Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown business incubator, will host a series of events in February featuring Paul Magelli, a serial entrepreneur, investor and director of Illini Angels at Illinois Ventures. Magelli, who has founded and scaled multiple successful ventures, will share his extensive experience in entrepreneurship, investment strategies and business growth. All events will be held at Innovate Springfield, located at 15 South Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield.

These events are open to the public and will provide actionable insights for entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals looking to transform their journey. Online registration is required.

Inside Angel Investing – Angel Investing Case Study
3:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 11
Participants will gain an insider’s perspective on how angel investors evaluate and select startups. The session will include real-world investment cases from the first year of Illini Angels, providing valuable insights for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs seeking funding.

Double Feature – Podcast and Workshop
12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 13
Be part of the live audience for this engaging podcast where Magelli will share candid stories of his entrepreneurial challenges and successes.

Entrepreneurship – Myth vs. Reality
5-7 p.m. Feb. 13
This workshop will explore the realities of entrepreneurship, including practical strategies drawn from Magelli’s experiences building and selling multiple companies.

Magelli’s career includes building Apertio to $30 million in revenue before its $240 million acquisition by Nokia Siemens Networks, serving on the board of BroadSoft during its $1.9 billion acquisition by Cisco and founding Apervita, which raised $18 million in Series A funding to serve nearly 60% of U.S. hospitals.

Illini Angels is a network of University of Illinois alumni investors dedicated to supporting early-stage companies connected to the University of Illinois System.