Disruption Lab
Redefining the Future of Business
The future demands leaders with the agility and creativity to navigate change, as global challenges disrupt industries at unprecedented speeds. As a crucial component of Gies College of Business’ commitment to innovation, the Disruption Lab is here to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
At the Disruption Lab, students, faculty, and industry partners collaborate to confront disruptive forces in business, applying innovative thinking and emerging technologies to forge new paths. Our partnership with Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) empowers students to challenge the status quo and thrive amid industry disruption, aligning with EY’s mission to build a better working world.
Preparing Leaders for a Disruptive World
The Disruption Lab helps students learn how to navigate and harness moments of change. Through hands-on projects, students explore emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain. Working across disciplines, they develop practical solutions and build real products with real-world potential—gaining the entrepreneurial mindset needed to turn disruption into opportunity.
Innovation in Action
At the Disruption Lab, we've led a variety of cutting-edge projects in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and immersive technologies, working with both academia and industry partners.
AI Projects
In 2023-2024, we have leveraged our partnership with A*STAR, where we’re leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) to detect greenwashing in financial disclosures from major institutions. We're also working with Jinship, a startup focused on streamlining access to governmental assistance by analyzing university fund data to guide philanthropic giving. Additionally, we've deployed AI-driven tools like the Yield Protocol Web3 chatbot.Blockchain Projects
We've been deeply involved in developing decentralized systems and exploring blockchain’s transformative potential. For OSF Healthcare, we’re creating a full-stack application that uses differential privacy and blockchain, empowering patients to control their medical data. We’re also assisting the State of Illinois in transitioning to a blockchain-based infrastructure by integrating NFTs for access control in cannabis data management. Our earlier work on iBlock, a private Ethereum blockchain network for Gies School of Business, created a decentralized platform where students could earn NFTs as credentials for skills, paving the way for future blockchain applications in academia.AR/VR Projects
Our diverse efforts also include partnering with the State of Illinois to develop a robust RDBMS system for monitoring and tracking cannabis sales, offering valuable insights to policymakers and researchers. Our collaboration with Compeer Financial led to the creation of a dynamic financial dashboard using PowerBI, streamlining data visualization and decision-making processes for agricultural clients. Additionally, we contributed to a crypto trading strategy with CryptoInvest, building a data-driven platform that tracks whale transactions in cryptocurrency markets.
These projects highlight our ability to apply disruptive technologies to solve real-world problems and drive innovation across industries.
Case Studies
Our diverse efforts include partnering with the State of Illinois to develop a robust RDBMS system for monitoring and tracking cannabis sales, offering valuable insights to policymakers and researchers. Our collaboration with Compeer Financial led to the creation of a dynamic financial dashboard using PowerBI, streamlining data visualization and decision-making processes for agricultural clients. Additionally, we contributed to a crypto trading strategy with CryptoInvest, building a data-driven platform that tracks whale transactions in cryptocurrency markets.
These projects highlight our ability to apply disruptive technologies to solve real-world problems and drive innovation across industries.
Past Clients
- AMD
- EY
- A*STAR
- Jinship
- Data Science and Research Institute (DSRS)
- Yield Protocol
- OSF Healthcare
- RSM
- Rockshare
- State of Illinois
- Compeer Financial
- 1Qbi
Partner with the Next Generation of Innovators
The Disruption Lab connects organizations with talented students working at the intersection of business and emerging technology. Companies collaborate directly with students from across Gies College of Business to explore new ideas and tackle complex challenges.
Disruption Lab Fellows bring curiosity, technical insight, and fresh thinking to real-world business problems. Working alongside industry partners, they research emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and immersive media to identify new opportunities and develop practical solutions.
For organizations, partnering with the Lab offers a unique way to explore disruptive trends, test innovative concepts, and gain perspectives from the next generation of business and technology leaders. For students, these collaborations provide invaluable experience applying their skills to real industry challenges.
By connecting forward-thinking companies with ambitious student Fellows, the Disruption Lab creates a collaborative environment where experimentation, insight, and innovation thrive. Organizations interested in shaping the future of business alongside the next generation of innovators are invited to collaborate with the Disruption Lab.
Disruption in Real Time Podcast
A collaboration with Gies College of Business and the Siebel Center for Design
"Disruption in Real Time" is an exciting new podcast series that brings you to the cutting edge of innovation and transformation across industries. Produced through a dynamic collaboration between the Disruption Lab at Gies College of Business and the Siebel Center for Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this podcast offers listeners a front-row seat to the forces reshaping our world.
Disruption Lab Senior Leadership Team
- Shreya Pullabhotla – Director, Operations
- Nihal Saxena – Director, Technology
- Vidya Bhardwaj – Engineering Manager
- Maanav Agrawal – Engineering Manager
- Riya Jain – Engineering Manager
- Manan Jain – Head of Technology
- Kunal Daftari – Engineering Manager
- Dhruv Raval – Head of Technology
- Kevin Xu – Head of Technology
- Ryan Thrush – Director, Strategy
