Gies News Articles
May 28, 2026
Agritourism hub Agrivoy claims Voitik Prize at Cozad New Venture Competition
Jeff and Forough Haskel, two University of Illinois iMBA students from Texas, turned a frustrating search for a Wyoming ranch vacation into a startup idea called Agrivoy — an “Airbnb for agritourism.” After developing the idea through the Cozad New Venture Competition, Agrivoy won the $3,000 Voitik Prize for online MBA-led teams.
May 27
Healthcare Innovation: How one iMBA student is improving the birthing experience
Galina Mihalkina, a Gies iMBA student, helped develop PeriAssist, a medical device aimed at reducing trauma during difficult childbirths by filling a gap between existing tools. As the project’s business lead, she handled strategy, stakeholder mapping, and commercialization, helping the team win awards and move toward funding and patents.
Mar 18
Gies Business pioneers future of healthcare with new iMBA specialization
Developed in partnership with the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Illinois’ Siebel Center for Design, this collaborative effort is designed to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills to transform healthcare delivery.
May 27
Gies MBA student part of leadership team for a Cozad finalist startup
VOCA Health is building a voice disorder management tool for ENT and speech pathology clinicians and patients. Gies Business is one of the presenting sponsors of the 2025 Cozad New Venture Challenge.
May 14
Small fish, big dreams for Gies iMBA student from Alaska
Fishing boats have few options to sell their catch during Alaska's lucrative fishing season. Katrina Church-Chmielowski, an iMBA student at Gies Business, and her son, Gerek, are hoping to change that.
May 08
Gies iMBA catalyzing entrepreneurial pursuits
With varied backgrounds and aspirations, John Miller, Valeria Fournet, and David Gray all found the program to be a transformative experience that equipped them with the skills and confidence to pursue their passions.
Apr 17
Through SkyLynkX, Gies iMBA student helping solve drone connectivity
Using interference mitigation techniques, Dmitry Moiseev is making it possible for drones to travel longer than those off the shelf.
Apr 11
Gies management student leading business efforts for environmental startup
As the world strives to provide ways to limit landfill waste, a startup with a Gies Business connection is working to create a disposable water bottle that is biodegradable and 100 percent plastic-free.