Quinn tries to connect big companies with startups

Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to find big companies to partner with startup businesses.

In a news release, the governor announced that he is launching a program that he calls the Illinois Corporate/Start-Up Challenge that calls for big companies to mentor, partner find business opportunities between them and the smaller companies.

The release says four companies — Allstate Corp., Molex Inc., Motorola Mobility and Walgreen Co. — have agreed to take part in the pilot program and that the Quinn’s Illinois Innovation Council will help the match those companies with the startups and emerging companies.