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Find a Cofounder in Illinois

Illinois is home to over 930,000 aspiring entrepreneurs. Join 10,000+ founders already on CoffeeSpace - including 178 from Illinois and start your founder journey today!

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Entrepreneurship in Illinois

The entrepreneurship environment in Illinois, particularly in the city of Chicago, is vibrant and dynamic, characterized by a strong culture of innovation and creativity. The state boasts a diverse range of startups in sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance, thanks to a large talent pool from top educational institutions such as the University of Illinois and Northwestern University. Furthermore, Illinois has a sophisticated innovation ecosystem with several tech parks, incubators, and accelerators that offer startups the necessary resources and support to grow and succeed. Access to funding is another critical factor that makes Illinois an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. The state has a robust network of venture capitalists, angel investors, and private equity firms that provide essential financial support to startups. In 2019, Illinois startups raised over $2.5 billion in funding. The state government also offers various funding programs and incentives to encourage entrepreneurship. Thus, the combination of an innovative culture, access to funding, and a supportive startup ecosystem makes Illinois a thriving hub for entrepreneurship.

Illinois founders in numbers

In the vibrant and dynamic environment of Illinois, a bustling hub of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is thriving. With a total of 930,000 entrepreneurs, the ecosystem is vibrant and dynamic, providing a fertile ground for new ideas and startups. A significant portion of our CoffeeSpace users, 178 in fact, are part of this thriving scene. The top three industries dominating the landscape are AI, Generative Tech/AI, and SaaS, with prominent companies like Accenture, EY, and Google leading the charge. The educational background of these entrepreneurs is as diverse as it is impressive, with many hailing from top universities such as Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, nd Northwestern University. The entrepreneurial environment in Illinois is a potent mix of innovation, technology, and academic excellence, providing the perfect conditions for businesses to grow and thrive.

Age

The median age of CoffeeSpace founders in Illinois is 31, while the average is 32.03.

Type of founder

A majority (56%) of CoffeeSpace founders in Illinois are non-technical (Product, S/M, Financial, Operations), while (44%) are technical (Engineering, AI/ML).

Idea Stage

In Illinois, an equal percentage (50%) of CoffeeSpace founders are exploring startup ideas and are committed to an idea.

Top industry interests

Discover the industries that CoffeeSpace founders in Illinois are most passionate about.

Top schools they went to

Explore the alma maters of CoffeeSpace founders based in Illinois.

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Top companies they worked at

Discover the companies that CoffeeSpace founders in Illinois have previously worked for.

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