De La Vega Innovation Lab for Students

Project Launchpad is a weekly opportunity for NIU students, alumni, faculty and community members to learn and engage in innovative practices. Stop in and utilize our technology, like our 3D printer, Cricut vinyl cutter or conferencing technologies or simply hang out and network with other like-minded innovators.

During Project Launchpad, we will offer a variety of programs, including workshops, Experts-in-residence and BookTalk, a Book Club for Non-book Clubbers. See details below.

Fall 2025 Hours

Wednesdays
3:30-5 p.m.

We seek volunteers to lead diverse sessions this fall.

• When: Wednesdays, 3:30-5 p.m. (Your session can range from 30-90 minutes)
• Where: De La Vega Innovation Lab (Barsema Hall)
• Who: Anyone can sign up to lead a Project Launchpad session (students, too).
• What: At this time, you can sign up to lead one of three sessions:
  • Expert-in-residence Session
  • Workshop
  • BookTalk: A Book Club for Non-book Clubbers

sign up

Students, faculty/staff, alumni and community partners can attend workshops that focus on the key steps in developing an entrepreneurial mindset.

Why should you develop an entrepreneurial mindset? An entrepreneurial mindset isn't just for startups. Employers and society at large need people who are resilient, collaborative, opportunistic and creative. By developing an entrepreneurial mindset, you refine the powerful skills needed to be a leader and innovator.

Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and build new technical skills with workshops like:

• Prototyping
• Handling failure
• Personal branding
• Digital marketing fundamentals
• Legal structures for entrepreneurs
• And more

See the events calendar for upcoming workshops in the De La Vega Innovation Lab.

Do you have a request or an idea for a workshop topic? Please contact Becca Husar at beccahusar@niu.edu.

Throughout the semester, experts in a variety of fields and topics will join us during Project Launchpad, hosting open office hours to meet with students and community members alike. Find the schedule for Experts-in-residence on the NIU events calendar by searching Project Launchpad.

New in 2025! Stop in for casual discussions around impactful books surrounding leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity and more. You do not need to read the books prior to attending; these sessions are designed to foster discussions inspired from books and do not require any prereading.

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." - Harry S. Truman

Have you read an impactful book and want to share what you learned? Sign up to lead one of our casual BookTalk sessions. Your BookTalk session should provide insights into the book and inspire attendees to read it following the session. Sign up at go.niu.edu/DLVProjectLaunchpad.

Complete the De La Vega Entrepreneurial Mindset Scavenger Hunt to receive Business Passport Credit, a LinkedIn badge and a graduation cord. This activity is asynchronous and can be completed over the duration of your time at NIU.

Download scavenger hunt (docx)

The Ideapalooza program is an interdisciplinary instructional sequence engaging innovative technical students and entrepreneurial business students. The intention is to shorten the time from problem identification to deployment of solutions.

Not only does Ideapalooza foster immediate employability opportunities and skills, but it also sets student participants up for long-term success as leaders in their fields by equipping them with the essential competencies beyond technical expertise. While mastering a trade or skill is crucial, long-term career growth requires more than just technical proficiency. Professionals who lack critical soft skills—such as empathy, communication, leadership, problem-solving and financial literacy—often find themselves plateauing in their careers, unable to effectively collaborate, advocate for their ideas or navigate complex professional environments. Ideapalooza bridges this gap by providing students with the tools to not only excel in their craft but also to think strategically, engage with diverse stakeholders and adapt to an evolving job market, ensuring they remain competitive and influential throughout their careers.

Ideapalooza is a versatile program structure that can be applied to various technical or specialty programs on campus. If you are an instructor or student and would like to partner with the De La Vega Innovation Lab to offer a tailored Ideapalooza program for your class or program, please contact Becca Husar at beccahusar@niu.edu.

Sponsored by the De La Vega Innovation Lab, the student organization, Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Entrepreneurs (CAUSE), hosts frequent Campus Creator Markets, providing students with an opportunity to sell their creations and grow their businesses. Prior to each market, the De La Vega Innovation Lab will host a unique workshop to help student entrepreneurs prepare for sales, social media marketing and table presentations.

For more information on the CAUSE Campus Creator Markets, please utilize HuskieHub to find the most accurate contact information.

The "Tech for Good" workshop series at Northern Illinois University, College of Business and Office of Innovation challenges the prevailing narrative that technology is solely responsible for societal ills and environmental degradation. Through interactive workshops, it showcases how technology, when developed and applied ethically and responsibly, can be a powerful force for positive transformative change. Topics covered include design thinking, digital entrepreneurship, ethical leadership and innovation in action. The series addresses valid concerns around tech's impacts and equips students with strategies to mitigate potential harms while inspiring them to use technology as a potent force for good. Ultimately, it aims to cultivate a new generation of tech-savvy innovators committed to making a meaningful difference in the world.