at buildillinois, we're on a mission to build a generational community of builders, makers, and creatives on campus and ensure their success.

if you just want to be a member, follow @buildillinois and join our slack to stay updated! we'll announce our plans for this semester soon.

what have we done?

in the past 2 years, we've

• partnered with yc, sequoia, google, soma capital, zfellows, hf0, etched, and more — bringing the world's top builders, founders, and investors to campus.
• hosted the buildillinois summit — a march madness–style showcase where 260+ students watched teams demo ai agents, humanoid robots, rockets, and cancer patches in front of vcs behind duolingo and ramp.
• ran google-backed retreats — gathering 7-figure arr founders and ambitious students for weekends of building, kayaking, and reflection.
• organized 200-person hackathons — with $120k+ in prizes, fast-tracks to accelerators, and direct access to top vcs.
• launched a 0→1 cohort — where students built products like sapphire watches, ai models, and startups that went on to raise $1m+ in pre-seed funding.
• hosted yc's first uiuc visit in a decade — connecting hundreds of students directly with the world's top accelerator.
• built a generational community — 1000+ attendees across events, members raising millions, joining yc/founders inc, and working at openai, midjourney, faang+, and more.

joining buildillinois means more than just taking on a role — it means helping shape uiuc's future as a hub for world-class builders.

why join us?

this isn't just a club—it's a launchpad.

• extreme ownership: take full control of projects, from hackathons to retreats, and watch your ideas come to life.
• a talent-dense community: work alongside the brightest builders and creatives on campus, forging lifelong connections.
• unmatched connections: gain access to vcs, unicorn founders, and a global network of innovators.
• personal growth: whether you want to start a company, break into venture capital, or build your network, this is your opportunity.

what we're looking for

we want ambitious dreamers and doers ready to make an outsized impact. whether you aim to:

• start your own company,
• work in venture capital,
• or find a community of exceptional peers,

this is your chance to surround yourself with the best talent on campus and build something unforgettable.

time commitment is ~6-8 hours a week, but the more you give, the more you'll get out of it.

ready to build?

this is your opportunity to scale one of the fastest-growing clubs on campus, leave a legacy, and join a generational alumni network that opens doors for years to come.