Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship expands to Chicago

The Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship, part of The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is making its Chicago presence permanent. The center has established a base at the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), joining DPI’s growing hub of AI, interdisciplinary research, education and entrepreneurship to further strengthen the state of Illinois’ position as the global center for next-generation technologies. 

DPI’s mission is to power responsible AI innovation by uniting U. of I.’s research strength with Chicago's industry scale. The Landuyt Center’s presence puts entrepreneurship at the heart of that mission, creating a direct channel for turning research and ideas into companies solving real-world problems. 

U. of I. has the talent. Chicago has the capital. The Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship is closing the gap.

The move turns a longstanding Urbana-Champaign-to-Chicago innovation pipeline into a formal extension of one of the center's important goals — connecting U. of I. 's engineering research and student talent directly to Chicago's investor networks, alumni, startup ecosystem resources and corporate partners.

It gives students, faculty and researchers a foothold in one of the country's largest tech and venture markets, and it provides Chicago a direct line into one of the country's top public engineering research colleges. Grainger Engineering already has a presence in the city through programs like City Scholars and the graduate-level Master of Computer Science Chicago program, which bring exceptional engineering talent directly to Chicago companies.

The Landuyt Center's Chicago presence will act as a conduit to form more companies, create more jobs and keep more economic activity in Illinois instead of on the coasts.

John Thode appointed Director of Entrepreneurship at Discovery Partners Institute

DPI has named John Thode Director of Entrepreneurship, a role in which he will also lead the Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship's Chicago presence. Thode will oversee the development of the Landuyt Center's entrepreneurship programming in Chicago, connecting DPI's focus on responsible AI, quantum technologies and advanced computing with the city's growing innovation ecosystem.

John Thode says, “I have long believed that Chicago has all the ingredients to become one of the world’s great centers for technology innovation and entrepreneurship — outstanding universities, exceptional technical talent, major industries and a strong investment community. Realizing that potential will require a more integrated Illinois innovation ecosystem and a strong and dynamic innovation corridor connecting the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with Chicago. By bringing together researchers, students, founders, corporations and investors, we can help more Illinois innovations become successful companies, create quality jobs and enable lasting wealth for the region.”

Thode is a technology executive, entrepreneur, investor and educator with a track record of building and transforming businesses in mobility, computing, cybersecurity, imaging and advanced materials. He has held senior leadership roles at Motorola, Dell, McAfee, ISCO, DigitalOptics and AKHAN Semiconductor, including successful exits at ISCO and DigitalOptics, and his career includes pioneering work in cellular, smartphone, mobile computing and imaging technologies.

He joined Grainger Engineering in 2019 and currently serves as the Richard and Gayle Landuyt Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, helping students, researchers and founders translate technical innovation into scalable ventures. Thode holds electrical engineering degrees from the U. of I. and Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA with distinction from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He received the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award and is an active angel investor and committed marathoner.

U. of I. roots, global reach — the Landuyt Center's new Board of Advisors

The Landuyt Center is also announcing the formation of its Board of Advisors, bringing together leading founders, investors and entrepreneurs spanning Chicago, Silicon Valley and beyond — including Grainger Engineering alumni Steve Chen, co-founder of YouTube, and Martin Eberhard, co-founder of Tesla, alongside Rick Landuyt, an entrepreneur who built and sold multiple technology companies and whose $20 million cumulative commitment gave the center its new name in April 2026.

The board will advise on strategy, strengthen access to investors and industry partners, and bring a market-facing perspective that keeps the center's programming, competitions and coursework aligned with real-world needs. Members will also lend their networks and experience directly to students, faculty and portfolio companies building in both Chicago and Champaign-Urbana.

“With new leadership for entrepreneurship at DPI and a Board of Advisors spanning Chicago and Silicon Valley, the Landuyt Center is building a direct corridor between Illinois’ engineering talent and the capital, mentorship and customers that turn research into companies. Chicago is now a permanent part of our strategy — not just a presence, but a partnership with the industry leaders and investors who share our vision for the region’s future as a global tech hub,” says Jed Taylor, Assistant Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Landuyt Executive Director.

Backed by a $20 million commitment

The Chicago expansion is the latest chapter of a center with 26 years of history and a naming commitment behind it. Founded in 2000 as the Technology Entrepreneur Center, the program was renamed the Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship in recognition of more than $20 million in cumulative contributions from alumni Richard (’78, Electrical Engineering) and Gayle (’78, Industrial Engineering) Landuyt. This landmark commitment provides the foundation for a broader vision for entrepreneurship at the U. of I., expanding opportunities for students, researchers and alumni alike while creating new capacity for venture building and commercialization in Chicago.

Today, the Landuyt Center is a nationally recognized entrepreneurship center with academic courses and experiential programs — including the Cozad New Venture Challenge, one of the largest student venture competitions in the country, open to U. of I. students across every major. Pitchbook ranks Illinois among the top five public U.S. institutions for entrepreneurs, thanks to an ecosystem that also includes Gies College of Business, Research Park (home to the EnterpriseWorks incubator), the Office of Technology Management, Illinois Ventures and the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. Chicago extends that ecosystem into an environment with a robust concentration of resources: major industries, customers, investors, incubators, corporate partners and a dense network of alumni and entrepreneurs. 

Looking ahead: A bigger mandate, filling gaps in the ecosystem

Grainger Engineering launched the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge in July 2025 to bring together engineering-powered startups from leading universities. The challenge exemplifies Grainger Engineering’s expanding role as a vital partner in Chicago’s tech ecosystem, fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and providing a platform for student-led startups to accelerate their growth and impact.

This year, the second edition of the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge is taking place on Oct. 20 as part of the Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health and is open to student-led, engineering-powered startup teams from universities nationwide. The startup teams will compete for a $200,000 prize pool. Applications are due Sept. 14. 

The Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge is one piece of a broader effort. Additional programming, mentorship opportunities and venture-building resources for founders in both Chicago and Champaign-Urbana are in development, with more details to be announced soon.