May 18-19 2027 | Chicago, IL
May 18-19 2027 | Chicago, IL
The B1G Stage For The Next B1G Thing
The B1G Stage For The Next B1G Thing
WHY ATTEND?
The Big Ten Venture Showcase is designed for early-stage investors—a highly curated forum for investment opportunities emerging from some of the world's leading research universities.
It's where market-ready innovation meets capital.
EXPERIENCE
Over two days, the Big Ten Venture Showcase will convene the most promising university-affiliated startups from across the Big Ten Academic Alliance alongside the nations' top investors actively seeking breakthrough innovations.
The event will begin with a welcome reception on the first evening, followed by a full day of 60 startup pitches, keynote presentations, and panel discussions highlighting the transformative impact of Big Ten research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
MEET
- University-affiliated startups
- Venture capital firms
- Corporate venture groups
- Strategic acquirers
- Family offices
- Innovation leaders
- Technology transfer executives
DISCOVER
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- MedTech & Digital Health
- Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics & Industrial Systems
- Climate, Energy & Advanced Materials
- Software, AI & Compute Infrastructure
- Quantum & Frontier Physics
Registration is by invitation only.
Are you an investor & interested in attending?
The Big Ten Venture Network
The Big Ten Venture Network is a group of leaders from university venture funds and startup programs across the Big Ten who regularly connect to share best practices, deal flow, and ideas for advancing university entrepreneurship.
Together, these institutions represent many of the leading university venture and commercialization programs in the country.
The inaugural Big Ten Venture Showcase leverages this powerful network to connect investors with breakthrough technologies emerging from across the alliance.
The Big Ten Academic Alliance
The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) brings together world-class research universities across the United States. Our member institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and collaborative innovation that benefits students, faculty, and communities nationwide.
- 19 Elite Research Universities
- $20+B Advanced Research Annually
- 3000+ Startups Launched in last 5 years
- $5B+ Raised over last 5 years
Through the BTAA, our members leverage their collective strengths to expand opportunities and drive impact that no single institution could achieve alone.
Support the 2027 venture showcase
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
The Showcase is supported by its generous sponsors and the 19 Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions.
For more details and a full description of benefits at each sponsorship tier, download the prospectus.