The founding of the university in 1867 created a unique community in what had been a prairie. Within a few years, this creative mix of teachers and scholars. Webprojects ranging from the mosaic web browser to the discovery of archaea and pioneering triumphs in women’s education and wheelchair accessibility have helped shape the. Webthe book illustrates how u of i innovations have arisen from unique interactions, hoxie said. Webthe university of illinois has made a notable return to the top 10 in pitchbook’s annual “top 100 colleges by startup founders”, ranking no.