1871’s 15th annual tech award show


On 9.22.22, global tech innovation hub 1871, hosted the 15th Annual Momentum Awards in their hometown of Chicago, IL at Morgan Manufacturing. This award show began in 2007, and since its origin has grown to honor 8 award categories that covers the business maturity curve and innovation community of 1871. It’s currently the largest fundraising effort of the non-profit, generating support for all the programs, resources, and community efforts throughout the year.

Congratulations to the 2022 Momentum Awards winners

Corporate Champion Award | Navistar

Chicagoness Award | Jim Reynolds Jr., Founder, Chairmen & Chef Executive officer of Loop Capital

Outstanding Tech CEO Award | Kell Manthey, CEO of Kin & Carta

Industry Disrupter Award | Rheaply

Rising Start Award | Valqari

Social Impact Award | Zing Health

CityLIGHTS Award | ActiveCampaign

Momentum Award | Ocient

This year was extremely special. 1871 doubled down on its Chicago roots post-pandemic, embracing core business partners to better serve their community of early stage founders, growth-scalers, and corporates innovating, while connecting entrepreneurs globally. Notably, WMNtech, BLKtech, LTNtech, affinity initiatives, as well as industry lab experiences for fintech products, supply chain, soon-to-be others such as cannabis, and more to launch in 2023.

The event included networking with 1871’s Chicago innovation community, silent auction, NFT collection drop, hearing from the Governor of Illinois  JB Pritzker, and Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot, 1871’s CEO Betsy Ziegler, COO Lisa Laws, Board Chair Larry Eppley, Board member Jeremie Bacon, the winners above, and afterparty with DJ iLLa. 

Enjoy 1871’s favorite memories from the 2022 Momentum Awards

60 second event recap

Opening Remarks by 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler

Chicagoness Award Acceptance Speech from 2022 winner James (Jim) Reynolds Jr., Founder of Loop Capital 

Industry Disrupter Acceptance Speech from 2022 winner Garry Cooper of Rheaply

Being star-struck by our community

1871’s 2nd NFT collection: Momentum Awards

View on OpenSea.

Love from Team 1871

To all who could attend virtually or in person the full 1871 team thanks you for your support their mission to inspire, equip, and support innovators building extraordinary businesses. Sponsors such as Aon, Navistar, Discover, West Monroe, Abbvie, tastytrade, Comcast Business, PNC, theMART, BMO, Beam Suntory, Microsoft, Madison Dearborn Partners, ITW, Jellyvision, Aloa, Justworks helped make this year possible. 

Learn more about Momentum 2023 on 9.23, donate to our mission, or browse our story to further engage

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