3 Illinois Universities Join San Francisco Hub Linking Their Startups, Bay Area Investors

3 Illinois universities join San Francisco hub linking their startups, Bay Area investors

Eight Midwest universities, including two in Chicago, are launching a hub in San Francisco where university-supported startups, researchers and affiliates can meet investors and partners in the Bay Area, the country’s tech capital.The universities include the University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Purdue, Ohio State, Carnegie Mellon and Washington University in St. Louis.The…

WashU joins Third Coast Foundry in Bay Area innovation hub

Third Coast Foundry unites eight Midwestern universities, including WashU, in a shared San Francisco hub to connect startups with venture capital and partners.

Eight Midwestern Universities Launch Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco as Base for Innovation and Venture Collaboration

Together, the partner universities account for nearly $10 billion in annual research investment and educate more than 300,000 students, producing one of the nation’s largest talent pipelines. CHICAGO, March 10, 2026 — Eight leading Midwestern universities today announced the launch of Third Coast Foundry, a new San Francisco–based hub designed to strengthen the collective presence of Midwest […] The post Eight Midwestern Universities Launch Thir…

WARF: Eight leading Midwestern universities launch Third Coast Foundry, a new Bay Area base for innovation and venture collaboration

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and seven other leading Midwestern universities today announced the launch of Third Coast Foundry, a new San Francisco-based hub designed to strengthen the collective presence of Midwest research institutions in one of the world’s most active venture ecosystems. The initiative brings together a select consortium of partner universities to support venture… Source