What's next happens at
1871

What's next happens at
1871

What's next happens at
1871

Don't miss!

WMNtech Leaders
Apply by 2.02.24
InsurTech
Innovation Lab
Apply by 3.07.24
AI Innovation Lab
Apply by 3.07.24
WMNtech Founders Cohort 17
Apply by 4.11.24
WMNfintech Cohort 5
Apply by 4.15.24

Global innovation hub

A private collective of trailblazing founders, visionary leaders, ingenious innovators, and steadfast supporters in technology, propelling a radiant future across the globe.

Global innovation hub

A private collective of trailblazing founders, visionary leaders, ingenious innovators, and steadfast supporters in technology, propelling a radiant future across the globe.

17

Unicorns in membership

$3.5B

Raised in venture capital

850+

Alumni scaling

14,500

Jobs created

We inspire, equip,
& support extraordinary tech businesses.

We’re a 501c3 with incredible impact on the tech ecosystem. Our member base includes early, growth, and late stage startups & corporate innovators. 

We inspire, equip,
& support extraordinary tech businesses.

We’re a 501c3 with incredible impact on the tech ecosystem. Our member base includes early, growth, and late stage startups & corporate innovators. 

IRL:Virtual:VR*.mp4

IRL•VIRTUAL • VR

IRL•VIRTUAL • VR

Community that convenes

Community that convenes

We’re headquartered in Chicago, IL, but our 1871-ers plug in however they can and need! Surprise and serendipity can be found in every step of your journey with our in-person, virtual, or VR experiences.

Named after the year of the Great Chicago Fire, where innovators came together to rebuild and re-imagine what’s possible, we still carry our roots with us today. 

How? We believe in the power of “and.” By partnering with others, we create experiences where everyone can find belonging and win.

When you’re surrounded by a vibrant community, even the smallest and most unexpected interactions can create the greatest impact. 

IRL:Virtual:VR*.mp4

We’re headquartered in Chicago, IL, but our 1871-ers plug in however they can and need! Surprise and serendipity can be found in every step of your journey with our in-person, virtual, or VR experiences.

Named after the year of the Great Chicago Fire, where innovators came together to rebuild and re-imagine what’s possible, we still carry our roots with us today. 

How? We believe in the power of “and.” By partnering with others, we create experiences where everyone can find belonging and win.

When you’re surrounded by a vibrant community, even the smallest and most unexpected interactions can create the greatest impact. 

Products

 

Resources

 

Community

1871 fuels innovation

1871 fuels innovation

No two innovators’ journeys are the same, so we’ve curated our member experiences with products, community, and resources to help you reach new levels of creativity anytime and anywhere—at every step.

Membership pathways

Membership pathways

Our membership options cover the full business maturity curve, whether you are ready to launch, accelerate, innovate, or lead. Find your fit to access our physical or virtual spaces, programming, events, marketing promotion, exclusive perks, peers, and more.

Early stage startups

Join ~400 early startups from idea to product-market-fit.

Growth & late stage startups

Join ~200 growth startups from seed to initial public offering stages.

Corporate innovators

Join  200+ enterprise businesses innovating.

Want to connect as a partner or support? View other ways to engage.

1871 spotlight

1871 Spotlight

Here’s what our members have to say about their experiences…

Sara Agate
“Provided me with a community of women who I could grow with over several weeks through a transformative cohort experience filled with workshops and shareouts. The potential for relationship building and skill sharing has been valuable beyond the cohort!”

Sara Agate

CEO & Founder, MuniTask
Keesha Vinson

The beauty of a community is its common unity and to be surrounded with like-minded individuals with similar backgrounds and challenges makes the journey of entrepreneurship bearable. There was something so refreshing about seeing so many who look like you and are as ambitious, solving real problems.

Keesha Vinson

Founder, Heart of Culture, Inc.

Elissa Trainor
“This program provided me with the space, time and resources to think about what kind of leader I want to be and the skills I need to work on things like setting boundaries, effective communication, not needing the answer, and to let go of things and give others the opportunity to grow.”

Elissa Trainor

App & Mobile

Technology Director,

Lettuce Entertain You

Restaurants

Reginald Maisonneuve

“It has been challenging to find business-minded organizations that understand the complexities and challenges of being a Latinx startup and with whom we could engage at so many levels, feel at home, and welcome! They [1871 & IHCC] are making an important difference for us in the short time.”

Reginald Maisonneuve

Founder, Aegis

About

About

Learn more about who we are and what we’ve been up to on our blog!

How we got here.
Fortunate Collisions