WHAT: Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator, has teamed up with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, NPR Illinois, Sangamon CEO, Illinois Ventures and iVenturED to present the speaker series event “Founders, Failures and Fun.”

WHEN: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5

WHERE: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., Springfield

DETAILS: Paul Couston, an early-stage entrepreneur and second-time founder, will be the featured speaker. Couston, who started with Optivolt Labs, a solar tech company serving the U.S. Air Force, now leads Ascent Integrated Tech. His latest venture aims to enhance firefighter safety by providing critical information about team location, health and environment during firefighting.

Couston is an industrial engineer who earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger College of Engineering.

Attendees will gain insights from startup successes and failures, explore tech applications and network with professionals. The event will conclude with a cash bar happy hour.

The event is free and open to the public. Online registration is required.