The 8 Best Startup Accelerators and Incubators in Illinois [2023]

Accelerators and incubators are programs that provide startups with resources, mentorship, and funding to help them grow. They are particularly useful for companies that do not yet have a lot of money or experience. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best startup accelerators and incubators in Illinois: where they are, what they do, how much it costs to join, and more.

1. Rionin

Roniin is a startup accelerator and incubator accelerating midwestern growth companies. The program invests 0,000 in exchange for a 6% stake.

Roniin has helped over 100 companies grow their businesses, and over 70 of these startups have been acquired or made significant.

Former Roniin holding companies include:

• Accenture Cloud Security (acquired by Perfecto)
• Anomali (acquired by Cisco)
• C3 IoT Solutions (acquired by Accenture)
• Commandiv (acquired by Accenture)

2.Netnergy

NetEnergy is a business accelerator for women-owned tech startups. Through this program, NetEnergy provides funding, mentorship and access to networks to its members.

NetEnergy is a program of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), a nonprofit organization that champions research, technology education, and economic development in Illinois. He is also a member of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT).

3.Blue1647

Blue1647 is a Chicago-based accelerator that helps startups build and scale their businesses. The program provides startups with ,000 in seed funding, access to a network of mentors, and an opportunity to pitch investors.

Startups can apply for the program through their existing application on the Blue1647 website. After submitting your application and providing appropriate documentation of your product or service, you will be invited to interview with the Blue1647 team. On average, it takes about two weeks from applying to receiving an invitation for an interview at Blue1647’s office in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

4. Rocket Laboratories

Rocket Fuel Labs is a Chicago-based accelerator focused on early-stage companies in the IoT and AI space. The accelerator offers a ,000 investment, access to resources, and a six-month program. Rocket Fuel Labs has five program tracks:

• Internet of Things and Robotics Accelerator (Iotra)
• Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (AIRA)
• fintech accelerator
• health booster
• Data Science and Analytics Accelerator

5. Campus Consortium

Located at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago, the Campus Consortium is a startup accelerator that helps student entrepreneurs develop ideas into viable startups. The program is accepting applications on a hilly basis, with companies receiving ,000 to ,000 in seed funding to help refine their business strategies. The program also provides access to mentors from the university community and local startup ecosystem; As well as offering co-working space in downtown Champaign or Chicago’s South Loop.

Campus Consortium accelerators are located in Chicago (University of Illinois at Chicago), Champaign (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), and Springfield (Illinois State University).

6.Venture

Ventureshot is a digital accelerator program that runs an 8-week startup accelerator program and has ties to Chicago, Illinois. It is open to businesses worldwide and offers investment of up to 0,000 for successful startups. The VentureShot team helps startup partners grow their businesses through mentorship, access to funding sources, networking opportunities with key industry leaders, and community support.

The program is open to any business that is at least six months old and has raised less than million. Ventureshot’s Accelerator starts in October and ends in January, with a demo day held on the last day of the program.

7. Mrs.

Mme Tech is a startup accelerator that empowers women to start and grow their own businesses. The program provides mentorship, education and access to capital for female founders who are ready to take their business from concept to prototype or beyond. Ms.Tech is based in Chicago and also has an office in Austin, TX.

Tech is a non-profit organization that helps women start and scale their own businesses. We work with women at every stage of their journey, from those just getting started to those who have already launched and are looking for support to take their business to the next level.

The program offers a variety of resources, including: -A full-time, immersive cohort experience that lasts 8 weeks and provides mentorship, education, and access to capital. -Conice hours with experienced entrepreneurs who can help with your business plan or answer any questions you may have about running a startup. -Chat at community events where you can connect with other women in tech (and sometimes men!).

8. Blackline Review

Blackline Review is a Chicago-based startup accelerator that has been helping startups since 2007. Blackline Review has helped over 500 startups grow, scale, and succeed since its inception. He is also part of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), which helps connect entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners across the state.

The company offers a three-month program that includes mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs in various fields such as marketing, sales, and product development. The program consists of weekly meetings with mentors as well as group sessions where companies can share ideas with each other to learn from each other’s experiences.

Conclusion

Illinois is a great place to start your startup. You have access to some of the best resources and we have listed them here. Take a look at our list and see which one suits you best!