Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown hub for business incubation and talent development, is launching a six-week artificial intelligence workshop series designed to help local businesses implement practical AI solutions.

The hands-on program begins Feb. 26 and is already drawing strong interest, with nine local businesses signed up to participate. Businesses can still reserve a spot.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center for Central Illinois (SBDC), hosted by the Small Business Growth Corporation, and Innovate Springfield have announced a new partnership to expand support for entrepreneurs and small businesses through the opening of a new SBDC office at Innovate Springfield.

Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, will host Founders Day on Tuesday, Oct. 7, as the kickoff to 2025 Founders Week events.

Founders Day is designed to shine a spotlight on entrepreneurship in Illinois. The event will bring together business founders, investors, government leaders and community members to share ideas, highlight local startups and discuss how to grow innovation across the state.

The University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center will lease space at Horace Mann’s downtown Springfield campus to expand programs that support economic development in the region. The 2.5-year lease will allow the center to broaden programming and services focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration. The move is expected to be completed by September.

Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown business incubator, will host a series of events in February featuring Paul Magelli, a serial entrepreneur, investor and director of Illini Angels at Illinois Ventures. Magelli, who has founded and scaled multiple successful ventures, will share his extensive experience in entrepreneurship, investment strategies and business growth.

Calling all tech innovators in Central Illinois!

If you are a current University of Illinois Springfield student, University of Illinois System student, or a recent graduate of any of our university campuses, or any campus connected to the Illinois Innovation Network, you are invited to join us at the Top Hat Hackers Hackathon on February 12t

WHAT: Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator, will host a two-part event featuring a pitch competition and a keynote address by Mark Achler, a venture capitalist and former senior vice president at Redbox.

WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28

WHERE: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield

WHAT: Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator, has teamed up with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, NPR Illinois, Sangamon CEO, Illinois Ventures and iVenturED to present the speaker series event “Founders, Failures and Fun.”

WHEN: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5

WHERE: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., Springfield