Here are your 2022 BLKtech Pitch Competition finalists! 

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 We’re excited to announce the founders that are moving on to our BLKtech Pitch Competition final event on 6.23!

Congratulations to these incredible founders & best of luck to them as they pitch their businesses for a chance at cash & equity funding. Join us in-person or virtually for the final event as we cheer them on!

Top 5 Companies of the 2022 BLKtech Pitch Competition

Athlytic by Ashton Keys

Eventnoire by Jeffrey Osuji

Nailstry by Aurelia Edwards

NixCode by Sydney Davis

Xeo Air by Bronwyn Morgan

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We’re thrilled to announce the semi-finalists of our 2022 BLKtech Pitch Competition!

We had an incredible group of innovative Black-owned startups from across the country, and after a tough deliberation our judges have selected the top 20 companies that are moving on to our semi-finals. 

Best of luck to these incredible founders, & don’t forget to join us on 6.23 for our final event where our top five finalists will pitch their businesses to a panel of our VC partners!

Top 20 Companies of the 2022 BLKtech Pitch Competition

Athlytic by Ashton Keys

Blackboard Solar, Inc. by David Wilson

Climastry by Austin Matthews

CodeAlgo Academy by Triumfia Houmbie Fulks

Empirical Radiance, LLC by Veronica Butler

Eventnoire by Jeffrey Osuji

GeoCloud by Abiodun Johnson

Kado Inc by Gladymir Philippe

Little Diner’s Crew by D.C. Crenshaw

LiveEquipd by Andre Johnson

MartialMe by Nicholas Day

Nailstry by Aurelia Edwards

NixCode by Sydney Davis

Organic Harvest Digital Inc by Oluwaseyi Olaleye

Pass The Peaz LLC by Carl Vann

period by Michelle Mbekeani

ROOMII by Dapo Kolawole

Sotaog by Robert Estill

Thola Inc by Nneile Nkholise

Xeo Air by Bronwyn Morgan

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Want to help us recognize the best in tech but don’t know where to start?

Each year at the Momentum Awards, we honor the innovators & leaders across the business maturity curve with 8 awards representing key areas of achievement—with 6 that are open to public nomination & vote! 

Nominations for the 15th Annual Momentum Awards are open until 6.17! 

We know that it can be hard to know where to start with so many incredible community members, so we put together a helpful list of resources you can reference before you cast your nominations:

Fast 50: Chicago’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2022

By Sophie Rodgers, Crain’s Business Chicago

Meet 30 Companies in Chicago Pushing the City to New Heights

By Matthew Urwin, Built In Chicago

Top Chicago Startups to Watch in 2022

By Lauren Zyber, Purpose Jobs

The 25 Best Tech Companies in Chicago to Work for in 2021

By Tiffany Webb, Flatiron School

Best of SaaS: The Top Tech Companies in Chicago

By Brittany K. King, Learn Hub

These 5 Chicago Companies Ranked on Forbes’ Best Startup Employers List

By Abel Rodriguez, Built In Chicago

Top Startups in Illinois

Startup Ranking

2022 Best Tech Startups in Chicago

The Tech Tribune

230 Illinois Companies Make Fastest-Growing List: Inc. 

By J. Ryne Danielson, Patch

Nominations will be accepted from Wednesday, June 1, 9AM CST through Friday, June 17, 11:59PM CST via Reviewr.

Want to learn more? We are hosting two introductory webinars on the categories and process. Register for them here: June 8 @ 10am CST | June 9 @ 1pm CST.

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On May 11, 2022, we joined our presenting sponsor Gallagher and our full community of leaders & innovators for ScaleUp 2022! 

This year’s hybrid event featured an incredible lineup of speakers that included some of the brightest minds in tech, including Cameo CEO Steven Galanis, tastytrade Co-Founder, Co-CEO & President Kristi Ross, and many more! Together, they shared some unforgettable insights and best business practices for scaling companies. 

Here are 6 key lessons that leaders can take away from ScaleUp 2022:

1) An innovative company needs to find ways to get people together frequently

“From May of 2021 through the first week of November, our sales team on average was sending out about 800 touches a week. The first day we had everybody back in the office at 1871, they did 3,200 touches, which meant that one day counted for one month of work.”
— Steven Galanis, CEO of Cameo

2) Link your idea to something people already know to clarify what you do

“In the early days, people were asking ‘what’s a virtual assistant’ and people didn’t really get it. But people know what search is. So we said, ‘what we’re doing isn’t a search engine…it’s a do engine. It gets stuff done for you.’ You link your idea to something people already know.”
— Dag Kittlaus, Co-Founder & CEO of Riva Health and Co-Founder of Siri

3) The hybrid workplace can be successful with over-communication & emotional contagion

“Emotional contagion is ultimately what we miss out on in a hybrid setting. It’s the ability to read body language, brainstorm in-person, & know where someone’s coming from. And mimicking that or recreating that in a hybrid world has been one of our biggest challenges.”
— Priti Patel, Chief People Officer at G2

“The key is to bring the right leaders in the room to bring the challenge to the table. Everyone has a role. All the things we talked about managing and motivating teams, tripled down during COVID. It’s about energy, belief, & making sure the leaders of the teams are reaching out multiple times.”
— Cass Baker, President & COO at GainShare

4) Invest in company-wide experimentation that is grounded in your mission

“I think that a company running the most hypothesis-driven experiments wins in their market. If you can have your entire workforce—at whatever level they are—running a set of experiments that’s based on a solid why that everyone knows, I think that you innovate much much more quickly and all over the company.”
— Garry Cooper, Jr., CEO & Co-Founder of Rheaply

5) Put yourself in the right position at the right time & actively foster your relationships

“When it comes to professional relationships outside of the internal workplace, I treat myself like a company and my mentors like investors. So just like you send regular updates to your investors, I find it’s helpful to do that for myself as well.”
— Claude Cimeus, Director of Platform at P33

6) What got you here won’t get you there

“Building a startup is different from scaling your business. When you’re scaling a business, there is this tipping point where you go from having a ton of people who are generalists that own a lot of different things to needing specialists that go deep, understand it at the core, and can optimize it to the nth degree.”
— Kristi Ross, Co-Founder, Co-CEO & President of tastytrade

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10 years ago, I started teaching classes at 1871. 

Several times each year, I’d take the train to the Mart, ride the elevator up and speak to a group of startups about content marketing and web design. These days, it’s all online, but still going strong. 

I’ve given dozens of presentations to hundreds of Chicago startups, discussing content strategies and reviewing websites. And I’ve noticed some patterns, some common issues and some big opportunities. 

These are my most common recommendations for startup websites.

Acting on these shouldn’t be expensive or time consuming. My hope is that they can all be handled through your content management system at no cost and in an afternoon:

1. Homepage Header: Make it immediately obvious what you do

Assume your visitors don’t know you yet. They came in cold and their first question is “Where am I?” and “What does this business do?”

Your homepage header needs to answer that question. It is the 6-10 word version of your elevator pitch. It’s the text within the <h1> tag right there at the top. 

Often, it’s just the name of the business category, but for startups, this can be tricky. You might be an innovator. Maybe you don’t fit nicely into a category. Or you may be creating a new category. That’s great, but you still need to let your visitor know what you do at a glance.

Be specific. Use terms that 100% of your visitors understand.

Writing the homepage header is often a big challenge. It raises questions about positioning, differentiation and target keyphrases. Keeping it simple is harder than it looks. 

As a rule, it’s better to be clear than clever. 

2. Pictures of Faces: Make it personal

Startups have a big advantage over large companies, they can easily make a personal connection by showing the people, purpose and story. 

But many startup websites fail to take advantage, even though it’s easy.

  • Show faces up front
  • State your purpose. Put quotes around it.
  • Tell a personal story on the about page

The impact of these basic elements is huge. Now they may feel something. Now they may care. Now they can align with your purpose. Now they may remember your story. 

Feel the difference? The face and the quotes make it personal. You’re a person on a personal mission. You are speaking to your visitor through the website. It transforms brochure copy into a first-person pitch. 

Faceless websites don’t create that kind of connection. 

3. Calls to Action: Make the next steps clear and compelling

Now they know where they are, who you are, and why you exist. Your purpose and offer is clear. Your visitor has enough information to make a decision about next steps.

Sometimes the decision is obvious. “This isn’t for me” …and they hit the back button. Or “I definitely need this” …and they take the next step and click over to the contact or sign up page.

But often the visitor isn’t sure. They’re on the fence. They’re thinking about taking action, but they still have a few doubts. They’re wondering if this is a waste of time.

In these cases, the call to action (known as the “CTA” to marketers) can make the difference. 

No one clicks on a call to action (or anything else on the internet) until they have done a split second cost-benefit calculation. If the benefits exceed the cost, they click. 

So you can increase the clickthrough rate of a call to action by making the perceived benefit bigger or the perceived cost lower. Either way, it comes down to those few words in the button or link.

This is the money click, so work hard on it. Look closely at the verbs. Are they specific? Compelling? Do they work with the psychology of the visitor?

The job of this button is to guide them forward. It should maximize the “conversion rate” which is the percentage of visitors who act. Even a small improvement can mean a dramatic difference in demand over time. 

About Andy

Andy’s the co-founder of Orbit Media, an award-winning 40-person web design and optimization company here in Chicago. Over the past 20 years, Andy has provided digital marketing advice to 1000+ businesses and written 500+ articles on content strategy, SEO, visitor psychology and Analytics.

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Watch CEO Betsy Ziegler share her vision for the future for the 1871 community of innovators & leaders! 

Below she shares a note on the path forward: 

A note from Betsy

It’s a pleasure to cap off our 10 Year Anniversary week with a note to all of you about what’s next for us as we enter our second decade. The constraints and challenges of the last 24 months serve as a gift. A gift that has motivated us to think differently, adapt quickly, and focus keenly on what value we really provide. The heroes of our story are all of you—the people and teams that are making change happen.

Our ability to support the entire maturity curve from “idea” to growth to Fortune 50,  and do this in a remote-first, geographically boundary-less way creates a source of competitive advantage and puts us in situations where we find ourselves thinking and saying, “Only 1871 can do this”. 

My job and my team’s job is to increase the probability of success for each person we work with and shorten the time frame for them to reach that success. We focus on creating the conditions for people to thrive no matter how they engage, where they are on their journey, or where they live in the world. 

1871 sits at the center of the startup economic development engine. Our goal is to catalyze new business growth in every corner of the city, state, country, and beyond.

We are on the precipice of unleashing inclusive growth. Leveraging our extraordinary foundation, record of impact, and our capabilities built over the last 24 months, we will be launching a coordinated network of collected people (B2C) and locations (B2B2C) as part of a mutually beneficial network, powered by 1871.

There is an enormous opportunity to create great network effects by connecting all the nodes together into one bigger network, all working to advance tech and entrepreneurship, and job growth forward

We want to be the AND  to partners—universities, chambers of commerce, innovation centers—far and wide. The hyperlocal experience we deliver in Chicago and they deliver in their home geographies AND the digitally connected network of all of us working together. This ​​digital platform has the potential to be the largest single-entry point for any entrepreneur, growth leader, or corporate innovator in the world.  

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“People like us, do things like this” — Seth Godin

 We are lucky to be surrounded by this community of problem solvers, abundant thinkers, and believers that when we pair people and technology any problem can be solved.

It’s a joy to share this journey with you. The 1871 team continues to crush it. Their ability to shape shift and adapt to the changing circumstances is inspiring. We are ready to conquer the next chapter of 1871! 

Together we can advance the world forward.

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Applications to enter the first cohort of this 12-month program are now open until June 3rd 2022

CHICAGO; May 5, 2022 — 1871 announces the launch of the Supply Chain Innovation Lab with strategic partner Accenture, the first dedicated program of 1871’s over-arching Industry Lab experience. This program — bringing together early and growth stage companies with industry leaders — is designed to accelerate emerging tech businesses involved in supply chain.

Applications to join Supply Chain Innovation Lab, starting June 27, are now open until June 3.

The 12-month program includes:

  • Monthly events on emerging trends and networking with thought leaders
  • A 4-part immersive experience, spanning 12 weeks, to connect with peers, problem solve and engage in panels and small group discussions
  • 1871’s full community of early stage founders, growth stage companies, corporate innovators, mentors, VC’s and partners
  • Thought leadership opportunities including options to co-host industry-focused events

“I’m thrilled about the launch of the Supply Chain Innovation Lab with 1871 as we enter an era of enormous innovation, opportunity and investment in reimagining supply chains—accelerated by the disruption and lessons learned over the past two years,” said Renato Scaff, senior managing director and North America supply chain and operations lead at Accenture.

Chicago, uniquely positioned to become the top destination for supply chain innovation, serves as a leader in the areas of talent, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing. According to World Business Chicago, Chicago is a Top 15 global startup ecosystem and #1 metro for women-founded startups, according to Fortune. The Supply Chain Innovation Lab will leverage and build upon these advantages by bringing the city together to solve the biggest supply chain challenges, create growth and empower the next generation of leaders.

“Chicago boasts the nation’s number one port by value, the largest intermodal facility, and the most transportation and logistics firms in the country,” said Michael Fassnacht, President and CEO, World Business Chicago, Chief Marketing Officer, City of Chicago. “Chicago’s central location and dominance in the transportation sector is the perfect foundation for today’s launch of the Supply Chain Innovation Lab, an immersive experience that will curate innovative and new technologies to meet the demands of the future.”

“Our community of innovators is uniquely equipped to come together to tackle today’s most pressing challenges because 1871 serves the entire business maturity curve, from idea all the way to Fortune 50,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. “There is no problem we can’t solve when we activate the power of our collective brain. We look forward to bringing leaders and entrepreneurs together and empower them to create the supply chain solutions that will build a brighter future in our city and beyond.”

The Supply Chain Innovation Lab is made possible with the support of 1871’s anchor sponsors World Business Chicago, AbbVie & United Airlines, with over 10 growth scaling startups including Uber Freight, Flexport and Coyote Logistics.

About 1871

1871 is Chicago’s technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth scalers and innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~450 technology startups, ~300 growth stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 650 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 11,000 jobs, and have raised more than $1.65 billion in follow-on capital.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.

About World Business Chicago

World Business Chicago is a public-private, non-profit partnership that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation, supports business, and promotes Chicago as a leading global city. Learn more at worldbusinesschicago.com.

Contact:

J Blaszczykiewicz

Director of Marketing, 1871

j@1871.com

Roni Moore

North America Media Relations | US Midwest Lead

+1 (312) 342-1570 │ ronilyn.moore@accenture.com

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Since we first opened our doors a decade ago, our community of innovators has made incredible strides, from launching products & solutions that have changed their industries to growing their businesses into the next unicorn. 

Since the moment JB Pritzker first sketched the idea for 1871 on a napkin, we’ve existed to inspire, equip, & support innovators that are building extraordinary businesses. Today, we proudly serve the entire maturity curve, from idea to Fortune 50. 

Here’s a look into our story of innovation 10 years in the making:

2012-2015:

From early days to record growth

Even a decade later, it’s still an emotional sight to see the 1871 sign being raised at theMART, our longtime partner & home. But this was just the start of an unforgettable journey.

Howard Tullman joined the team in 2013 as the new CEO following Kevin Willer’s extraordinary tenure where he turned the idea on a napkin into a reality! Howard, a successful serial entrepreneur, played a pivotal role in growing 1871’s influence in the tech world by scaling the organization’s programming, resources, & network of support for founders. During this time, 1871 became a space for innovators to connect, collaborate, & learn how to build their businesses in a way that will create jobs right here in Chicago.

Among our new programs was WISTEM—now known as WMNtech Founders—our long-running leadership development  and coaching initiative devoted to equipping women tech founders with the resources and support they need to thrive. In 2015, we welcomed in our very first cohort, which included an incredible group of founders who’ve gone on to great success such as Julie Novack of PartySlate and more. WMNtech, which Forbes praised for its work to “help more women enter the technology sector and boost their entrepreneurial success,” just graduated  its 14th cohort!

2016-2019:

Expanding our footprint

From welcoming leaders across the tech & civic communities to our first steps toward an international future, this period of time saw a number of firsts for us. 

By 2016, 1871 had become the place where fortunate collisions became game-changing opportunities and where aspiring entrepreneurs & top tech & civic leaders came together. Our team has had the honor of welcoming some of the most famous world leaders to our space, including former US President Bill Clinton, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Youtube co-founder Steve Chen, Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, & many more. 

We introduced the next development in our affinity programming a year later with the introduction of LatinX. Run in partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC), this program provides tailored coaching & support to help Latin entrepreneurs thrive, and is now getting ready to welcome its 9th cohort!

During this time, 1871 also expanded our footprint with the addition of 2.0 space in 2014 & 3.0 space in 2016. The expansions provided new opportunities for members to collaborate & find their home in 1871, with 3.0 connecting two floors & providing  an additional 41,000 square feet. The move, which Howard Tullman said in his 2018 announcement, allowed us to “serve more members, offer more educational programs, facilitate new opportunities for incubators and accelerators, and ultimately welcome more individuals and organizations to the innovation economy.”

In 2018, Betsy Ziegler stepped in as the new CEO, bringing her extensive experience from Northwestern University and McKinsey and Company to 1871. In her comments to the Chicago Tribune, Betsy noted that “the entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of the organization; they are why 1871, exists, so my first priority is to them.” Betsy has inspired an incredible new chapter of growth for our community by expanding our reach around the globe & creating a space where everyone can find the resources & support they need—all while keeping our members & their successes as the heart of everything we do.

Under Betsy’s leadership, the team launched PYROS—1871’s structured yet flexible roadmap of support. PYROS empowers members by providing a 12-week series of workshops, share outs, deep dives, and one-to-one mentoring built to help founders navigate startup fundamentals and propel them forward through every business milestone, from idea stage through product-market fit.

These innovations paid off, because in 2019 we were named the #1 Private Business Incubator in the World by UBI Global! 

2020-2022:

Where paths intersect from anywhere in the world

The past few years have seen some of our biggest steps forward yet, beginning in early 2020 with the acquisition of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA). As a result of the move, we welcomed their community of growth stage companies & officially expanded our network of support to include the full maturity, from idea to Fortune 50. The move made us one of the only organizations in the country that brings together educators, VCs, angel investors, & innovators from every stage of business development into a single, unified community. 

Through the acquisition of ITA, we continued on & expanded the Women Leadership Accelerator—now known as WMNtech Leaders. This four-month program is devoted to cultivating the next generation of women leaders and propelling them into roles of influence through dedicated education, coaching, and mentoring. We’re now in cohort 9, offering two specific tracks in both technical and market-facing roles.

The world significantly changed only a month later when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the way people connect & work. We went virtual immediately, shifting our whole delivery model to online, empowering innovators from anywhere in the world to build their business and find their network of support. These were just the beginning steps of a new path forward, and today our community is rooted in Chicago with a reach that spans the globe!

In early 2021, we announced two more major acquisitions of Catapult Chicago & hub88, which brought together our communities, expanded our physical footprint in Chicago’s Western suburbs, & deepened our expertise in emerging tech. As Betsy noted, these important moves would help “accelerate our members’ journeys across the maturity curve and embrace a deep technical focus in our programming, our physical spaces, and across the broader community.” 

We also expanded our affinity offerings with our first cohort of BLKtech, which helps members unlock a new world of opportunities among an intimate cohort of peers & mentors designed for Black-led startups. This program was made possible by our partners Verizon, William Blair, and others & we look forward to welcoming many more cohorts in the future. 

The past few years have certainly highlighted the need for a community where people can find support & others who will champion their success. But with the new hybrid model of work, it’s never been more important to embrace new ways of connecting. In September 2022, we launched 1871 VX, our immersive, virtual reality campus that empowers members to come together, socialize, & learn in one active, virtual space. From expanding our roadmap of support to connecting top level talent & leading tech companies at our first-ever virtual job fair, our 1871 VX platform is the latest innovation that allows our members to come together anytime & anywhere.

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A lot has changed in the past 10 years, but our mission stays the same. We promise to continue to inspire, equip, & support innovators who are building extraordinary businesses in their backyard, regardless of where that backyard is. 

Together, we can build a brighter, more equitable future for our communities. 

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When reimagining what’s possible, there is no one right path.

1871 inspires, equips, and supports digital technology innovators and leaders  building extraordinary businesses, from idea to Fortune 50. We know that great solutions and products can come from anyone and anywhere, but far too often opportunity is not equally distributed. Creating an inclusive community with a goal of belonging and thriving requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. It’s one of our core values—what we call embracing the power of “and.” 

The power of “and” simply means that we seek a path forward that invites everyone to participate by rejecting industry binaries & breaking the mold of the ordinary. It also means activating our network of supporters & partners to work together toward a brighter future for our members & the world. The density & diversity of our 1871 community is our strength, & together we can make a real, measured difference. 

Here are a few ways we bring the power of “and” into the 1871 experience: 

We are a community where everyone can find the belonging & support they need to thrive. 

We believe that our  member environment should embody the varying experiences, backgrounds, and ideas in our communities. As part of this ongoing commitment, our affinity offerings—including WMNtech, BLKtech, & LTNtech—provide tailored resources and support that help founders & leaders embrace their unique strengths and break down the barriers they face in tech. Ranging from tailored & regular programming, mentorship, pitch competitions, & more, our affinity programs serve professionals from across the entire maturity curve and empowers them to succeed in every step of their business journey.

To date, we’ve welcomed:

  • 10 cohorts of LTNtech Founders (fka LatinX)
  • 14 cohorts of WMNtech Founders (fka WISTEM)
  • 9 cohorts of WMNtech Leaders (fka Women Leadership Accelerator)
  • 3 cohorts of BLKtech Founders

These efforts are working, and we’re excited to continue to foster a culture of belonging in 1871 as we continue to expand our affinity offerings & initiatives. Our goal is to represent the whole of our communities, raising up & highlighting the ingenuity present in Chicagoland & beyond. 

We adopt a growth mindset from the outside in.

Innovation has no final destination, and at 1871 we’re always open to new ways to better serve our community. Throughout our first ten years, we had the opportunity to join forces with a number of organizations that expanded our expertise & resources to better empower our members. 

In 2020, we acquired the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), which welcomed our incredible community growth stage companies and extended our offerings to become one of the only organizations that supports the entire maturity curve. One year later, we announced the acquisitions of Catapult Chicago & hub88, which respectively brought together our communities, expanded our physical footprint in Chicago’s Western suburbs, & deepened our expertise in emerging tech. 

We’re honored to continue on these organizations’ core missions and come together to accelerate our members’ journeys. 

Our community is stronger when we work together

In her opening address at the 2021 Momentum Awards, our CEO Betsy Ziegler said “Chicagoland is the best place to build and grow a business” because of the unmatched network of supporters dedicated to creating a brighter future. 

1871 is one of the only organizations in the country that brings together educators, VCs, angel investors, innovators, tech hubs, & neighborhood partners into a single, unified community. We’re proud to work closely with organizations including but not limited to P33, MHUB, MATTER, & Chicago Connectory, as well as city partners & chambers including World Business Chicago, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, add many others across Chicago neighborhoods partners.

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Our members are driving the real, necessary change, and our job is to help them build where they live. As we continue to build our core offerings, we’ll seek new ways to cultivate a community where every innovator can find the support, resources, & allies they need to thrive—with “and” as our compass for the road ahead. 

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 Thank you to our top ten donors among the many for their years of support to our community over our last decade of service. 

#1

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Our members & alumni inspire us every single day! 

When we think about creating real, lasting change, you don’t have to look any further than these incredible innovators & leaders. Our community does the hands-on work to create jobs, bring new solutions & products to life, & build a brighter future. 

The collective impact of these innovators have made is clear:

  • $3.5B+ raised in venture capital
  • ~14,500 jobs created
  • 17 unicorns in membership
  • ~400 early stage companies, ~200 growth stage companies, & 200+ corporate partners
  • 850+ alumni startups still scaling

Our members & alumni are the engine that powers change in our communities and the heart & soul of everything we do at 1871. We’re so proud to cheer on every development, innovation, & win, because their success is everyone’s gain. 

Here are some of the major milestones that have made our 1871 community what it is today:

First unicorn born out of 1871: Cameo 

We’re honored that so many unicorns—startup companies with a value of over $1B—have called our community home over the years. Still, there’s nothing sweeter than celebrating the first unicorn to be born out of 1871.

Steven Galanis joined our community in 2016 as an early stage founder, where he went on to build & grow Cameo into the powerhouse it is today. As Galanis notes:

“Building a business from 0 to 1 is super hard and lonely. 1871 made all the difference for me and my team in the early days. Cameo wouldn’t be where it is today without the spontaneous connections I made with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, and VCs at 1871.”

First woman founder: Erica Bethe Levin

1871 is home to a wide number of women-owned & led businesses, with the number continually growing. Our first woman founder joined our community in 2012. Erica is a rock-star, serial entrepreneur, who has since gone on to build & grow a number of successful startups including CheekyChicago & Globowl. 

When asked about her time at 1871, she said: 

“Being the first female founder at 1871 has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. 1871 led me to a myriad of investors, advisors, mentors and friends. Some of my most instrumental relationships come from my time at 1871. Additionally, we were able to garner substantial press for the business given our relationship with 1871—we were covered by Crain’s, the Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times and CNN.” 

First virtual international member: Ernesto Escalona & Alexandra Ramak

1871 is where paths intersect from anywhere in the world, as our members today access our community virtually, in-person, &  in our virtual reality campus 1871 VX. Our first international members Ernesto Escalona & Alexandra Ramak joined in 2019, who participated in our roadmap programming (PYROS) & built their business BoughtThis while living in Caracas. 

“We are from Venezuela, living in Caracas, and as entrepreneurs we felt lost for a lot of the time and had a rough time trying to find any help in our journey…” they said. “We’ve always believed that success is mainly on you, but being in PYROS makes us feel sure that there are definitely no excuses. We are so grateful and blessed for being here.”

It’s our mission to help all of our innovators make real change in their communities, no matter where they are in the world!

First 1871 CEO: Kevin Willer

1871 first opened its door on May 2, 2012 with the mission of inspiring, equipping, & supporting innovators that are building extraordinary businesses. Leading our organization through our earliest days was Kevin Willer, who served as our founding CEO. 

Kevin aspired to build a community where members can get the resources, mentorship, & peer-to-peer support they need to build companies that will create jobs in Chicagoland. When asked about his goals for 1871 when the organization was just six months old, he said: 

“We want to be a showcase for what’s going on in the startup community in Chicago. When people come here from around the country & the world, we want to show them that this is a great place to build companies.” 

First CityLights award winner at the Momentum Awards: Livongo

In 2020, we acquired the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), which welcomed their community of growth stage companies & expanded our network of support to businesses that are looking to scale for long-term success. 

At the Momentum Awards that year, we had the opportunity to honor Livongo with the first CityLIGHTS Award for growth stage companies given under the 1871 name. Livongo, a company that empowers all people to live their healthiest lives by transforming the healthcare experience, was recognized among an incredible group of finalists—highlighting just how much stronger our community is with our growth stage members. 

During his acceptance speech, then CEO Glen Tullman explained just how important having a community of peers & supporters is in creating change:

“I’m particularly proud of the Chicago tech community that has produced so many great companies that are driving new jobs that pay well, that are driving innovations that are solving a problem, and that are really making a difference.” 

First LTNtech cohort

“As a LatinX entrepreneur, 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!” said Cohort 9 alum and Aegis Founder Reginald Maisonneuve. “When that organization is also active and effective in advocating and advancing the businesses under its wings, it is truly rewarding.  That is 1871 & IHCC.  They are making an important difference for us in the short time we’ve been with them.”

LTNtech (formerly LatinX) in partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is our longest-running affinity program, with our first cohort of 12 Latino-led startups launching in November 2016. Six years & eight cohorts (and counting) later, our LTNtech alumni have gone on to build successful businesses with the resources & connections they made as a member.

First BLKtech cohort: 

BLKtech is our newest affinity program designed to empower Black founders. Launched in 2021, our first cohort featured 26 startups that quickly created a tight-knit community of support. 

When asked about the impact BLKtech had on her journey, Cohort 1 alum & Heart of Culture, Inc founder Keesha Vinson said:

“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 individuals who look just like you and are just as ambitious, if not more, on similar paths to solve real problems with amazing businesses. I’d recommend BLKtech to anyone looking for an amazing tribe in their entrepreneurial pursuit.”

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This list is just a handful of our community’s numerous firsts, and there are so many more successes & wins that 1871 members have accomplished over the years. 

From our entire 1871 family, thank you to all of our members, mentors, & supporters. The impact our community of innovators have had in tech, Chicagoland, & the world inspires us every day to do what we do.

Here’s to many more years of innovations & milestones!

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What’s the secret to 1871’s success? 

It’s not any one, single thing. The magic of our community can’t be boiled down to its base components or solved like an equation. What makes us who we are is all the things that don’t often get put into words—the energy that forms from the density & diversity of the people who share your passions, the surprises & serendipity from every fortunate collision, & the smallest, most unexpected interactions that create the greatest impact. 

We know that great things happen when changemakers connect & collaborate! 

Our community is made up of thousands of members, mentors, corporate sponsors, university & community partners, VCs, & policymakers that come together from both in-person & virtually from around the world to make a difference in our lives & others. 

Here our some of our community members explaining the moments & people that made all the difference to them on their journey:

What is something significant, serendipitous, or surprising that happened during your time at 1871?

Kevin Willer, former CEO of 1871: 

A couple of weeks after we first opened the doors of 1871 in May 2012 we were honored to be visited by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, early on a Sunday morning when he was in town for the NATO Summit. We had to make it seem like a regular busy weekday at 1871 so we needed our members to all be there on a Sunday morning, but could not tell them who the VIP guest was so we bribed them with coffee and donuts. The PM was awesome walking the space talking with many of our entrepreneurs—and then meeting in the current TechStars space with the CEO’s of many Illinois-based large corporations like Kraft, Caterpillar, and Groupon. 

Reva Minkoff, Digital4Startups Inc: 

I do not typically “fan girl,” but I will never forget when I saw Madeline Albright down the 2.0 hallway, took a photo at a huge distance because I didn’t want to be intrusive, and then went to one of the 1 person conference rooms to call my grandma and gush about how omg I just saw Madeline Albright.

Howard Tullman, former CEO of 1871: 

President Bill Clinton visit to 1871 and posing with the team.

Lakshmi Shenoy, Embarc Collective & former 1871 team member:

Aside from making so many close friendships with startups and 1871 team members during my tenure, I met my husband while working there! I’ll forever be grateful to 1871 for this.

Erica Bethe Levin, Globowl:

We earned a lot of press given our status at 1871. We were featured at the opening party and many other events/seminars/etc. I was selected as part of an exclusive group of “Women Who Launch” where we met with Mayor Emanuel to share our feedback on the Chicago start-up ecosystem. Our biggest success, however, was the group of people we met at 1871—many of whom are invaluable to my business (and my life) today.

Tony Wilkins, Standing Oak Venture Partners:

I will always cherish the first few days as Investor in Residence at Excelerate Labs (now TechStars) when people—yes, even Troy Henikoff—were rolling around the space on Razor Skateboards to get around.

John Martin, BUNDLAR:

An 1871 mentor, Andy Friedman met with my co-founder, Matt Wren. Andy advised me Matt was looking for a CEO and co-founder and that we should all meet later that day at the 4 pm TGIF in the auditorium. We met over a cold beer and the rest is history. 

Bruce Leech, DePaul University:

The funniest thing before Covid is the amount of times I was asked where the men’s washroom was! Since our DePaul room was at the end of university row, I guess I looked like I would know the answer when I was in our office late at night!

Tonny Thomas, NakiNoku: 

I was invited into a Mastermind group formed out of 1871 PYROS Launch members. It’s become almost like a family and an accountability group. I have to say sometimes I work a little harder to try and keep my micro-commitments. Being invited was a moment of serendipity, and I think the honesty of the group genuinely changed the trajectory of my startup!

Who was someone who made a significant impact on your 1871 journey? 

Jeffrey Osuji, Eventnoire:

Betsy has proven to be a compassionate and visionary leader who puts founders first and advocates for her members. 1871 is one of the true gems of our city and I’m extremely proud to be a member. 

Erica Bethe Levin, Globowl: 

I’d like to thank Tony Wilkins—with whom I spent countless hours in 1871’s conference rooms—compiling projections, spreadsheets and pitch decks. Tony is the kind of friend, mentor and advocate that every entrepreneur dreams of having in their corner. I’d also like to thank Steve Collens who championed for 1871 from the very beginning and encouraged me to apply as a member. It was truly the most life changing of experiences and is the reason I remain an active part of the start-up community in Chicago today.

Fiona McEntee, McEntee Law Group:

I’ve been a mentor at 1871 for many years and during this time, I’ve met the most incredible people including founders, 1871 team and partners, and my fellow mentors.

Julie Novack, PartySlate:

1871, you have created such an amazing hub for tech innovation in the city of Chicago! 1871 will always be part of PartySlate’s founding story!

Matthew Wren, BUNDLAR: 

I want to thank Kevin Willer for getting it all started, with a big shout out to the Excelerate Labs / Chicago TechStars team who was there from the beginning. Thank you to Howard Tullman who grew 1871 into an iconic Chicago powerhouse. A gigantic thank you to Betsy Ziegler, who has led 1871 through arguably the toughest economic environment the world has known in recent history. Finally, thank you to all the board and staff members who have made 1871 work—with a special thanks to Rhonda who’s constant enthusiasm at the front desk sets the tone for the entire place when you walk in the door.

Reva Minkoff, Digital4Startups Inc:

A big thanks to the whole 1871 team as well as to all of my former table-mates I’ve had the pleasure to sit with over the years – I’ve been here for a very long time, and it wouldn’t be the same without you all. 

Mark Lawrence, SpotHero: 

1871 is a gift that keeps on giving in my daily weekly interactions of mentors, investors and friends. Those relationships that started a decade ago in 1871 meetings and events continue to be some of the most important in my network. I’m looking forward to seeing where we go in the decades to come!

Lakshmi Shenoy, Embarc Collective & former 1871 team member:

Having been able to build a startup hub model of my own in Florida, I want to thank the founding team of 1871, led by Kevin Willer – you took a big vision and magically brought it to fruition . And I owe so much to Howard Tullman, who served not only as my boss but also as a tremendous personal mentor.

John Martin, BUNDLAR:

Every time I would enter 1871 I was greeted by a warm and robust welcome from Rhonda. Rhonda’s positive energy was contagious. Happy birthday 1871 and a big hug to Rhonda!

Tonny Thomas, NakiNoku: 

Special thanks to Veronica Blum who first inducted me into this community. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she is a incredible cheerleader to those of us who are going through the dark valley of entrepreneurship!

Bruce Leech, DePaul University:

Thanks to the entire 1871 staff for always being so accommodating to our students and our DePaul community. Rhonda and Bobby are the best and we missed being there these past two years and glad we are getting back to normal.

Tony Wilkins, Standing Oak Venture Partners:

Eternal thanks to Sam Yagan for inviting me to help out with Excelerate Labs weeks before they became one of the first tenants at 1871, a big step on a life changing journey.

What has being a part of the 1871 community meant to you?

Garry Cooper, Rheaply: 

Thank you, 1871! You provided a platform for Rheaply to grow. You’ve provided a community that reflects the beauty of our city.

Mark Lawrence, SpotHero: 

When I first entered the doors of 1871 a decade ago, I remember being in immediate awe at the vastness of the space. It felt empowering to bring my ideas and two-year-old startup, SpotHero, to such a large and inviting space. At that time, there was nothing like 1871. The Chicago startup community desperately needed a place where we could gather, connect and innovate. 1871 quickly became more than just that place—it established itself as a home for our community.

Matthew Wren, BUNDLAR: 

In 2016, following an 1871 immersive technology summit I was invited to present at, the seed for BUNDLAR was planted. BUNDLAR now employs 26 people full time (20 in Chicago), and we are creating a new market for augmented reality as a service, with customers including Microsoft and the US Air Force.

Derek van der Vorst, Sound Intelligence:

I’m proud and excited that we were the first company to be selected for the Orange on the Lake Program, a cooperation between 1871, World Business Chicago and the Dutch Consulate of Chicago.

Fiona McEntee, McEntee Law Group:

1871 has consistently focused on diversity, inclusion, and representation. I specifically remember years ago, its intentional effort to – while it was very close anyway – have gender parity among mentors. I’m honored to be part of such a special and inspirational community.

Jeffrey Osuji, Eventnoire:

In 2019 when I quit my job to work full time on Eventnoire  I was terrified. Immediately joining 1871 was one of the best decisions I’ve made. 1871 was a godsend as the resources and connections they supplied enabled me to move faster, raise my friends and family round quicker, and think more strategically about my business.

Joe Holberg, Spring: 

1871 has been vital to Spring’s founding, growth, and scaling over the years! It’s been amazing to be a member company at various stages for 6 out of 1871’s 10 years and we’re looking forward to the next 10 and 100 years of 1871’s success in Chicago and beyond!

Julie Novack, PartySlate:

I loved being part of the 1871 community. I started there with a single desk and remained there through 3 rounds of funding and 2 incubators — Techstars and WiSTEM. We hosted our first event planner educational session in 1871’s event space back in 2018.

John Martin, BUNDLAR:

I love 1871. BUNDLAR got started because of 1871!

Bruce Leech, DePaul University:

Showcasing our student and alumni startups within the 1871 community has provided tremendous exposure for their business. Many of our students have also participated and won Campus1871 which is an excellent program for our students to collaborate with students from the other universities.

Tony Wilkins, Standing Oak Venture Partners:

Ten years at 1871 has delivered many lifelong friends, lots of laughs, colleagues, mentees and the founders of SpotHero, Cameo, TraknProtect and NutriSense who I met during my office hours sessions….and invested with, proving that you can do well by doing good in a community sponsored ecosystem. Have loved the past 10 years at 1871 and look forward to another 10 years of the same!

Mert Hilmi Iseri, MATH Venture Partners

10 years ago, 1871 was launched to make founders’ dreams real. Lots have changed in the past decade, hundreds of new companies, thousands of new faces, millions in new funding. However, what stayed the same is the energy that makes us all stand up for each other as part of this community. The energy that makes us all founders, the audacity to pursue a seemingly impossible vision. No matter what happens in the decade ahead, one thing is for sure – 1871 is going to be the place where we show up for each other, shoulder to shoulder, to change the world.

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We’re so excited to launch our first ever NFT collection for our 10 Year anniversary! 

The collection titled “Decade of Innovation” was created to commemorate everything 1871 has accomplished in our first decade, from our beginnings  here in Chicago to becoming the #1 business incubator in the world. Our Fortunate Collisions blog article showcases the positive influence of 1871 on our community through the lens of our amazing members and team both past and present. 

Want to support the continued mission of 1871? All of the proceeds from this 10 year NFT collection will go to continuing our work! 

Consistent with the name and reason for releasing this NFT collection there will only be 10 NFT’s available for purchase in this collection. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a variety of options for you to choose between including five 1871 plates and five rotating 10’s to commemorate the first 10 years of 1871.  

Our NFTs are named for the influence we have had and hope to continue in the next decade.

View 1871 on Opensea.

3D motion graphics

Plates

Check out the Decade of Innovation collection on OpenSea and follow 1871’s OpenSea account to see future collections!

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As the pandemic lingers and virtual happy hours dry up, the hybrid workplace has shown it’s here to stay. In this new environment, technology companies have had to adjust their popular perks and policies to meet employees where they are. Whether their workforce is at home or in the office, many employers are wondering: what will employee perk programs look like in a hybrid world?

To find out, we’re inviting technology companies to participate in a nationwide survey, TECHniques: Perks & Policies in a Hybrid World. Understanding how your employee perks and policies compare to other technology employers can reveal strategies for how to attract new talent and continue to engage the seasoned team you already have.

Assurance and MMA are inviting 1871 members to complete the survey and receive a complimentary copy of the results.

The survey will remain open until April 22, 2022. Click here to get started.

Please contact Joe Spallina at joe.spallina@marshmma.com with any questions.

Fill out the survey!

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Author: Tracy Harrison, Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche LLP

For more than 25 years, Deloitte has been honoring the most innovative, fastest-growing public and private technology companies across North America through The Technology Fast 500. In recent years, the list has been dominated by the coasts and Chicago’s mighty tech community consistently remains underrepresented.

Let’s change this together.

I have seen first-hand the high-growth companies that are driving technology and innovation forward in our city. Now it’s time for you and your teams to receive recognition for all that you have achieved. 

  • What is the Deloitte Fast 500? Each year, Deloitte names the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America; recognizing the passion and dedication it takes to be a leader in these ever-changing industries.  
  • Why apply for Fast 500? Being recognized as a winner can increase visibility, brand recognition, and growth opportunities. It can instill pride in your teams and attract the attention of talent, investors, and the business community.
  • What does it take to land on the list? In 2021, winners demonstrated growth rates between 87,037% and 212%.  To apply, businesses must meet the following criteria:
    • Minimum of four years in business with headquarters in North America
    • A growth rate of 75% or greater (FY18-FY21) including base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000 (FY18) and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million (FY21)
    • Proprietary intellectual property or technology sold to customers in products or services that contribute to a majority of the company’s operating revenues
  • Who made the list last year? We proudly recognized 6 winners—including some repeat winners—from Chicago last year. 2021 Chicago Winners included: Shipfusion Inc. (147), LogicGate (152), XSELL Technologies (179), Simplify Healthcare (239), OppFi (335) and Built In (415).
  • Where can we apply? For more about the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 awards, including application criteria and deadlines, visit www.Fast500.com. Applications are open through June 24.

Let’s Get Started
Being a part of the Fast 500 helps our community grow, attracts talent and investment, and challenges us to work harder, think smarter, and dream bigger.

I’m eager to see what great Chicago companies will make us proud this year!

Start your application at Fast500.com | Reach out to our local team with questions

This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor.

Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Copyright © 2022 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.

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After a tough deliberation over an incredible group of 20 semi-finalists, we’re thrilled to announce the 5 founders who will be moving on to our finalist event! 

We hope you’ll join us in-person or virtually on 3.31 to help us cheer on our finalists as they pitch their businesses to a panel of VC investors. Our first place winner will receive a minimum of $10K & all finalists will have the chance to receive equity funding from a total of $80K!

Top 5 Companies of the WMNtech Pitch Competition 2022

About the pitch competition

The WMNtech Pitch Competition is our latest addition to our larger women tech founder initiative, which includes immersive programming, tailored resources, mentorship, and community support to help early stage women-identifying entrepreneurs embrace their unique strengths & break down the barriers they face. We can’t wait to bring together our full community of early, growth, and corporate members, VC partners, and allies as we bring much needed attention & resources to some incredible women-led startups!

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94 startup founders applied to enter our WMNtech Pitch Competition, but only 20 are slated to move on to the semi-final round! After an intense first round review process from appointed leadership at 1871, we’re very excited to announce the startup founders and their companies moving on through.

Top 20 Companies of the WMNtech Pitch Competition 2022

About the pitch competition

The WMNtech Pitch Competition is our latest addition to our larger women tech founder initiative, which includes immersive programming, tailored resources, mentorship, and community support to help early stage women-identifying entrepreneurs embrace their unique strengths & break down the barriers they face. We can’t wait to bring together our full community of early, growth, and corporate members, VC partners, and allies as we bring much needed attention & resources to some incredible women-led startups!

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Applications Open for Third Annual WMNfintech, Women’s Fintech Program from BMO Financial Group and 1871

  • tWomen-led startups can apply through April 22nd, 2022
  • Target startups have a U.S. based product or service that supports the financial sector

CHICAGO, March 22, 2022 – BMO Financial Group and 1871 today are issuing a national call for applications for their leading fintech industry program for women-led startups, WMNfintech. Applications for the 2022 program will be accepted through April 22nd, 2022.

Developed by BMO to help bridge the gender gap in the startup community, WMNfintech was launched in 2020 and continues to provide women entrepreneurs resources, support and mentorship to accelerate their business’ growth while diversifying their professional networks through BMO and 1871’s community of expert advisors, technology partners and founders. This is the latest evolution of the BMO / 1871 Innovation Program and was co-created specifically for women-founded and women-led startups developing products or services for the U.S. financial sector.

“We’re proud to work side-by-side with our longtime partner BMO to continue to expand this storied program,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “WMNfintech is an essential part of our commitment to creating a culture of belonging for women in technology. The long line of success stories that have come out of this program highlight how transformative it is when women founders are given the resources, support, and community of advocates they need to thrive.”

“The WMNfintech program has experienced continued success and our network of alumni and supporters across the venture community are eagerly awaiting this year’s cohort,” said Andrew Harrison, Head, US Digital Partnerships, BMO Financial Group. “We’ve seen first-hand how this program can help drive meaningful growth for founders while offering an incredible opportunity to diversify their network with our partners and clients. This is a powerful opportunity to support innovation and the diverse customer-centric technologies that can transform the banking experience.”

     The program will provide selected startups with:

  • A three-month program with guidance from industry experts at BMO, including an executive champion who will offer leadership guidance
  • Four-months complimentary membership to 1871, including access to their space, resources, and roadmap of support    
  • Curriculum focused on enterprise sales cycles, vendor management, information security and risk and regulatory requirements
  • The opportunity to pitch investors for feedback, mentoring, continued connections and/or funding

Participants will also have access to 1871’s structured yet flexible roadmap of support known as PYROS, which includes a 12-week series of workshops, shareouts, deep dives, and one-to-one mentoring built to help founders navigate startup fundamentals and propel them forward through every business milestone, from idea stage through product-market fit.

WMNfintech is an essential part of WMNtech, 1871’s overarching affinity offerings for women founders and leaders in technology. Ranging from tailored and regular programming, mentorship, pitch competitions, and more, WMNtech serves women professionals from across the entire maturity curve and empowers them to succeed in every step of their career journey.

The program includes a pitch day designed for startups to gather feedback from and network with BMO senior executives. Participants may also have a potential future opportunity to pilot their product with BMO.

WMNfintech strongly aligns with BMO’s commitment to women through its Zero Barriers to Inclusion Strategy. Learn more about BMO’s support for women entrepreneurs and purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life.

WMNfintech applications are due by April 22nd, 2022. More information and the application can be found at: https://1871.com/membership/wmnfintech

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through more than 500 branches and fee-free access to over 40,000 ATMs across the United States. BMO Harris Bank’s commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the United States. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, visit the company fact sheet. Accounts are subject to approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services provider with total assets of CDN$1.02 trillion as of January 31, 2022.

About 1871

1871 is Chicago’s technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth scalers and innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~450 technology startups, ~300 growth stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 650 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 11,000 jobs, and have raised more than $1.65 billion in follow-on capital.

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Contacts:

Jeff Roman, BMO, Jeff.Roman@bmo.com, (416) 867-3996

J Blaszczykiewicz, 1871, j@1871.com

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