Organization · Venture Capital
Illinois Ventures
Illinois Ventures is a university-based venture capital firm located in Champaign, Illinois, focusing on early-stage technology investments connected to the University of Illinois System. It has supported over 125 companies, helping them secure more than $2.7 billion in outside capital.
Overview
What Illinois Ventures does
What Illinois Ventures is
Illinois Ventures is a university-based venture capital firm located in Champaign, Illinois, focusing on early-stage technology investments connected to the University of Illinois System. It has supported over 125 companies, helping them secure more than $2.7 billion in outside capital.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2000
- Approximate age
- About 26 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder
- Last reviewed
- May 2, 2026
Official channels
Find Illinois Ventures elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Illinois Ventures as a funder
Investment thesis
Illinois Ventures invests early in high-growth technology companies with a connection to the University of Illinois System. The firm believes that University of Illinois research, alumni, faculty, and student founders can create venture-scale companies when paired with capital and the system's network.
Focus narrative
Illinois Ventures invests in early-stage companies, particularly in sectors such as deep tech, artificial intelligence, information technology, agriculture technology, health, life sciences, biotechnology, engineering, quantum computing, and clean technology. The firm provides funding through various funds, including the Deep Tech Fund, which targets Seed and Series A investments, and the Pre-Seed Fund, which focuses on pre-seed and early-stage opportunities.
Value beyond capital
Illinois Ventures provides not only capital but also expertise, connections, and resources to its portfolio companies, leveraging the University of Illinois System's extensive network to support growth and innovation.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $100,000–$750,000
- Sweet spot
- $300,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- United StatesNorth America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 125
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: OCIEN: Data analytics for compute-intensive workloads. Revolution Medicines: Focused on cancer therapeutics. EarthSense: Develops autonomous agricultural robots. Cystetic Medicines: Works on molecular prosthetics for cystic fibrosis. MESH++: Provides WiFi solutions. Other companies in their portfolio span various sectors, including artificial intelligence, ag tech, health, and biotechnology.
Common questions
What to know about Illinois Ventures
Upseed classifies Illinois Ventures under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
May 2, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.