iVenture Accelerator

helloo ?????? I wanted to share something I’ve been working on for a while. The concept is Hot Girls Code. It’s a name that might spark discomfort or resistance, but at its core, it’s about individuality in Computer Science and Big Tech. Hot Girls Code challenges norms, breaking the idea of what a software engineer should look like. It pushes back against the institutional tech bro culture and reminds the world that you can’t assume someone’s profession based on their appearance. Hot Girls Code is the resistance. One of the first ways I’ve built the Hot Girls Code community is through clothing. When women wear it, it invokes feelings of empowerment and belonging. It makes a statement, sparking conversations and challenging perceptions. Below is my first real drop: the Valentine’s Day Drop—featuring two shirts and one sweater. ?? feel free to drop ur thoughts ??

Here’s what’s been happening in the iVenture ecosystem this week ????: ??iVenture Accelerator Our co-working sessions are in full swing! Whether you're looking to collaborate, meet the iVenture community, or just have a productive space to work, join us Monday's from 4:30-6pm at BrewLab. See you there! ?? ??EntreCORPS at University of Illinois We kicked off our Info Night last Thursday! Coffee chats wrapped up on Feb 5, with 50+ conversations connecting students with our team ???? First-round interviews are happening today and tomorrow—good luck to all the candidates! ??♀?Women in Entrepreneurship (WiE) Our Info Night was last night! Thanks to everyone who came out to learn more about WiE! Find out more on our IG @uiucwe! You can register to join the new cohort here: https://lnkd.in/gAFfjNHu ??Social Innovation The countdown is on! We’re launching 3-Day Startup, a hackathon-style sprint to turn your social impact idea into something tangible—all in one weekend. Interested? Fill out the interest form: https://lnkd.in/gsb6_PsP. ??? Looking ahead: We’re working on some exciting WiE x EC events + HCD trainings—stay tuned for updates! Big things are happening, and we’re just getting started. See you next week! ???

Welcome to February Week 1 at iVenture! So much has been going on in the Ecosystem since the semester started,?and I guess there's no signs of slowing down ???? Upcoming this week: ?? EntreCORPS at University of Illinois – Coffee chats to meet the current leadership team close this Wednesday, February 5th! Reach out here: https://lnkd.in/gX7GxiHd ?? Women in Entrepreneurship Info Night is also this week! Come to BrewLab Coffee from 6-7pm this Wednesday, 2/5 to learn what WiE is all about :) Find out more on our IG @uiucwe! You can register to join the new cohort here: https://lnkd.in/gAFfjNHu 3?? A new iVenture event approaches ?? This semester, we're launching the 3-Day Startup. It's a hackathon-style sprint to build your social impact-focused idea into something that can create immediate impact – all in one weekend. If you / anyone you know is interested, please fill out the interest form at https://lnkd.in/gsb6_PsP. ?? Finally! The first co-working session happened last week, and will be happening again today from 4:30-6pm at BrewLab! Happy Monday ??

Wonderful seeing Cara Bognar, CEO at Top Tier Lessons, at the Women in Tech luncheon hosted by Laura Weisskopf Bleill at University of Illinois Research Park

Share this with all campus-based founders, please!? I’m SUPER excited to announce that Honors Fund will be hosting its first ever $150k online university pitch competition on Feb 12th. Open to *all* university-based and recent alum software startups in the USA and the UK.? The winner(s) will receive an investment live! We are accepting applications until Feb 3rd. If you are an undergrad, grad student, alum <2 years out, or faculty member, apply to join us here: https://lnkd.in/eJ-P7Dzc This in collaboration with great folks at The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame, The Garage at Northwestern University, UCLA & UCLA Anderson School of Management, UCL Innovation & Enterprise, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & iVenture Accelerator, Vanderbilt University & the Wond'ry. See comments below for previous pitch competitions and winners! Funders, please comment Honors below and we'll make sure to send this out to you directly after the event.

?? Application Deadline Approaching for EntreCORPS! ?? We are looking for passionate and driven individuals to join our community of emerging leaders! ?? If you're ready to accelerate your entrepreneurial journey and make a real impact, now’s the time to apply. ?? Key Details: ?? Application Deadline: Saturday Feb 1 at 11:59 ?? Who we're looking for: Aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers who are eager to develop their skills and collaborate with a diverse group of peers. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Apply today and join the EntreCORPS community. ?? https://lnkd.in/gSsB8pzb iVenture Accelerator Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Today, I turn 38. Reflecting on my 37th year, I’m filled with gratitude for everything that’s happened. Here are a few highlights: -We made a $1M, 3-shark deal on Shark Tank ABC! ?????? -We raised $4.1M in a seed round on StartEngine, with many of our own users getting to invest in PSYONIC. -We got our first user through the Ability Fund funded by generous donors to the Limbs for Life Foundation. -We more than doubled our revenue from the previous year. -We grew to an incredible team of 30 full-time employees—up from just 7 when we moved to San Diego 2.5 years ago. -We were named one of the top highlights of CES by Forbes. This past year has been nothing short of transformative, leading into this weekend where I'll be honored by the The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center). I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing team, family, friends, and community. We've got many exciting announcements coming soon I can't wait to share. New year, new look, new milestones, new breakthroughs. Let’s go! ????

Share this with all campus-based founders, please!? I’m SUPER excited to announce that Honors Fund will be hosting its first ever $150k online university pitch competition on Feb 12th. Open to *all* university-based and recent alum software startups in the USA and the UK.? The winner(s) will receive an investment live! We are accepting applications until Feb 3rd. If you are an undergrad, grad student, alum <2 years out, or faculty member, apply to join us here: https://lnkd.in/eJ-P7Dzc This in collaboration with great folks at The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame, The Garage at Northwestern University, UCLA & UCLA Anderson School of Management, UCL Innovation & Enterprise, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & iVenture Accelerator, Vanderbilt University & the Wond'ry. See comments below for previous pitch competitions and winners! Funders, please comment Honors below and we'll make sure to send this out to you directly after the event.

?Info Night is approaching!?? ?? Make sure to mark your calendars and we will see you there! ?? DM or email for any questions! Online Info Night Link: https://lnkd.in/gs_rUxC2

From a student startup to an industry game-changer, DoubleSpot is redefining facility management! Born out of UIUC and supported by the iVenture Accelerator this platform simplifies facility scheduling and management with a sleek, user-friendly interface. Inspired by real challenges faced in the field, founders Sean Chang (RST '24), Joshua Chang, and Ryan Chen combined innovation with human-centered design to create a tool that truly meets users' needs. In 2022, Sean worked as a Business Strategy and Analytics Intern with the LA Dodgers, where he gained valuable insights into managing large-scale stadium operations. This experience played a pivotal role in shaping the development of DoubleSpot's innovative solutions. Learn more about their journey and vision at DoubleSpot here: https://lnkd.in/g9HMvsej