of Business Administration, Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The Institute is part of the UIC College of Business Administration, a research-based institution located in the heart of Chicago that cultivates a spirit of entrepreneurship through real-world experience. The college is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Meet the IES Advisory Council