Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Discover your purpose, unleash your vision

The Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership is your entry into a cutting-edge, collaborative environment where fresh and nimble ideas come to life through the academy’s many programs and organizations. Pursue and refine your own ideas as you work with others across campus to revolutionize business.

The Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership was established in 2004. In 2018, Bruce Barron (BS ’77) and the REAM Foundation providing a naming gift to Gies College of Business to create the Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The REAM Foundation gift was made in honor of Steven Miller (BS ’87), who joined Barron in co-founding Origin Ventures, a venture capital firm.

Learn more about our programs

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iVenture Accelerator

The iVenture Accelerator gives students the resources they need to launch their breakthrough startups.

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Illinois Social Innovation

Illinois Social Innovation works with students to launch impactful social ventures.

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EntreCORPS



EntreCORPS provides strategy consulting to early-stage ventures and startups. 

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Entrepreneurs without Borders

Entrepreneurs without Borders focuses on assisting in subsistence marketplaces around the world.