The Magic of Momentum Explained

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For 17 years, the Momentum Awards have been the largest celebration of tech innovation and impact in Chicagoland. But what makes them unique? 

This award ceremony is 1871’s premier signature event, bringing together our entire community of founders, leaders, partners, and supporters annually for a night of celebration and innovation. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Momentum Awards, its history and evolution, and its impact on the work we do for our tech community! 

View our 2023 recap playlist! 

About the event 

Each year, the Momentum Awards honor the top tech innovators and leaders who are disrupting their industries, building up their communities, & shaping the future.

Our 8 awards: Rising Star, Momentum, CityLIGHTS, Outstanding Tech CEO, Industry Disrupter, Social Impact, Corporate Champion, and Chicagoness, represent key areas of achievement, spanning from idea to Fortune 50.

With awards recognizing early-stage startups, growth and late-stage companies, and corporate innovators, the Momentum Awards celebrates outstanding individuals and companies, no matter where they are in their business journey!

Together, our award ceremony highlights the strength of our community and showcases the ingenuity that arises when innovators are connected with the necessary resources, mentorship, and support system.

The Momentum Awards supports our mission 

As a 501c3 nonprofit, our work is made possible by the generous support of our community. 

The Momentum Awards isn’t just an event—it’s our fuel for the future. Your support helps us inspire, equip, and champion innovators and leaders at every stage of their journey. Whether you contribute to our Annual Fund, become a sponsor, or join us at the event, you’re shaping the landscape of tomorrow’s tech leaders. Let’s build the future together! 

You can also help us recognize the best in tech by nominating yourself, your company, or your peers across our award categories. Nominations open each year during the summer, and your participation will help determine which innovators and leaders make our esteemed group of finalists!

Finally, you can support us by celebrating with our community at the event! Just reserve your ticket and join us in person or virtually for the big day. 

 

The story of the awards

The Momentum Awards predate 1871 itself! The Chicago Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) first introduced the awards in 2007 to bring attention to the people building businesses and growing the community at a time when few viewed Chicago as a top tech startup destination. 

A lot has changed in 17 years! Since our first event, we’ve seen incredible growth in our local tech industry, in large part because of the strength of our community. Every day, founders create meaningful solutions, build new businesses, and scale their companies. Our annual gathering has also evolved to reflect these developments. 

 

The Momentum Awards’ impact

Not only is it one of the best places to connect with some of the brightest stars in tech, but the Momentum Awards also has a long history of recognizing startups that have become leading disruptors in their industries. In fact, it wouldn’t be the first time one of our award recipients became Chicago’s next unicorn! 

You will surely recognize many of our 2023 winners, including  CDW,  Rivet, WeSolv,  ReloShare, 1440, SpotHero, and many others. Read about our 2023 Momentum Awards winners.  

As an attendee, you’ll also see the density and diversity of our community on full display. The Momentum Awards brings together our entire community of members, mentors, corporate sponsors, community and university partners, VCs, alums, and policymakers for an unforgettable night of celebration. It highlights what makes 1871 special—the energy from every fortunate collision with supporters who share the same passion for innovation!

For any questions about Momentum, contact momentum@1871.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO — May 29, 2024 — 1871, non-profit global Innovation hub announces the launch of their second annual FoodTech Innovation Lab, running from August to November 2024.  This Lab unites food tech startups with corporate partners, investors, and industry experts to scale innovation and explore how technology can be leveraged to create efficiency and sustainability in designing, producing, and delivering food.  Applications are now open until June 24, 2024.

Nate Cooper, Founder and Managing Partner at Barrel Ventures, returns this year as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence. EX3 Labs, Levy, and World Business Chicago join as 2024 Lab partners.

“In my second year as the Expert in Residence for 1871’s FoodTech Lab, I’m excited to engage with innovative entrepreneurs shaping the future of food,” Cooper said. “The program brings together key players throughout the global ecosystem, and is a unique opportunity to directly support the future of food innovation. I’m thrilled to explore how this year’s founders are solving challenges in the verticals of AgTech, Ingredients, Manufacturing / Packaging, and other high-potential areas for innovation.”

“Tech integration is crucial for efficient and sustainable food systems that meet global demands,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “Chicago, a hub for FoodTech innovation, is uniting leaders in Ingredients, Agtech, and Manufacturing and Packaging to develop transformative solutions. The time for healthier and more sustainable food systems is now, and together, we are shaping a future where food is efficient, sustainable, and accessible to all.”

 

FoodTech Innovation Lab 2024 highlights

The Lab is open to the following innovators: 

  • Food tech startups with a product launched in market  and poised to grow
  • Late-stage partners seeking to become an industry expert and influencing major industry outcomes
  • Corporations sitting at the forefront of food tech innovation or seeking to accelerate food tech solutions

There will be a selection process for startups to ensure those admitted to the program have proven readiness and are fit for the 2024 FoodTech Lab. 

An information session on the Lab will take place on 06.13.24 to provide attendees with information on the program structure, how to join the Lab, and the benefits of joining as a cohort member or partner.   

This Lab is designed to connect FoodTech startups, partners, corporate innovators, VCs, and industry experts for four immersive weeks of programming, alternating in virtual and in-person experiences. 

The cohort will meet for one week of programming in August, September, October,and November 2024, ending with a FoodTech Innovation Summit on 11.07.24. 

 

Focus areas 

This Lab focuses on several “focus areas” for cohort members to explore, identify, and collaborate to accelerate innovation within our food system. This year’s program will look at solutions in the food and beverage spaces. 

High-level focus areas include: 

  • Innovative ingredients
  • AgTech 
  • Manufacturing & Packaging Innovation 

Why FoodTech

In today’s global systems, FoodTech innovation is crucial for addressing challenges like sustainability, efficiency, and scalability. By focusing on innovative ingredients, AgTech, and manufacturing & packaging innovation, the cohort will collaborate on developing transformative solutions that improve food production, reduce waste, and ensure a resilient supply chain for the growing population. 

We invite the press and the public to join us in exploring the future of the FoodTech industry. 

 

About 1871 Innovation Labs

The Innovation Labs serve as a dynamic hub for fostering cutting-edge solutions, collaboration, and technological advancement. These labs offer a platform for startups, industry leaders, investors, and venture capitalists to come together to pioneer the future of various industries, including artificial intelligence, cannabis, supply chain, and beyond. 

Typically running for three or four months, the labs are at the forefront of innovation, connecting key players in the tech ecosystem to drive transformative change and accelerate the development of groundbreaking solutions for today’s challenges,

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

For media inquiries, please contact:

J Blaszczykiewicz, Sr. Director of Marketing at 1871

j@1871.com 

press@1871.com 

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1871 Announces Inaugural InsurTech Innovation Summit: Pioneering the Future of Insurance Technology

CHICAGO— May 28, 2024 — Non-profit global innovation hub 1871 is hosting its inaugural InsurTech Innovation Summit on 6.27.24. This public, hybrid event is set to unite over 250 startups, investors, corporate partners, and insurance enthusiasts for a full day of programming centered around technology-driven innovation in insurance and critical industry topics. Industry leaders such as Allstate, EX3, and World Business Chicago are supporting the 2024 Summit. Tickets are now on sale, more information below. 

The Summit capstones this year’s Innovation Lab immersive experience for startups and industry leaders. Founders from the 2024 Innovation Lab cohort will be showcasing their products and services through interactive Startup Expos and pitching their startups in a pitch showcase competition. Areas of focus include climate risk management, emerging data sources, the future of mobility, and sales and distribution innovation. 

“As the Entrepreneur in Residence, I’ve had a chance to interact with the 30+ startups in the cohort – We have some great startups, CEOs and founders in the InsurTech space,” said Jeff Chookaszian, Insurance and Financial Services Executive at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). “This will be a great opportunity to network with some of the most influential leaders in the space including startups, VC’s and investors, corporates, and InsurTech junkies! The Summit will showcase innovation in the insurance industry and InsurTech. I would encourage anyone who is interested in InsurTech and AI to attend!”

“In an age where technology and risk intertwine, fostering collaboration between the insurance and tech sectors becomes paramount,” remarked Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “Drawing from my extensive experience in the insurance realm, I am excited to unveil the Insurtech Innovation Summit, an event poised to catalyze groundbreaking advancements. Set against the backdrop of Chicago, a city synonymous with innovation, this summit serves as a nexus for industry pioneers to converge. Together, we’ll chart the course for the future of insurance by harnessing the transformative power of technology.”

 

Summit Agenda

The public Summit will take place on 6.27.24, with the option to attend in person at 1871 or virtually from 10:00 to 6:30 PM CST. Note that while attendees can watch virtually, only a select group of events will be livestreamed. In-person participation is highly recommended to access full programming and networking opportunities. 

Attendees will gain insights into the latest insurance and tech trends, with focuses on risk management and underwriting , sales and distribution, and insights on  the future of tech integration into the insurance sector. Registration is required to participate in this event. 

 

Event details

  • Refreshments: Breakfast and lunch will be served, followed by happy-hour 
  • Expert-led panel discussions
  • Interactive breakout workshops 
  • Startup pitch competition
  • Startup Expo
  • Keynote
  • Networking

 

Ticketing information

This event is free to 1871 Members, with purchase options available for non-members. See ticket options here & register to attend.   

1871’s 2024 AI Innovation Summit will also run on the same day for separate curated programming.

For information regarding joining the Summit as a sponsor or partner, please get in touch with corpinno@1871.com. Subscribe to stay up-to-date on 1871’s Innovation Labs programming & news. 

 

About 1871 

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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1871 & BMO Announce the 5 Women-led Fintech Startups Joining the 2024 Cohort for Exclusive Programming & Industry Connections

1871 & BMO are proud to announce the five women-founded fintech startups participating in the 5th cohort of their award-winning program, WMNfintech. 

WMNfintech is North America’s largest non-profit fintech industry program for women-founded & women-led startups. Since launching in 2020, women-led fintech startups who have participated in this program have raised more than $35M in capital and created 200+ jobs in their respective fields. 

Starting in May, the cohort will further develop their services and solutions through the program’s tailored product, business development, and entrepreneurial programming. Each cohort member will also receive exclusive mentorship from BMO executive leaders to help navigate startup fundamentals, including pitch practice and potential access to capital and funding. 

About the program

Participants in this cohort are high-potential, early-stage women entrepreneurs whose startups exhibit exceptional promise in their future development and amplification in the financial sector.  

The cohort meets for one week of programming in May, June, and July 2024, culminating in September for the program’s final showcase at BMO’s Bay Area office. They’ll have the opportunity to share their business solutions and services with various stakeholders, banking partners, regulators, and trade groups for feedback and support. 

The five women founders will have access to 1871’s early-stage membership benefits, including educational programming designed to meet each founder’s unique needs and access to its pool of 150+ mentors and community members. Cohort members will also participate in deep dives and fintech-amplified workshops led by BMO leaders. 

Cohort members will be introduced into the powerful community of WMNfintech alumni, financial institutions, venture capitalists, and industry leaders for future networking opportunities. 

WMNfintech 2024 Cohort Members 

Amy Chou, Chief Product Officer at Addition Wealth

Addition Wealth is a financial wellness company that makes personalized financial expertise inclusive and accessible. We partner with companies, including financial institutions and insurance providers, to give individuals free access to digital financial experiences. Through our platform, we create meaningful relationships with people, empowering them to make smarter financial decisions and make the most of their money.

Alice Reimer, CEO of Fillip Fleet Inc 

Fillip Fleet is a modern shift in the way businesses deal with fuel and vehicle expenses. It finally puts control in the hands of the business — making the process simple, reliable, and more economical. 

Prarthana Gupta, CEO & Founder of OrdrSmart 

OrdrSmart tackles B2B manufacturers’ customer acquisition challenges by streamlining operations, cutting costs, and boosting revenue for over 600,000 manufacturers managing 10M+ product samples annually. Our software bridges the gap between an organizations CRM and ERP system to become the sourth of truth of product data throughout its lifecycle. 

Maya Urman Bahar, CEO & Co-Founder at Proov.ai

Proov.ai is disrupting the FinTech regulation market by automating the validation process of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and even simple models, bridging the gap between data science and compliance teams.

Claudette McGowan, CEO of Protexxa 

Protexxa is a B2B SaaS cybersecurity company that connects the dots between personal cyber hygiene and business risk. Using artificial intelligence (Al), the Protexxa Defender platform rapidly identifies, evaluates, predicts, and resolves common cyber vulnerabilities.

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Building the Future of Web3: How Decentralization is Empowering Industries and Communities

As the digital landscape witnesses a transformative era with the adoption and acceleration of Web3 technologies, 1871 got in on the action and hosted its first-ever Web3 Innovation Summit on 4.17.24!

In execution with U.S. Blockchain Coalition, Fintech4Good, and WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster,  the Summit united key players and industry leaders in Web3, including pioneering startups, investors, and corporate partners for a day dedicated to collaboration & innovation. 

Over a full day of programming and immersive discussions, 1871 and its expert speakers held attentive and collaborative sessions on Web3’s  impact on the future, focusing on the empowerment of industries through decentralization, while acknowledging the promising state of this technology. More on the themes of the day, below!

Watch the best highlights & industry insights in our 2024 Web3 Innovation Summit recap playlist! 

The core of Web3: decentralization & the power of governance

Charles Hoskinson, Founder & CEO at Input Output Global, opened the Summit with a keynote discussion on the importance of governance in the ever-evolving Web3 world. 

Web3 is a shift from traditional centralized systems to decentralized networks, where governance is distributed among users rather than controlled by a single entity. As our society continues to rewrite the history of  Web3’s integration, Hoskinson emphasized the importance of a collaborative governance — ensuring that its distributed among users and  belongs to a collective, rather than controlled and evaded by regulatory measures by a single entity.

This fundamental shift promises to enhance transparency, security, and integrity within its key players. 

Web3 innovators @ our startup alley and pitch showcase

Startups pioneering in Web3 were buzzing in our Startup Alley and pitch showcases, where attendees had the opportunity to get an insider-look at the amazing services and products being built by 1871’s 2024 Web3 Innovation Lab cohort.  

Congratulations to our pitch winner FreshCredit, and fan-favorite, My-Legacy.ai! 

Web3's impact on tech & communities

The financial sector is one of the primary beneficiaries of Web3 technologies. Lauren Thorbjornsen, Chief of Staff and VP of Communications at Stellar Development Foundation gave an energetic presentation, emphasizing that blockchain technology is not just about technological advancements, but should be leveraged to solve real-world problems.

Platforms like Stellar are optimizing blockchain to create more inclusive financial systems with low fees, fast transactions, and enhanced traceability, helping all receive their money without the complexities and hassle of old technology.

The need for education & regulation

Web3 isn’t going to evolve on its own – “this is just the beginning,” according to Thorbjornsen. And no, Web3 is not a get-rich-quick scheme or other commonly heard misconceptions! 

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Web3, widespread adoption faces hurdles, especially due to regulatory complexities and a lack of understanding among the general public. Web3’s panel discussions, ‘Web3 in Action: Real-World Web3 Use Cases’ & ‘What Needs to Be Done for Web3 Mass-Adoption’, candidly discussed the critical need for advocacy and education, alongside community engagement to foster a deep understanding and trust in Web3 technologies.

Panelists include: 

Web3’s evolution is dependent on developing governance models that can adapt and scale. The future of Web3 lies in its ability to integrate with existing systems and markets, overcoming technical and regulatory barriers while demonstrating clear use cases that benefit a wide range of users.

Embracing change and navigating the future

Jeff Gaus, Founder & CEO of The Provenance Chain Network closed out the Summit and expanded the narrative on Web3, portraying it not just as a technological innovation but as a pivotal shift involving a new suite of technologies and governance models. 

Gaus emphasized that Web3 should focus on delivering concrete outcomes, urging attendees to think beyond the tools to the satisfaction and results they bring. Highlighting the substantial financial investments flowing into Web3, Gaus also discussed its transformative potential, particularly in enhancing supply chain transparency, traceability, and efficiency. 

What’s the future of Web3 for Gaus? He compared the evolution of Web3 to the historical development phases of the internet and computing, suggesting a future where Web3 is seamlessly integrated into mainstream business and governance frameworks.

 As we navigate this new landscape, the combined efforts of developers, regulators, and the community will be crucial in shaping a technology ecosystem that is both innovative and inclusive. The journey of Web3 is just beginning, and its true potential is only starting to be realized! 

Thanks to all who joined us for our 2024 Web3 Innovation Summit. This day would not have been possible without the support from Fenwick, Hyperledger Foundation, Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC),  Genesis Block,  Wave Digital Assets, Chainlink, EX3 Labs, Decasonic,  World Business Chicago, Alphabit, ETHChicago, Global DCA, and  T-Mobile Wholesale.  

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The Green Tech Revolution: How Tech is Transforming the Cannabis Industry

The intersection of cannabis and technology is sparking a revolution in the way we grow, market, and consume this beloved plant. With the rapid growth of legalization around the globe & innovative tech solutions to enhance consumer safety and expand its market reach, hundreds of ‘canna-curious’  individuals and industry experts gathered at 1871 for our second annual Cannabis Innovation Summit on 4.17.24. 

In execution with Grown In, this year’s event far exceeded our expectations with an impressive lineup of cannabis leaders, founders, and innovators who spoke candidly into the complexities of cannabis entrepreneurship, legal hurdles, and technological advancements reshaping the industry.

From insights into current trends in cannabis to future predictions on where regulations and laws will land in this complex field, our Summit was full of collaboration on the green tech revolution. More on the theme of the day, below! 

Watch the best highlights & industry insights in our 2024 Cannabis Innovation Summit recap playlist! 

Cannabis: from plant to purpose

Beloved actor and entrepreneur Jim Belushi opened the Summit with a captivating keynote about his transition from the entertainment industry to launching his cannabis farm, Belushi’s Farm. His focus? Making high-quality, organic products for his consumers while educating the public on the power of cannabis and how it’s grown through his TV show, Growing Belushi. 

Motivated by a suggestion from friend Dan Aykroyd, Belushi explored the healing and therapeutic potential of cannabis, emphasizing its medicinal benefits and healing nature for individuals dealing with ailments or pain that can be alleviated by cannabis – both on the inside and out. 

“As an entertainer, my purpose is to make people feel good, healing by performing,” Belushi said. “With cannabis, it’s the same purpose. My job is to make people feel good.”  

Despite facing challenges many others run into, such as regulatory hurdles and the complexities of managing a cannabis operation, Belushi remains committed to the cannabis industry. Belushi’s mission is to educate consumers, continue exploring cannabis dispensaries across the nation, hear directly from users themselves, and advocate for federal regulatory changes to destigmatize cannabis use.

But, cannabis stigmatization isn’t going away anytime soon. Joanne Caceres, Cannabis Law Attorney at Dentons, and Eric Berlin, Partner at Dentons, shared deep-level legal insights about the cannabis industry in their breakout session ‘The Word Out of Washington and State Houses Near You.’ 

With extensive cannabis and hemp law expertise and involvement, Caceres and Berlin discussed the slow progress of federal cannabis reform and the intricate dance between state and federal regulations. Despite the positive impact of cannabis and its high demand, these legal frameworks and delays continue to have a significant effect on businesses, investors, and service providers. 

Canna-tech innovators @ our startup alley & pitch showcase

1871’s 2024 Cannabis Innovation Lab cohort of canna-tech enthusiasts and startups were not shy about what they’re up to! Attendees were captivated by current players in the cannabis sector in our Startup Alley and heard directly from its founders in our pitch showcases. 

Congratulations to our pitch winner, Budscout AI, and fan-favorite Acute on Chronic! 

Envisioning the future of cannabis

Cannabis is continuing to trickle into neighboring industries. Our breakout workshop leaders led discussions surrounding how cannabis innovation is within the main markets of supply chain and advertising, and the importance of cannabis research for future industry innovation. 

Speakers include: 

The Summit concluded with a future-focused discussion led by Kelly Bernazza-Hall, COO and Co-Founder of Hoodie Analytics, James Yi, Founder & Board Director of Leaf Trade, and Martez Knox, Founder & CEO of BakedBot.AI. The trio highlighted the crucial role of technology in powering today’s rapidly changing cannabis industry. 

Through data analytics, introducing AI for automation, and strategic partnerships, these tools are crucial for growth and scaling in cannabis to solve operational challenges and enhance efficiency, especially in a capital-contained environment. 

What is the most important thing we as a society can do according to this trio? Emphasize the importance of social equity in cannabis innovation! Support minority-owned businesses to ensure that the growth of the cannabis industry benefits all communities equitably.

The 1871 community can’t wait to continue exploring the future of cannabis in this tech-driven era with our community of industry innovators and leaders. 

Thank you to everyone joining us and our community for our 2024 Cannabis Innovation Summit. This day would not have been possible without the support from Dentons, Illinois Equity Staffing, Hoodie Analytics, and World Business Chicago.

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Meet the Top 5 2024 WMNtech Pitch Competition Finalists

1871’s WMNtech Pitch Competition returns for its third year to highlight and support women who are founding and leading tech startups across the globe. This 3-round pitch competition is a platform for women-founded startups to pitch their products and services for the chance to win funding, resources, and connections with VC firms. 

Cash prizes and equity funding from our VC partners, totaling $30,000 will be awarded to the finalists, alongside 6-months of free membership to 1871. Aloa credits, totaling a value of $20,000 will also be distributed, with $10k awarded to our first place winner and $2.5k awarded to each finalist in 2nd-5th place. 

Thank you to our investment partners OCA Ventures and Tim and Stephanie Barry, and our 2024 sponsor Aloa for your contributions to this event. 

With 100+ round 1 applications and 20 extraordinary semi-finalists, 1871 is excited to announce the top 5 finalists who will be moving forward and pitching their startups at our final event on 3.28.24! 

Top 5 Companies of the WMNtech Pitch Competition 2024

ASL Aspire, pitched by Co-Founder & COO Ayesha Kazi 

ASL Aspire is an online educational platform that teaches STEM education for K-12 deaf and hard of hearing students and their teachers. ASL Aspire is providing a seamlessly integrable curriculum that aligns with national core standards and is created in collaboration with deaf professionals who are actively developing new signs. Their interactive mini-games enable students to practice the signs while having fun, and our machine-learning technology enables them to validate signs in front of their webcam. With its user-friendly dashboard, teachers can track student progress and identify areas for intervention, making in-class instruction easier. ASL Aspire is committed to empowering students with the tools they need to succeed while providing teachers with an innovative solution to enhance classroom instruction for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Industry focus: ​​EdTech, Artificial Intelligence

Blip Energy, pitched by Co-Founder & CEO Sophia Wennstedt

Blip Energy is defining a new smart home category with an affordable, plug-and-play battery system. Blip leverages ML to optimize energy costs for any and every household, and supplies critical backup power in case of an outage. This distributed network of IOT batteries at the grid edge provides grid operators with the tools and data they need to stabilize the grid and lower operating costs – to support a better, smarter grid for all of us.

Industry focus: Energy & Sustainability, Social Impact

IN BOLD PRINT, pitched by Co-Founder & CEO Ashley Pradhan

IN BOLD PRINT’s technology platform helps small to mid-sized companies in the consumer goods space measure their carbon emissions and grow their revenue by leveraging impact. Think of IN BOLD PRINT as the ‘TurboTax’ of carbon accounting.

Industry focus: Energy & Sustainability

MabLab, pitched by Co-Founder & CEO Vienna Sparks

Test your supply before your supply tests you. MabLab is building 5-in-1 test strips to detect the five deadliest lacing agents in recreational drugs. In response to one of our close peers who overdosed when experimenting with drugs for the first time, our team is dedicated to providing a harm reduction tool that will provide users with unparalleled accuracy in under three minutes — allowing them the dignity to know if they would be consuming lethal substances.

Industry focus: HealthCare, MedTech, Pharma, Wellness, Social Impact

Partum Health, pitched by Co-Founder & CEO Meghan Doyle

Partum Health is a hybrid clinic founded to elevate care and improve outcomes for women and families by delivering the best of online and offline support through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Partum supports families with essential specialty services, including behavioral health, lactation, nutrition, physical therapy, and birth and postpartum doula care, that together prevent and address the most common complications of the perinatal period, including the leading driver of maternal mortality – mental health conditions. Partum’s care experience includes coordination and care team chat as well as patient education via our mobile/ web app – and we offer clinical services covered via insurance including BCBS, United, Aetna, and Cigna. We are currently serving patients in IL and TX and have delivered thousands of visits while achieving a ~95 NPS.

Industry focus: HealthCare, MedTech, Pharma, Wellness

About WMNtech Pitch Competition 

WMNtech Pitch Competition is a part of 1871’s women tech founder initiative, designed to support and amplify women early-stage founders through immersive programming, tailored resources, mentorship, and community networking opportunities. 

We are so honored to bring together our community of early, growth, and corporate members, VC partners, and allies as we highlight and celebrate well-deserving women-led startups!  

Help us cheer on the finalists as they pitch their businesses to an innovative panel of investors by attending the event,either in-person or virtually.

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1871's Web3 Innovation Lab Brings Together Major Players Pioneering Blockchain and Decentralized Technologies to Drive the Future of the Industry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, November 1,  2023 – 1871, global innovation hub, is excited to unveil its latest endeavor: the Web3 Innovation Lab, a forward-thinking program dedicated to exploring the limitless possibilities of Web3 native decentralized technologies. Partnering with us for this exciting initiative is both the U.S. Blockchain Coalition, the only driving multistate collaboration across the U.S.,  and Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) Advanced Technology Cluster, an industry leader in economic growth and connectivity for blockchain technologies and quantum computing; and our Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Arry Yu, co-founder and executive director of U.S. Blockchain Coalition, who share our commitment to advancing the Web3 industry. Applications are now open until December 29, 2023. 

In an era marked by the transformative potential of Web3, 1871 is eager to lead the charge in creating cutting-edge solutions and applications that will redefine how we interact with technology and the digital world.

“Web3 opens up so many opportunities for new innovations, and it’s essential at this stage in the sector’s growth to bring together stakeholders across the spectrum from startup to enterprise to investor to make sure we capitalize on all the opportunity,” said Nick Ellingson, director of products at WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster. 

“The power of Web3 is around the potential of privacy-preserving, people-owned, secured data on digitally native distributed systems,” said Arry Yu, co-founder and executive director of the U.S. Blockchain Coalition. “Web3 infrastructure using blockchain-based security is more than ten times better than what is in corporations today. Let’s invest in our innovators and build partnerships to make this a reality.” 

“The launch of a Web3 innovation lab at 1871 heralds a new era of digital transformation. This technology is more than innovation; it’s a gateway to a decentralized, trust-based future where data ownership, privacy, and security take center stage,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871.  “By empowering pioneers in this space, we’re not only shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape but also safeguarding the values of autonomy and transparency in the digital age”

The Web3 Innovation Lab will operate from January 22nd, 2024, through April 19th, 2024, focusing on pushing the boundaries of Web3 native and decentralized technologies. This lab program will explore emerging Web3 applications and their potential across various sectors.

 

Web3 Innovation Lab 2024 Highlights

The Lab is open to the following innovators: 

  • Growth-stage startups with a technology or product focused on Web3 and blockchain-based technologies 
  •  Late-stage partners seeking to enhance their Web3 through partnerships or have a core product focused on the Web3 space
  • Corporations sitting at the forefront of Web3 innovation or seeking to enhance their Web3 and blockchain-based technologies via partnerships 

There will be a selection process for startups to ensure those admitted to the program have proven readiness and are fit for the Lab. 

Information sessions on the Lab will take place on  12.06.23 and on 12.20.23, to provide attendees with curriculum information, cohort eligibility, and the benefits of joining as a cohort member or partner. 

 

2024 Lab focus areas 

This Lab focuses on several “focus areas” for cohort members to explore, identify, and collaborate to solve issues within Web3, blockchain, and decentralized technologies. Specifically, developing and expanding the foundational elements of such.

High-level focus areas include: 

  • Building Out Digitally Native Middleware: protocols dictating how data is exchanged and transmitted in Web3 
  • Layer 0’s and 1’s: shifting control and ownership of identity information from centralized entities to individuals themselves 
  • Enabling Enterprise: subset of use cases for companies to explore, like supply chain, loyalty, and finance 
  • Enabling Government: subset of use cases for governments to explore, like taxation, voting, and funding 
  • Use Cases for Normies: subset of use cases for consumers to explore, like product tracing, decentralized currency, and asset tokenization 

The lab experience broken down

This Lab is designed to connect startups, late-stage partners, corporate innovators, VCs, and Web3 experts for four immersive weeks of programming, alternating in virtual and in-person experiences. 

The cohort will meet for one whole week of programming in January, February, March, and April 2024. 

The program ends with its Web3 Innovation Summit, taking place on 04.18.24. 

 

Why Web3 

The current internet, often dominated by tech giants and intermediaries, has raised concerns about data privacy, censorship, and control. Although still relatively new, Web3 redefines the digital landscape with its emphasis on user empowerment, data ownership, and decentralization, offering a solution to these issues.

Despite its setbacks, Web3 continues to be alive and thriving, using artificial intelligence and decentralization to offer its users safety and security while putting users in charge of their data. Now is the time to utilize Web3’s resistance to censorship, commitment to economic inclusion and developer empowerment, and fostering global accessibility, making Web3 a promising frontier for the future of the internet.

1871, the U.S. Blockchain Coalition, and WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster are looking forward to a groundbreaking year of collaboration and innovation at the 2024 Web3 Innovation Lab. We invite the press and the public to join us in exploring the future of the Web3 industry.

 

About 1871 Innovation Labs

The Innovation Labs serve as a dynamic hub for fostering cutting-edge solutions, collaboration, and technological advancement. These labs offer a platform for startups, industry leaders, investors, and venture capitalists to come together to pioneer the future of various industries, including artificial intelligence, cannabis, supply chain, and beyond. 

Typically running for three or four months, the labs are at the forefront of innovation, connecting key players in the tech ecosystem to drive transformative change and accelerate the development of groundbreaking solutions for today’s challenges,

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

About U.S. Blockchain Coalition 

The U.S. Blockchain Coalition (USBC) is a proactive collaboration of state associations, private entities, and influential individuals that drives a national conversation about emerging technology policy, education, and adoption. The USBC’s mission is to share best practices, lessons learned, improve operational efficiency for each member, improve the purchasing power for the benefit of each member, and to consolidate political influence. The Coalition serves as the convener and the subject matter experts with a multi-state focused collective voice to better advocate for constructive public policy and educate key stakeholders, especially investors.

About WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster

The Advanced Technology Cluster is funded through Washington State’s Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program, and the focus of the group is to convene stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and the investment community to work together towards ensuring the Pacific Northwest and the broader United States is a leader in emerging technologies. The near term focuses of the Cluster are to promote the growth of web3, quantum information sciences, and artificial intelligence within the Pacific Northwest, while also finding opportunities for partnerships across the United States and the world. The Cluster works on a variety of initiatives including public policy and advocacy, workforce development, startup acceleration, and community building.

For media inquiries, please contact:

J Blaszczykiewicz, Sr. Director of Marketing at 1871

j@1871.com 

press@1871.com 

FINN Partners for WTIA

wtia@finnpartners.com

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1871 Introduces Its First InsurTech Innovation Lab, Welcoming Applications from Growth & Late Stage Startups for Fall 2023!

CHICAGO, August 15, 2023 – Global tech innovation hub 1871 announces the debut of its newest innovation program, InsurTech Innovation Lab, set to launch in October 2023. Applications are now open until September 8th, 2023.

This marks 1871’s inaugural InsurTech initiative, an experience uniting all the major players across the insurance landscape (Property and Casualty, Life,and Health)in a collaborative effort to tackle critical challenges and break ground on solutions for future transformation.

“Several areas within the insurance sector are poised for transformation and innovation. Hundreds of founders are leveraging technological progress to enhance not just the efficiency and expansion of incumbent insurance enterprises, but also to amplify access to the financial security that insurance offers to our society,” said Rachael Feuerborn, Chief Product Officer at 1871. “We’re thrilled to foster collaboration between these pioneering startups, forward-thinking corporations, and InsureTech experts to tackle the biggest opportunities the industry presents.” 

“Innovation is the compass guiding us through the ever changing landscape of risk, ensuring that current and future uncertainties are met with ingenious solutions”, said Betsy Ziegler, CEO at 1871.” This new  lab unites the visionary power of tech innovators with the security of insurance expertise sparking transformative potential. 

InsurTech represents the final addition to 1871’s suite of Innovation Labs this year, following the successes of the Cannabis Innovation Lab, AI Innovation Lab, Supply Chain Innovation Lab, and FoodTech Innovation Lab. 

 

About InsurTech Innovation Lab

Applications to join the Fall 2023 lab are open until 9.08.23. The immersive, 4-month hybrid experience, running from 10.09.23 – 01.18.24, caters to each stage within the cohort respectively, while fostering a collective atmosphere for collaborative innovation.

This Lab focuses on several areas for cohort members to explore, identify, and collaborate to solve key issues within the industry. Startups serving domains across the InsurTech focus areas will be considered for the cohort. 

Focus areas this year include:

  • Subrogation 
  • Litigation 
  • Fraud 
  • Back-Office Productivity 
  • Preparing for Volatility — Climate, Workforce, & Talent 

Those eligible to join the lab:

  • Growth-stage startups with a technology or product focused on the InsurTech space 
  • Late-stage startups as partners seeking to elevate their brand as experts and influence the InsurTech industry
  • Corporations as partners sitting at the forefront of InsurTech innovation or seeking to enhance their capabilities & offerings via partnerships 

A selection will ensure that startups admitted to the program are best suited and have proven readiness for optimal lab outcomes. 

Information sessions will be held on 8.22.23 and on 8.29.23, to provide attendees with detailed lab curriculum, key dates, and the benefits of participating. 

Within the lab, participants are connected to experts, enthusiasts, and investors through immersive workshops and other experiences throughout the duration of the program.

The lab experience alternates in virtual and in-person sessions, convening for a full week in October, November, and December 2023, culminating with the final week in January 2024. 

The program ends with a capstone-like InsurTech Innovation Summit in January 2024 — a public event akin to 1871’s AI Innovation Summit, which took place in July 2023.

For inquiries about partnerships or sponsorship options for the InsurTech Innovation Lab or Summit, connect with our team. 

To stay updated on all InsurTech Innovation Lab news, subscribe here. 

 

About 1871

1871 is Chicago’s innovation hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~400 technology startups, ~200 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 850 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 14,500 jobs, and have raised more than $3.5 billion in follow-on capital.

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On 06.22.23, 1871 hosted their third BLKtech Pitch Competition. The 3-round competition started with 50+ applicants, 20 founders moved to the semi-finals, and the top 5 finalists pitched their startups in front of a live audience.

Congratulations to the 2023 BLKtech Pitch Competition finalists 
  1. Period, taking home $13k dollars & $10k in Aloa dev credits 
  2. LucidTrade, taking home $9.5k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 
  3. Reach Pathways, taking home $7.5k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 
  4. Roomii, taking home $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 
  5. SALUBATA, taking home $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 

The finalists also received 6-months of free 1871 membership, on top of their individual cash prizes and development credits. 

Judges for the competition included: 

The third annual BLKtech Pitch Competition was made possible by investment partners  OCA Ventures, Wintrust Ventures, Dom Capital Group, and Tony Wilkins, as well as sponsors State Farm, Aloa,Weber Shandwick, Food Foundry, William Blair, Verizon, EY, and Molson Coors. 

About BLKtech

BLKtech is 1871’s umbrella of programming centered around supporting, equipping, and elevating Black founders & leaders  through curated programming and mentoring initiatives. 1871 has programs,community resource groups, and events dedicated to Black individuals in tech, including BLKtech Founders, BLKtech Voices, and annual celebratory Juneteenth event.  

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Women Founders Win Big at WMNtech Pitch Competition 2023

On 03.30.23, 1871 hosted their second WMNtech Pitch Competition. The 3-round competition started with 80+ applicants, 20 founders moved to the semi-finals, and the top 5 women founder finalists pitched their startups in front of a live audience.

Congratulations to the 2023 WMNtech Pitch Competition finalists 

1. kweliTV, taking home $20k dollars & $10k in Aloa dev credits 

2. Here Here Market, taking home $15k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 

3.Clickvoyant, taking home $5k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 

4. Hyivy Health, taking home $5k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 

5. Neofin, taking home $5k dollars & $2.5k in Aloa dev credits 

 

Judges for the competition included: 

We are grateful for the support from investors 7Wire, Hyde Park Venture Partners, OCA Ventures, Subconscious Ventures, and Troy Henikoff, as well as our competition sponsors Aloa, Molson Coors, and State Farm. Thank you for helping make this competition a success and helping 1871 continuing our mission of supporting well-deserving entrepreneurs with resources and funding. 

About WMNtech 

WMNtech is 1871’s umbrella of programming centered around supporting, equipping, and elevating women founders and leaders in tech through curated programming and mentoring initiatives. 1871 has several programs dedicated specifically to women, including WMNtech Founders, WMNtech Leaders, and WMNfintech.

 

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1871 Announces AI Innovation Lab 2023 Cohort

CHICAGO (April 4th, 2023)– Non-profit global innovation hub 1871 announces its first-ever list of cohort members for their AI Innovation Lab 2023. The program has been strategically built with execution partner Why of AI, and supported by anchor partner Discover and several other partners. 

This is 1871’s third tech innovation lab, designed to connect startups, growth scalers, and corporate innovators together, while also introducing VCs, AI experts, and talent to collectively solve various challenges across industries with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. 

The 39 cohort participants will collaborate through curated programming, workshops, and inspiration sessions, designed to foster meaningful connections and accelerate growth. They’ll hear from world renowned speakers, deep dive into how AI is changing various functions and industries, and take the stage themselves to share how they’re disrupting through AI. 

 

Cohort Members 

7 QUBES | Chase Yeung, CEO

7QUBES is a cloud-based CRM platform designed to revolutionize how small businesses manage their customer relationships, operations, data analytics, finance, and inventory. With advanced AI-driven tools, 7QUBES empowers businesses to prepare for the future and stay ahead of the competition.

ANDRALOGY ™ |  Dege Nsoki, Founder & CLO Products Analytics

ANDRALOGY™ has the vision to create a future of work for all. We are on a mission to help learners to design, build and deploy their own personalized Analytics, Machine Learning and AI projects.

Arvist | Nilay Parikh, Founder & CEO

Arvist uses existing security cameras and AI-powered Digital Twin technology to provide real-time critical event awareness for warehouse operators, helping to reduce supply chain disruptions and optimize operations.

Arvo | Alane Boyd, Co-Founder & CEO

Arvo is an AI-powered sales tool with a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users to create stunning digital sales assets such as proposals, case studies, how-tos, client portals, and even follow-ups, in minutes.

BannerBoo | Nadiia Yuzkova, CTO

BannerBoo is an AI-powered no code banner editor that allows businesses to accelerate and automate ad creation processes. 

Biologit | Nicole Baker, Co-Founder & CEO

AI-enabled Scientific Literature monitoring for Pharmacovigilance, Cosmetovigilance, Nutrivigilance and medical devices. 

Bizbaz | Hayk Hakobyan, CEO 

Bizbaz offers comprehensive customer intelligence and risk assessment capabilities. 

BlackInc AI | Eric Mills, Founder

BlackInk AI helps tattoo enthusiasts and artists quickly and easily generate unique and personalized tattoo designs. With a vast catalog of pre-made designs and a creation tool, BlackInk streamlines the tattoo design process for everyone.

Bloomfield | Mark DeSantis, CEO 

Bloomfield offers precise, objective and accurate plant-level health and performance assessments, continuously at any scale. 

Brighten AI | John Berkey, CEO/CTO 

Next generation Conversational Ai hardware and software platforms, enabling great conversations, even without an internet connection. 

CharacTour  | Kimberly Foerster, Founder & CEO

CharacTour is a patented platform that provides truly personalized recommendations for its 8 million registered users: based on 46 demensions of their complex personalities. Leveraging its psychographic data, CharacTour also building AI technology to precisely calculate the “personality” of a brand, determine target consumers using advanced statistical techniques, and generate ad copy using words and phrases to appeal to specific personas. 

ClearCOGS | Osayanmo (Osa) Osarenkhoe, Co-Founder & CPO

ML/AI driven demand forecasting and operation optimization for restaurants. 

Community Wellness Technology Inc. | Bonnie Johnson and Jon Fenner, CISO, CTO

We are a patient first, physician led organization improving outcomes and reducing costs in support of patients living with multiple chronic conditions. We partner with hospitals and managed care organizations to produce outcomes at scale.

Course Collab | Jamie Gladfelter, Founder 

AI-first productivity tools for higher education faculty. 

Encounter AI | Derrick Johnson, CEO 

Encounter AI, a cutting-edge voice AI system that streamlines the customer ordering process at drive-thrus. Our tech was developed with SRI International, the makers of Siri and Nuance.

Folder Front | Bryan Mulcrone, Founder

Folder Front has developed a Revolutionary AI-File Manager, that allows Users to organize files in seconds with the latest Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, as well as to find files faster than ever before with our Patent-Pending Folder Technology. 

Justpoint | Gregory Zarrillo, Chief of Staff 

Justpoint identifies products and practices causing public harm and holds responsible parties accountable by pursuing justice for victims.

LISA Insurtech | Gino Volpi, CEO

We are helping insurance carriers worldwide deliver a better, simpler, and faster claims experience to their customers.

Mercurial AI Inc. | Dennis Trujillo, CEO 

Creating AI solutions for improving cancer care. 

Outboundly | Miguel Dey, Founder

Outboundly extends LinkedIn with the ability to Instantly analyze  profiles and generate highly personalized cold outreach messages in one click using AI. You can also use Outboundly to analyze website text and generate cold email. 

Parkva | Rob Benson, CEO 

By leveraging computer vision (CV) and artificial intelligence (AI), Parkva solutions detect parking occupancy and violations 24/7 without human intervention.

Photos.live | Leonardo Araujo de Assis, CEO 

We deliver measurable, memorable guest experiences that help brands gain data-driven insights into their events. 

Qilo | Dave Brost, Co-Founder & CEO 

Qilo enhances electric utility data with AI to create a stronger grid.

Quadratic Systems Inc. | Anil Koripelly, Principal 

Quadratic is a pure-play Analytics firm helping our customers in their journey towards data democratization, AI/ML Automation and digital transformation.  

Rentervention | Conor Malloy, Rentervention Project Director 

Rentervention, a service of the Law Center for Better Housing, is a virtual assistant for tenants in crisis. Through Rentervention, tenants can access free legal information, document assembly and referrals to legal and social services. 

ReVert Technologies Inc. | Ryan Li, CEO 

With AI enabled power adapters, we make it easy to turn things off and save energy.

SC Tech | Jeff Beyle, CEO 

Provide advanced Industrial IoT technologies in a system that is easy to implement and straightforward to use. 80% of the power of the high-end Industrial IoT systems at <20% of the cost and complexity.

Sign-Speak Inc. | Yamillet Payano, Co-Founder & CEO

Sign-Speak is a revolutionary language translation services. Our AI-powered sign language recognition technology and support for multiple spoken languages make us the ideal solution for innovative financial service leaders looking to shape the future of accessibility.
 

Snips Media | David Zaretsky, Founder, CEO, & Chief Scientist 

Snips is the first performance-driven influencer marketing platform that empowers influencers with business tools to grow their audience and monetize their social networks, while enabling brands to run performance-driven influencer programs built on true measurability and scale. 

Socian Technologies | Marc Ward, Founder & CEO 

Socian Technologies builds autonomous drone systems powered by an advanced AI to provide on-scene visualization services to first responders. 

Socrates.ai | Melissa Swisher, Chief Revenue Officer 

Socrates is the leader in the Employee Experience Platform space focusing on delivering one place for the employee to go for anything they want to ask or do all through a conversational experience.   

SpaceBot | Dave Turner  & Angelo Garetto, Co-Founder 

SpaceBot is a spatial research and AI operations platform dedicated to improving the health and well-being of space users through data democratization, micro-conveniences, and automations.

Studio AI | Deepak Bandi, Founder 

Unlock the power of AI within your SaaS platform. 

Tribaja | Shannon Morales, CEO

Tribaja is solving for the world’s talent shortages using AI and predictive analytics to increase learning outcomes for the working class. 

UBIVIS | Paulo Henrique Garcia de Souza, Founder & CEO

Ubivis Industrial IoT collects machinery data from Operations Technology.  On Cloud SaaS or on-premises Ubivis systems perform real time analytics using BI. Digital Twin provides real time Artificial Intelligence manufacturing and/or maintenance simulation and our software robot executes autonomous machinery operation. 

Under | Michael Abramovic, Co-Founder

Beautiful digital applications, identity verification, and integrations with a few clicks. 

Verbal Transactions | Nancy Munro, CEO

Verbal Transactions accelerates the rate in which customer facing employees reach mastery of critical business skills. Our software platform, ACES, builds highly customized hands-on simulations with a built-in coaching bot and NLP to create realistic scenarios to experience deliberate practice.

Verity XR | Shiva Rallapalli, CTO & COO

Verity XR is a HealthTech company leveraging the power of virtual reality to provide treatment solutions for pain management and physical rehabilitation.  

Vetelligence | Zachary Oshinbanjo, Founder 

Vetelligence is a post service navigation platform built to help service members determine their next steps. We leverage data in order to guide service members towards new careers, education or entrepreneurship.

 

About the program 

Led and facilitated by Gabby Snedeker, 1871’s Senior Director of Innovation Labs, cohort members will participate in 4-weeks of hybrid programming, alternating each week for virtual and in-person experiences in April, May, and June 2023. 

The program culminates with a capstone-like event, the AI Innovation Summit, open to the public on 6.29.23. The summit is a full day of programming, centered on AI and machine-learning tech innovation, and highlighting the startups in the cohort. 

Subscribe to stay up-to-date on all AI Innovation Lab news + summit. 

For inquiries about involvement in partnering with 1871  or learning more about sponsor options for either our AI Innovation Labs or AI Innovation Summit, connect with our team at corpinno@1871.com.

 

About Why of AI

Why of AI helps startups to Fortune 100s bridge company-wide gaps in AI knowledge, strategy, and innovation. Our AI strategy consulting and training services help companies understand AI and develop responsible AI roadmaps to drive business growth, customer success, and competitive advantage. Why of AI is led by Alex Castrounis, a best-selling book author on AI and professor of AI at Northwestern University’s Kellogg / McCormick MBAi program. Alex is also a former INDYCAR engineer, race strategist, and data scientist that drove winning results for teams such as Andretti Autosport in world-renowned races, including the Indy 500. 

About 1871

1871 is Chicago’s innovation hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth stage and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~400 technology startups, ~200 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 850 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 14,500 jobs, and have raised more than $3.5 billion in follow-on capital.

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CHICAGO: March 27th, 2023 – Global innovation nonprofit hub 1871 is hosting its first ever Cannabis Innovation Summit on April 20th, 2023. This public event will engage over 250+ key players in the tech and Cannabis industry, including early-stage startups, growth-scalers, operators, as well as VCs, cannabis-enthusiasts, and those who are “canna-curious.”

The summit focuses on in-person programming (with select portions live-streamed),  and interactive networking. The summit is a capstone event for the Cannabis Innovation Lab program, launched earlier this year. The summit is co-hosted by  execution partner and industry expert GrownIn, leading cannabis compliance and education company. The lab is the first tech program of its kind, designed to bring startups, growth-scalers, corporations, investors, and operators together to approach the cannabis industry’s challenges and opportunities collectively. 

Summit Agenda

From 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, summit attendees can attend a custom program for the day, including;  keynote, expert panels, topical breakout sessions, pitch competitions, tech playground, networking, and more. See full agenda here.

Anchored by partner Cresco Labs, the summit exclusively showcases cohort 1 of the lab and gives them the limelight to showcase their innovations, as well as interact with thought leaders, investors, corporates, and more! 

This content, paired with industry leaders and executives, will make for an unforgettable day centered around all things cannabis-tech. Breakfast and lunch will be offered to in-person attendees, followed by happy-hour networking and drinks in the final hours of the event.

While attendees can watch virtually, only a select group of events will be live streamed. Thank you to several 1871 growth members for sponsoring this event, including NuEra, Tecvine, and Aeropay. 

Registration is required for this event – RSVP here. 

To sponsor the summit, email corpinno@1871.com. To stay up-to-date on 1871’s Cannabis-related programming & news, subscribe here. 

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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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The Innovation Labs Portfolio is specifically designed for growth-stage founders to be showcased to corporate partners and investors. Portfolio members are eligible for opportunities including: participation in the Startup Expo at their industry-relevant Innovation Summit, exclusive access to industry mentors, one-on-one corporate introductions, investor showcases, corporate deal flows, pitching on the main stage at their industry-specific Innovation Summit, and more.

On April 16 and 17, founders in the AI and Web3 ecosystems are heading to 1871 for the Emerging Tech Innovation Summit, where they’ll showcase their innovative solutions to potential investors, partners, and customers at the Startup Expo and Pitch Showcase.

Meet the portfolio members:

AI Portfolio

Damilare Odumosu, CEO and Co-Founder of CropMind Inc.

Al Lagunas, Co-Founder of Levee

Plamen Petrov, Advisor & Fractional CPTO at MEGI Health

David Turner, Co-Founder of SpaceBot

John Abrams, CEO of nutrad

Alex Klein, Founder of DeepNeed

Michel Bourque, Co-Founder of CYBERDEFENSE AI Inc.

Yutaro Nishiyama, Founder and Head of Technology at InstaEnglish

Adam Foresman, Founder of Ryden Solutions

Charlie Brizz, Co-Founder of TractorBeam

Brittani Brown, Founder of PLUG

Robert Kraft, Founder and CEO of Atlas World Sports

Anindya Singh Obi, Niiti

Peggy O’Flaherty, Co-Founder and CEO of VINLY

Sameer Pakanaty, CEO of Oraczen

David Clark, Commercialization Lead at YonderMaterials

Olivier Bacs, Co-Founder and CTO of bendi

WEB3 Portfolio

Bobola Odebiyi, Founder and CEO of CrossKudi

Morgan Culbertson, Founder of Hopscotch Research

Anthony Peltier, Creator and Founder of Pantheon TCG

Mark Alan, Founder and CEO of Bossbank

Sajad Meisami, MintlyGo

Jeffrey Nelson, Founder and CEO of MyIDFI

Tristan Peters, Solutions Engineer at Notabene

Stan Chen, CEO of RecycleGO

Jeffrey Gaus, Founder and CEO of The Provenance Chain 

Charvel Chedraui, Founder of Wayru

Michael Olorunninwo, President at GradientFI

Florian Huchede, Co-Founder of Carre.ai 

Sid Ugrankar, Chief Executive Officer at Qila.io

Connect with these innovative companies at the Emerging Tech Innovation Summit!

Join the Portfolio

If you’re a growth-stage founder interested in joining the Innovation Labs Portfolio, 1871 is currently seeking participants for the following industry tracks: Supply Chain, Construction, Web3, AI, InsurTech, Sports & Entertainment, FinTech, FoodTech, Health Tech, and Climate Tech. Existing 1871 members can click on a track and apply to its respective Portfolio. 

If you’re a growth-stage founder who is not yet an 1871 member, join today to become eligible to apply to the Portfolio. 

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Each spring at 1871, a selective cohort of women-identifying founders participate in WMNtech Founders, a 10-week experience designed specifically for early-stage entrepreneurs. Through tailored programming and personalized mentorship, these founders grow their solutions, hone their leadership skills, and unlock a motivating community of fellow builders.

The 2025 program kicked off in April, led by Liz Tilatti, 1871 Entrepreneur in Residence, and Bridget Lohrius, Founder and CEO of Sandwina. Below, learn about this year’s cohort.

Meet the Cohort

Aliyah Kizibash, Co-Founder and CEO of TaxBack

Arusha Goyal, Founder of MyHealthHub

Emily Burrow, CEO of TBM Labs

Folasade Runcie, Founder and CEO of Doulala

Helen Sharron, Founder and CTO of Selfient

Janet Namutebi, Co-Founder of EcoGrains

Jing Ma, Co-Founder and CEO of Tabbird AI

Joanna Drew, Founder and CEO of Emergent Giving

Julie Achettu, Co-Founder and CEO of House of Jaya

Kelly Lakas, CEO of Onyx Point Systems, LLC

Keyuri Shah, Founder of Mosaicsoft

Laci Gatewood, Founder and CEO of The Mindful Spaces Group, LLC

Melissa McEwen, Founder of CurlsBot

Rebecca Abraham, Founder and CEO of Plesio Health

Sophia Carey, Founder and CEO of BuildWise

Yu Zhang, Co-Founder of Prometheus Data

Zainab Bakare, Founder of ZABA

Want to get involved?

WMNtech Founders runs every spring — stay tuned for information about joining next year’s cohort!

WMNtech Voices is 1871’s Community Resource Group (CRG) committed to fostering a vibrant and collaborative ecosystem for women-identifying individuals in tech. In the WMNtech community, the unique perspectives and talents of women professionals and allies are celebrated and leveraged to drive positive change.

Learn More About WMNtech Voices!

To stay in the know about all WMNtech Voices events, fill out this form.

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The 2025 International Women’s Day theme is “Accelerate Action,” which emphasizes the necessity of taking collective, decisive steps toward gender parity and equality. This theme was the guiding force behind 1871’s annual International Women’s Day celebration. Over 600 people registered up for the festivity — making it the biggest event of its kind — demonstrating the power of coming together under a common cause.

The day’s excitement began 30 minutes before registration. Attendees lined up down the hallway of the 12 floor of the Merchandise Mart, chatting with neighbors and eagerly awaiting the morning’s kickoff. At 8:30 a.m., the doors opened and hundreds of women and allies made their way inside, grabbing a colored lanyard that denoted their career status and grabbing a specialty beverage from the U3 coffee cart.

As guests connected over breakfast and coffee, many stopped by the bookmark-making station, featuring custom-made bookmarks with quotes from influential women. They beaded, bedazzled, and bonded and then headed to the auditorium for the official start of the event.

The first session of the morning was a workshop led by Pamela Culpepper, Managing Partner of the Leadership Advisory Practice at Hanold Associates and Founder of Have Her Back, LLC. Culpepper brought her extensive experience in coaching C-level executives and functional leaders to the 1871 stage for her session, “Understanding and Managing Emotional Reactions.” 

“Sometimes we just need to hear that what we’re doing is exactly the right thing we should be doing,” she said. Together, the audience learned to practice radical acceptance, cognitive behavioral techniques, and grounding methods. “I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to be among powerful young people who are going to set this world on fire,” Culpepper shared.

Attendees then engaged in speed networking, where they connected with peers in the same stage of their career journey and on different paths all together. With new contacts, allies, and mentors, the group gathered for the keynote conversation, delivered by Jodi Fyfe, Founder and CEO of The Paramount Group, and moderated by 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler.

IWD BLOG (2)

Fyfe discussed her career journey — from experiencing her “aha moment” at a young age while bussing tables at a restaurant, to launching her own catering business. She had the crowd laughing with anecdotes of her roller skating at Ed Debevic’s and applauding as she spoke vulnerably about being a single mother and founder. “I think believing in yourself is one of the hardest things in the entire world,” she said, as she wiped away tears. 

The biggest takeaway from the conversation was the importance of surrounding yourself with amazing people. Fyfe personally shouted out the influential individuals in her life — from her daughter, who was watching in the crowd, to her assistant, to her mentors  — and her gratitude permeated the entire packed auditorium.

After learning about the Paramount Group’s development, guests enjoyed its delicious food for lunch, and spent the rest of the afternoon connecting with new friends and colleagues. The energy of the day was enthusiastic, optimistic, and inspiring, and every moment solidified the importance of 1871’s commitment to supporting women in the professional world. 

“We don’t just believe that diverse founders create stronger businesses and stronger economies, we know it,” said Betsy Ziegler in her opening remarks. “Despite our collective progress, the numbers tell us that the playing field is still not level.” At 1871, that is what we aim to change — it is our goal on International Women’s Day and every day.

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  • WMNfintech is North America’s largest nonprofit financial technology (fintech)
    accelerator for women-led startups, developed by BMO and 1871.
  • Applications are open from March 7 – April 10, 20

CHICAGO, March 17, 2025 – BMO and 1871 announced a call for applications at SXSW 2025 for its annual WMNfintech program, an award-winning program designed to empower startup founders as they create and scale innovative services and solutions that support the financial sector. In its sixth year, WMNfintech has become the largest alumni network of women-founded and women-led startups, granting entrepreneurs access to a powerful ecosystem focused on helping them to grow their business and bring technologies and products forward.


“WMNfintech continues to be an incredibly powerful ecosystem for founders in North America,”says Andrew Harrison, Head of Emerging Partnerships and Digital Innovation Fund at BMO. “For the past five years, we’ve put BMO’s ecosystem to work for entrepreneurs, helping them to grow their businesses, pitch products and services, create opportunities to secure capital and, most importantly, drive meaningful impact in our industry.”

Five startups will be selected to participate in the program, which is designed to support them through tailored resources and programming, including:


● 1:1 guidance and insights from top industry experts at BMO Financial Group in their
specific field

● Tailored curriculum focused on enterprise sales cycles, vendor management,
information security, and rise and regulatory requirements

● Six-month membership to 1871, including its space, resources, and a roadmap for
support

● Opportunities to attend industry events to build community and connect with
stakeholders, partners and regulators

● Pitching opportunities for feedback, mentorship, and strategic connections

● Exclusive alumni networking opportunities

This year’s program runs from May to August, including four immersive weeks of curriculum where founders gather in-person and/or virtually. This year’s WMNfintech cohort will also have the opportunity to attend exclusive events across the U.S., connecting with stakeholders, banking partners, regulators and trade groups in locations including NYC, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

The WMNfintech Impact

Since launching in 2020, participating women-led fintech startups from across the globe have created over 200 jobs and raised over $45 million in capital.

“Empowering fintech startups isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart investment in the future of financial innovation. WMNfintech has built an incredible community of founders who are redefining what’s possible in this industry,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “At 1871, we’re committed to providing them with the resources, mentorship, and connections they need to scale. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with BMO to foster bold ideas and support the next generation of fintech leaders.”


To apply for the WMNfintech program by April 10, 2025 and learn more about the program, visit https://1871.com/membership/wmnfintech. 

About BMO

BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of January 31, 2025. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is adiverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future,
and inclusive society.

About 1871

 

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage,
growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more
than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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Written by Ivan Giganov, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Expert

As the AI market continues to evolve, startups seeking success must overcome challenges associated with building businesses in the rapidly emerging AI industry. Chicago’s innovation ecosystem offers a robust foundation for addressing these challenges and supports the development and scaling of new AI solutions.

One of the key differentiators for Chicago is the availability of high-quality talent, which is essential for building innovative companies, coupled with lower competition from other tech startups compared to other large tech hubs. This talent pool is nurtured by leading universities, such as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Purdue University, and University of Chicago. These institutions have launched AI-focused programs, like machine-learning innovation accelerators, providing startups with advanced talent and potential research partnerships. This synergy between academic institutions and the startup community empowers founders to create specialized solutions that align with pressing AI market needs.

Moreover, Chicago’s established industries – spanning finance, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing – create sector-specific opportunities that enable startups to collaborate with large enterprises. These collaborations help develop tailored solutions and provide access to proprietary, domain-specific data. By working with local enterprises, AI startups can secure unique data assets and enhance model accuracy or seamlessness. Companies in these sectors are increasingly open to partnering with startups to co-develop and pilot AI-driven proofs of concept, making Chicago an attractive hub for innovation.

Investment in AI ventures has also gained momentum among local venture capital firms, reflecting a broader market interest in data-driven solutions. Firms such as Hyde Park Venture Partners and Pritzker Group Venture Capital provide not only funding, but also strategic guidance and industry networks, both of which are critical for AI startups looking to scale their operations and expand their footprint.

Innovation hubs further strengthen Chicago’s AI ecosystem. Organizations like 1871, Techstars Chicago, and mHUB offer mentorship, workshops, and extensive connection opportunities designed specifically for AI entrepreneurs. These programs help startups refine their business models, navigate regulatory considerations, and forge partnerships and client relationships.

“We have some of the best universities, a world-class city, and plenty of capital here. Depending on the company, there’s also a huge potential client base, with so many businesses in Chicago, including Fortune 500 companies. Plus, we have incredible organizations and a deeply invested community, such as the 1871 innovation and entrepreneurship hub,” adds Alex Castrounis, founder and CEO of Why of AI.

About the AI Innovation Lab

1871’s AI Innovation Lab, part of the Emerging Tech track, is designed to connect key figures in the AI industry and maximize the chance of high-impact collisions through focused experiences. Through the Lab, members accelerate the growth of their solutions and sharpen their competitive edge with partnerships and strategies discovered at 1871.

The Lab consists of experiences, occurring year round, including community co-working days, corporate reverse pitches, investor showcases, innovations summits, and more, that are designed to build community and connect innovators within the Lab ecosystem. During programming, the AI Innovation Lab will dive into hot topics, including AI infrastructure, multimodal and generative AI, risk management, and AI’s impact on other industries.

Learn more and join the lab!
Works Cited

US News. Best Computer Science Schools.
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings

Kellogg Northwestern. MBAi degree for Business & Artificial Intelligence. https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/mbai-program/

Polsky UChicago. The Transform data science and AI accelerator.
https://polsky.uchicago.edu/programs-events/transform/

Deere. John Deere Announces Its 2024 Startup Collaborators 
https://www.deere.com/en/news/all-news/deere-announces-startup-collaborators/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

1871. AI Innovation Lab.
https://1871.com/innovation-labs/ai/

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CHICAGO, March 5, 2025- Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), the trusted nonprofit association for the blockchain, digital assets, and emerging technology community, has formed a strategic
partnership with 1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, to stimulate blockchain
innovation in the U.S. through 1871’s Web3 Innovation Lab.

In 2025, excitement surrounding blockchain technology has surged. Organizations
continue to bolster their U.S. presence, while regulatory frameworks become continually clearer.

Through this partnership, GBBC and 1871 will create opportunities for experts,
startups, investors, and corporations in the U.S. by:

● Strengthening the interconnections between GBBC’s and 1871’s communities

● Inviting GBBC members to participate in 1871’s Web3 Innovation Lab events and

partnerships

● Supporting innovation across sectors through the strategic implementation of
emerging technologies

About the Web3 Innovation Lab

The Web3 Innovation Lab offers technology-focused experiences and is designed to
connect key figures in the ecosystem to maximize the chance of high-impact collisions.
Through the Lab, members accelerate the growth of their solutions and sharpen their

competitive edge with strategies and partnerships discovered at 1871. Focus areas for
the 2025 program will include: Digital Assets, Market Infrastructure, and Web3-Powered AI.

The Lab Experience

The Web3 Innovation Lab consists of six types of core experiences, each focused on
building community and connecting innovators within the Web3 ecosystem.

● Connect Events: Public events designed for learning from and connecting with
industry experts and organizations in Chicago

● Community Working Days: Dedicated days for co-working with fellow industry

innovators at 1871

● Corporate Reverse Pitches: Problem statement presentations from corporate
partners to a pipeline of startups – founders engage in customer discovery,
propose innovative solutions, and explore transformative partnerships

● Innovation Summit: Industry conference that brings together key players in the
tech ecosystem for an all-encompassing, multi-day event. It is an opportunity to
gain insights from industry leaders, connect with accelerating startups and
become part of the disruption

● Innovation Week: A week focused on connecting founders, corporates and
investors through curated showcases, roundtables and learning experiences

● Investor Showcases: Exclusive showcase of select Innovation Lab startups for
active investors

About GBBC

Global Business Blockchain Council (GBBC) is the trusted nonprofit association for the
blockchain, digital assets, and emerging technology community. Founded in 2017 in
Davos, Switzerland, GBBC comprises more than 500 institutional members and 284
Ambassadors across 124 jurisdictions and disciplines.

GBBC furthers adoption of blockchain and emerging technologies by engaging
regulators, business leaders, and global changemakers to harness these transformative
tools for more secure and functional societies.

GBBC industry verticals: Financial Services, Global Commerce/Supply Chain, and
Commodities, underpinned by AI, digital identity, governance, hardware, infrastructure,
policy, regulation, and security.
GBBC initiatives: BITA Standards Council (BITA), Food for Crisis, Global Standards
Mapping Initiative (GSMI), International Journal of Blockchain Law (IJBL), InterWork
Alliance (IWA), and U.S. Blockchain Coalition (USBC).

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-
stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary
businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage
companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs,
accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+
alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more
than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

Get Involved

Want to be part of Web3 Innovation Lab? Become an 1871 member today and gain
access to the Lab experiences. Learn more about the Web3 Innovation Lab and 1871
Innovation Labs.

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On February 20 and 21, 1871 partnered with THINKChicago — World Business Chicago for Campus 1871. The exciting event connected students and tech professionals through networking, workshops, speaker panels, and more, for the purpose of bolstering the future leaders of the tech industry.

Students from 1871’s partner universities, including University of Chicago, DePaul, and University of Illinois Chicago, had the opportunities to hear from accomplished speakers — like Umama Kibria, founder of Head of Social, Makunde Martin, co-founder of Chi Tech Collective, and Debra Giunta, founder of Prismatic — build their own startup through the Innovation Studio, and network with representatives from top companies like BuiltWorlds, Why of AI, TransUnion.

And the event’s inspiring energy did not end when students left the space. Attendees walked away with invaluable advice gleaned from professionals in all sectors of the industry, from social media consulting, to software engineering, to venture capital. Here are the top ten takeaways from Campus 1871. 

1. Connect with mentors above you, below you, and beside you

During her keynote conversation, Umama Kibria stressed the importance of having three distinct types of mentors: above you, below you, and beside you. Mentors above you are people who are where you want to be — they have that dream job or succeeded in starting their own business. These professionals serve as role models and can provide tangible advice that will help you achieve your goals. Mentors below you, though seemingly counterintuitive, are integral because they help solidify confidence in your experiences. Serving as a mentor to someone else reinforces your knowledge of your industry and your understanding of your personal brand. Finally, Kibria encouraged everyone to find mentors beside them; individuals who are in the same place in their careers as you are. These are people who can help you navigate challenges, support you at events, and offer unique advice related to your current position that someone further along may not understand in the same way.

2. You don’t need technical skills to work in tech

Well, it’s smart to have some technical skills, but you definitely don’t need to know how to code. During the Classroom to Career panel, Drushya Musham, who founded Taptic while still in college, admitted that she doesn’t know how to code. Instead, what she brings to the table is knowledge of how to run a business, how to get investors, and how to drive growth. Her advice? “Find a co-founder who compliments your strengths and weaknesses.” 

3. Network with intention

While networking should feel more like a conversation and less like an interview, it is important to enter a conversation with predetermined talking points. “Think about what it is you’re looking for,” said Debra Giunta, Founder and Executive Director of Prismatic, whether it’s a job opportunity, career advice, or expertise. This will help you guide the conversation and achieve a productive outcome. Remember, the people you network with are donating their time — make it worthwhile through an intentional approach.

 “Think specifically about what you want people to remember you by,” said Giunta. Putting in that extra effort will guarantee that you leave a stronger impression.

4. Build an approachable vibe

During her keynote conversation, Umama Kibria stressed the importance of having three distinct types of mentors: above you, below you, and beside you. Mentors above you are people who are where you want to be — they have that dream job or succeeded in starting their own business. These professionals serve as role models and can provide tangible advice that will help you achieve your goals. Mentors below you, though seemingly counterintuitive, are integral because they help solidify confidence in your experiences. Serving as a mentor to someone else reinforces your knowledge of your industry and your understanding of your personal brand. Finally, Kibria encouraged everyone to find mentors beside them; individuals who are in the same place in their careers as you are. These are people who can help you navigate challenges, support you at events, and offer unique advice related to your current position that someone further along may not understand in the same way.

5. Break down the buzzwords

Early conversations aren’t the time to throw people off with your language. While you should keep it professional when networking with new people, don’t assume that others will understand terminology or acronyms specific to your industry. Dissect the jargon and take a more conversational approach. A great way to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge is to take  something technical and make it digestible for a wide audience.

6. Your identity is an advantage

There are infinite reasons you might hold yourself back or think you’re not good enough. You don’t have a specific certification, you changed careers late, you don’t belong to a certain identity group — the negative thoughts are endless. But whatever you bring to the table is an advantage if you make it one. Musham discussed the struggles she faced with founding a startup as a full-time college student. She described situations where investors didn’t take her seriously because she was in school. But Musham learned to flip that narrative — being a student made her accomplishments all the more impressive, being a student made it possible for her to continue picking up new skills. Billy Ndizeye, Innovation Labs Program Manager at 1871, said it best: at the end of the day, you can’t change who you are. However you define yourself, your identity can be leveraged.

7. Like, comment, and post!

Don’t be afraid to share your journey on social media. Today, it’s easier than ever to connect with people who share your passions or have careers you look up to. Use social media as a tool to showcase your skills, your interests, and even your mistakes (and how you learn from them). This will help you identify your personal brand and package yourself to employers, investors, and colleagues. 

8. Be everywhere

Whether in person or virtually, there are countless events happening every week that offer the chance to learn something new, form meaningful connections, and immerse yourself in motivating circles. “No matter what I pursue, community will always be a baseline,” said Kibria. Once you begin showing up, “you’ll start coming up in rooms you’re not in, and that’s what we want.”

9. How you show up is part of your brand

Securing your place in tech, or any industry, is about more than just your skills. Everything from personal style to weekend hobbies contribute to your individual brand. Find the balance between professionalism and authenticity, because while technical skills may help you land an interview, at the end of the day, the people you work with are more than their job descriptions. Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality, even in more professional settings.

10. Have the will to learn

Makunde Martin, software engineer at Google and founder of Chi Tech Collective, shared with students that, in addition to the coding he does at work, he takes courses and continues to learn outside of the office. “Wanting to solve complex problems is a necessary skill in this industry,” he said, and a persistent desire to learn is integral to one’s growth and success. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate, or fifteen years into your career, don’t stop learning. You never know what new skill might take your career to the next level, or what passion you’ll uncover by learning something new.

Thank you to THINKChicago — World Business Chicago for partnering with us on this event. 

Thank you to all of the speakers that offered crucial insights and inspired the next generation of technology leaders: Umama Kibria, Debra Giunta, GiGi Hernandez, Billy Ndizeye, Megha Balamurugan, Drushya Musham, Makunde Martin, Salvado Duenas, Ernesto Alvarez, Paige Michals, Sarah Vicino, Deena Siegel, and Ashley Gonzalez. 

 

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1871 is thrilled to welcome the first ever cohort of Industry Champions. Our Innovation Labs program has evolved from a four-month, cohort-based experience to year-round. To help bring this continual format to life, we are augmenting our team with dynamic volunteer leaders who will connect the Lab’s programming and our specific innovation-themed communities.

What is an Industry Champion?

Industry Champions are technology professionals dedicated to fostering community within their industries. In collaboration with 1871’s Innovation Labs team, Champions will design and host focused experiences, create opportunities for collaboration within their Labs groups, promote events, and energize their IRL and digital communities.

This year, there will be 11 Innovation Labs running throughout the year: Supply Chain, Construction Tech, Web3, AI, Quantum, InsurTech, Sports & Entertainment, FinTech, FoodTech, Climate Tech, & Health Tech. 

After receiving 100+ applications and conducting stellar interviews, Team 1871 is excited to introduce the incredible cohort!

Meet the Champions!

HealthTech 

Ibraheem Alinur

Vice President of 2FLo Ventures

Ali Aga

Principal Software Engineer at FLOWBIT

FoodTech

Dustin Mares

Co-Founder of Meal Outpost

Kaitlin Grady

Director of Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs at Clever Carnivore

FinTech

Richard Corral

Founding President of Quanto

Samantha Lee

Chief of Staff at Discover Global Network

Sports & Entertainment

Rujanee Mahakanjana

Director/Producer & Founder of Nebula Creatives L3C, Founder & CEO of Pixquid LLC

Karishma Bali

CEO and Founder of Drip

Noma Shields

Founder & CEO of Youth Sports Science Institute

AI

Caralanay Cameron

Founder & CEO of PartnerWork Innovations, Chief Product Officer at LiQUiDQ

Become a Champion!

We are still recruiting Industry Champions for the following industries: Web3, AI, Climate, InsurTech, Supply Chain, and Construction Tech.

Apply to become a Champion here!

Join an Innovation Lab

Existing members have access to participate in all Innovation Labs and leverage the benefits.

Already a member? Join a lab here
Not a member yet, become one today!
Learn more about Innovation Labs

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Bright and early on February 16, investors, fintech founders, and executives from top fintech corporations filed into the 1871 auditorium. The energy in the room was abuzz as attendees eagerly awaited the start of day three of the FinTech Innovation Summit. 

The money-themed melodies that pulsed through the speakers faded as 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler, who began her career in financial services, took the stage to kick off the event. 

After her opening remarks, Ziegler passed the microphone to Xiaochen Zhang, CEO and founder of FinTech4Good, a global network dedicated to harnessing technology for positive change and the Summit execution partner. “If you are connected with 1871, you’re going to have a different life,” Zhang said. For weeks leading up to the summit, he worked with the 47 FinTech Innovation Lab cohort members, helping founders strengthen their solutions. 

Through the corporate lens

Representatives from Discover, United, and BMO sat before a crowded auditorium, eager to impart their fintech-innovation wisdom from the corporate perspective.

Standing out from the score of insightful advice were three recurring points: have a clear understanding of your pitch, translate how your solution will drive revenue or decrease costs, and articulate how your idea can be easily implemented.

Pitch finale

On day two, founders from the FinTech Innovation Lab pitched their solutions, ranging from estate planning to personalized financial guidance. From the 21 first-round pitches, six finalists advanced to the Pitch Finale where they had five minutes to sell their solutions to a lineup of judges from companies including TransUnion and Hyde Park Venture Partners. 

Spoiler alert! Unlike the finalists and attendees, you don’t have to wait until the end of the summit to find out who won. OKY, an app that allows you to send digital vouchers from your favorite stores to your loved ones, took home the Judges Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award went to Habits, an app that matches individuals with top-tier financial advisors. 

Including, investing, and innovating

With a refreshed appreciation for innovation, attendees headed off into morning breakout sessions. Michael Umlauf  and Tracie Anderson of TransUnion presented on the current barriers to financial inclusion and the strategies they are implementing to improve access for underserved customers. Attendees also had the chance to dive into the topics of investing in fintech and the future of payments.

Fintech in Chicago and beyond

An energizing lunch and brief networking intermission led attendees into the second half of the day. While Chicago is sometimes overlooked in the global technology community, it is home to an incredible body of entrepreneurs with world-changing solutions. The ‘FinTech in Chicago’ Panel highlighted the role that Chicago plays in the fintech industry in the Midwest and beyond. The final panel of the day, featuring speakers from Northern Trust, TransUnion, and Fitch Group, addressed the exciting prospects and potential concerns of artificial intelligence as it relates to fintech.

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Keynote and cocktails

Last but not least, Bill Phelan sat down with Ziegler for his keynote conversation. He discussed his professional journey as a serial fintech entrepreneur, from mowing lawns as a kid, to his ‘aha!’ moment, to his first $36 check. When asked about his success, Phelan emphasized the importance of having a mentor throughout the process of pitching a company. “You think you’ve got this great idea and value prop, and you think it’s gonna sell,” he said. “It’s complicated, you’ve got to get everybody on board, so building that network within an organization is important to that sale.” After selling his startup, PayNet, to Equifax in 2019, Phelan joined the corporation as SVP and General Manager. He drew from his experiences as both a founder and a corporate leader to provide attendees with a well-rounded perspective of the industry. 

To close out the summit, everyone headed to the Startup Expo and happy hour. Founders set up booths that demonstrated their solutions and, in a more intimate setting than the pitch competition, presented their work and answered questions. 

The sounds of excited chatter and cheers filled the space, and guests left the event with a revitalized passion for progress.

Thank you to our Summit Sponsors and Community Partners for helping to bring the FinTech Innovation Summit to life: BMO, Decasonic, Discover, EX3, FinTech4Good, TransUnion, United, & World Business Chicago! 

Stay tuned for information on next year’s summit!

 

About the Lab

The FinTech Innovation Lab offers industry-focused programming designed to connect founders with corporates and investors to maximize the chance of high-impact collisions. Through the Lab, cohort members accelerate the growth of their solutions and sharpen their competitive edge with strategies and partnerships developed at 1871.

Stay notified about our next Lab and join a community of founders, corporates and investors moving the fintech industry forward. 

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At first glance, the food and logistics industries have little in common. One encompasses the intricacies of agriculture, ingredients, and flavor while the other covers transportation, packaging and warehousing. But just as people need to eat, people require logistics systems to deliver the food they buy at grocery stores and restaurants. And both industries, though different in function, place immense value on creating a more sustainable and efficient future.

On 11.13 and 11.14, 1871 partnered with Accenture and Barrel Ventures to bring together experts and pioneers from the food tech and supply chain industries for the FoodTech & Supply Chain Innovation Summit. This two-day event — a culmination of the respective Innovation Labs programs — hosted over 400 attendees for panels, breakout discussions, pitch showcases and a startup expo, all of which celebrated innovation.

The Summit exhibited the latest in food technology and logistics, from chickpeas to carbon-neutral clothing rentals, and enthusiasm permeated 1871’s dynamic space.

 

Supply Chain Symposium

On Thursday morning, the summit kicked off with a fireside chat featuring Lior Ron, CEO of Uber Freight. The auditorium was packed with industry members and founders, all eager to hear from the leader of one of the most successful and innovative transportation and logistics companies. “If you’re innovating in this space, thank you,” Ron said. “This is a tough industry to get into, but it’s an industry that needs transformation.”

Ron’s passion for advancing the supply chain field inspired attendees as they entered afternoon breakout sessions. Bob Czechowicz, Senior Director of Innovation at GS1, and Ryan Murphy, Supply Chain Architect at Microsoft, led a conversation about executing innovation and staying ahead of evolving supply chain technologies. Attendees then had the opportunity to participate in sessions including “The Future of Logistics,” “Data Foundations for GenAI,” and “Integrating Innovation Solutions with the Corporate Tech Stack.”

Felipe Capella, co-founder and CEO of Loadsmart, closed out the summit with his fireside chat. Alongside Betsy Ziegler, 1871 CEO, Capella discussed his career journey, from working as an attorney in Washington D.C. to founding his logistics company which took home the CityLIGHTS Award at the 2024 Momentum Awards. He concluded his talk with a piece of advice: “You should not follow anyone because they have a specific title or you deem them to be successful — make your own mistakes.”

The Future of Food

For food technologists and culinary enthusiasts, the FoodTech Innovation Summit offered a lineup of exciting opportunities that highlighted the industry’s brightest minds. Jason Weingarten, CEO of the Alinea Group, took the stage as the day’s keynote speaker and talked about his entrepreneurial journey and passion for food. Audience members marveled as Weingarten recalled his life-changing interaction with the owner of Subway and nodded in appreciation while he explained the magic behind his Chicago restaurant ventures. “I don’t know that I have a passion for a particular industry, I have a passion for solving problems,” he said. “When you’re excited to solve a problem, you’re energized by learning.” Weingarten also encouraged attendees to identify the one thing they do better than anyone else, and to dive headfirst into honing that skill.

Summit guests also had the chance to attend two food-centric morning breakout sessions. EX3 hosted a discussion on “Eating in the Age of AI.” Ferrero and SCO2 hosted a partner panel that detailed their experience at last year’s FoodTech Innovation Summit, where the two companies met and formed a meaningful partnership.

Even lunch was served with a side of innovation. Farmer’s Fridge supplied hundreds of delicious and healthy bowls that kept attendees energized. For dessert, Ferrero provided scores of their most iconic candies.

Pitch Showcase

In addition to the breadth of speakers that participated in the summit, 1871 also hosted a pitch showcase. A group of 31 cohort members from the FoodTech and Supply Chain Innovation Labs presented their solutions to a panel of esteemed judges, made up of venture capitalists, 1871 mentors, and directors from companies like Microsoft, Accenture, and Mars Wrigley. 

Five founders from each track were selected to proceed to the final showcase and, to close off the summit, two from each track were awarded a winning title.

Congratulations to the winners:

Supply Chain Peoples’ Choice: Olha Mullyar of mely.ai

Supply Chain Judges’ Choice: Mac Dougherty of InStockRX

FoodTech Peoples’ Choice: Eddy Mejia of Earnest Agriculture

FoodTech Judges’ Choice: Nipun Sharma of Appetronix

A Walk Through Startup Alley

Robot restaurants and regenerative mushrooms — the startup alley had it all. Upstairs at 1871, more than 40 founders set up stations to display their products to investors, corporations, and peers. Attendees sampled everything from pizza made with vegan cheese from Pleese Foods to prebiotic canned drinks from bellie. Each table showcased a unique product and provided the opportunity for founders to connect with interested individuals and demonstrate their innovative solutions.

At one of the tables, Laura Kofoid and Justen Holter stood before a display of leather samples and a custom-made backpack. After four years of iterating a software platform that enables on-demand manufacturing, using Kofoid’s brand Laudi Vidni as a model, they developed their company UnitMOQ through 1871’s Supply Chain Innovation Lab. “Now, we’re going to try to sell that software to other brands who want to reduce their reliance on mass production,” Kofoid said. 

Amidst the tables of FoodTech founders, Catalina Castañeda handed out samples of blueberry chamomile prebiotic tea while her co-founder, Oliver Drazsky, shared his personal experience with IBS that inspired their brand bellie. “I didn’t [create] bellie because I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he shared. “I did it because I was really frustrated with the products.” 

In their own ways, every founder in the room was motivated by a passion to solve meaningful problems. 

About the Innovation Labs

1871’s FoodTech and Supply Chain Innovation Labs are designed to foster connection, growth, and amplification for early-stage, late-stage, and corporate cohort members in both industries.

Each cohort encompassed a diverse group of founders from 19 different cities, including New York City, Montreal, and Los Angeles, and four different countries, including Canada, Colombia, and the United Kingdom.

This year’s FoodTech cohort contained 19 founders, six of whom are women, and 11 mentors who offered support throughout their journeys. The Supply Chain cohort comprised 36 founders, nine of whom are women, and 14 mentors. In each track, the majority of cohort participants identified as either Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races, demonstrating 1871’s long-standing commitment to empowering underrepresented founders.

Notable speakers from the FoodTech program included Luke Saunders, founder and CEO of Farmer’s Fridge and Kaitlin Grady, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Clever Carnivore. The Supply Chain cohort heard from Ryan Murphy, Supply Chain Architect at Microsoft, and Bob Czechowicz, Senior Director of Innovation at GS1, among others.

Lean more about the FoodTech Innovation Lab >

Learn more about the Supply Chain Innovation Lab >

Thank you to our summit partners!

Canadian Consulate, EX3 Labs, Farmer’s Fridge, Ferrero, GS1, Heineken, Levy, Microsoft, Oishii, & WBC.

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 On 10.18.2024, 1871’s iconic space was abuzz with excitement. Top coders from universities around the country competed for the accolade at the 8th annual Tech Challenge Day. Both in-person and virtually, undergraduate and graduate students huddled before their computers, diligently flexing their technical skills. 

Leading up to the event was a preliminary challenge with over 100 entries. 20 finalists were then chosen to participate in the final round, and of them, nine talented coders took home the winning prizes.


The day of friendly competition was paired with networking opportunities and informational panels, each designed to elevate students and young professionals who are embarking on careers in technology. 


Relive the best moments!

Tech Challenge Fall 2024

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2024 Fall Tech Challenge Winners

Congratulations to our accomplished winners:


In-person winners

  • Henry Bloom, University of Chicago
  • Andy Rodriguez, University of Chicago
  • Arnav Brahmasandra, University of Chicago

Virtual graduate winners

  • Md Abedin, New York University
  • Zhuolin Yang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Richie Singh, DePaul University

Virtual undergraduate winners

  • Leo Witzke, University of Texas Austin
  • James Leung, Stony Brook University
  • Claire Zhang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Tech Challenge Experience

 1871 is committed to not only bolstering existing figures in the technology space, but supporting young talent as they navigate the beginnings of their careers. The Tech Challenge provides students and recent graduates with the opportunity to showcase their coding skills and connect with 1871’s community of members seeking emerging talent.

Attendees also had the chance to learn from long-time professionals and peers including Eric Stortz, Vice President and Associate CIO at Devry University, Maria Luna, Sr. Tech Talent Partner at SpotHero, Karla Carrion, Talent Acquisition Leader at Avanade, Don Effler, Director of Technology Practice at Hirewell, Billy Ndizeye, Program Manager of Innovation Labs at 1871, Megha Balamurugan, Development Intern at 1871, Alice Han, Talent Engagement and Learning Specialist at SpotHero and Nitish Dewan, AI Analyst at RediMinds. 


Tech challenge initiatives encourage coders to think outside the box, construct innovative solutions and put their skills on display before potential mentors.

 

Interested in sponsoring our next Tech Challenge? Connect with Jessica, jprath@1871.com, or donate to 1871’s mission!

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1871 Partners with BuiltWorlds to Elevate Construction Tech in Chicago

CHICAGO — 10.15.24 — Global innovation hub 1871 is thrilled to announce that BuiltWorlds, an innovative network of companies, startups, and thought leaders, has become a partner and a tenant in their office in downtown Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart. On November 1st, BuiltWorlds officially joins a body of incredible tech startups that have opened offices in 1871’s iconic space. Their residency is more than just a physical space — it also represents a commitment to making Chicago a leader in global Construction Tech.

“The birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago’s heritage in architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate is unsurpassed. Today, BuiltWorlds is proud to be partnering with 1871 to build on that legacy,” said Matt Gray, Founder and Executive Chairman. “In partnership with 1871, we look forward to creating a vital, collaborative hub for the sector’s innovators from both here in Chicago as well as around the world. We aim to be a resource and advocate as these industry leaders develop the solutions that will fuel the future of this critical $13 trillion industry.” 

“At 1871, we thrive on building a community where innovation and legacy intersect,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “Chicago’s historical leadership in construction makes BuiltWorlds an ideal partner for us. Their daily presence in our space brings an energy that will inspire new ideas, collaborations, and solutions. We’re excited to unite our networks and create opportunities for our members to engage with this transformative sector while contributing to Chicago’s continued prominence in construction tech.”

Together, 1871 and BuiltWorlds will elevate Chicago’s impact in the global Built World ecosystem. As an official tenant, 1871’s facilities will support their network & community and anchor BuiltWorlds’ programming in the city.

1871 and BuiltWorlds will also collaborate to create a Construction Tech Lab. As the official execution partner, BuiltWorlds will help define problem areas for the industry inclusive of corporates, startups, and growth stage players and co-lead the programming. Members of both organizations will have the opportunity to learn from each other, diving deep into the new focus area of construction tech as well as broader topics in technology through 1871’s Innovation Labs. 

About BuiltWorlds

BuiltWorlds is the leading global platform, informing and connecting innovators in the buildings and  infrastructure sectors. The company was founded in 2014 on the belief that connection, innovation and informed decision making leads to better business outcomes. Since its establishment, BuiltWorlds has built a robust, engaged community of buildings and infrastructure leaders, innovators and stakeholders.

Through focused research and accompanying analysis, a robust digital platform, and a growing schedule of educational conferences, summits and events, BuiltWorlds equips and enables members with differentiating insights into vetted strategies and proven technologies, providing unique market advantages and business opportunities. They are the industry’s nexus, where information meets application.

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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CHICAGO — 1871 is thrilled to announce the 2024 FinTech Innovation Lab Cohort. 47 founders, leaders and innovators from across the globe, representing key cities in the United States, Canada and Argentina to navigate and address critical challenges in FinTech. 

Throughout the program, the cohort will cover Focus Areas: Payments, Banking, and Emerging FinTech as well diving into the intricacies of Cyber-Security Innovations, Frictionless B2C Payments, Digital Banking and more. 

Meet the cohort!

Moataz Alobaid, Founder & CEO, Empowch

Frank Arellano, Founder & CEO, Revolv3

Ravi Bhardwaj, Co-founder & CEO, Kosh AI

Jack Boudreau, Co-founder & CEO, Habits Inc.

Michael Broughton, Founder & CEO, ALTRO

Brian Busche, Co-founder, ChartObserver

Abby Butkus, VP of Strategy, Arro

Dennis Cail, Founder & CEO, Zirtue

Qi Cao, Founder & CEO, Chargeblast

George Chikovani, Co-founder & CEO, Metastable

Amy Chou, CPO, Addition Wealth

Bruce Cummings, CEO, Freede

Wolfgang Decker, Co-founder & Strategist, Vesto LLC

Jerome Dishman, Co-founder & COO, Allison Fintech Co

José Vincente Fernández-Abríl, Founder & CEO, Bankuish 

John Findlay, Co-founder & CEO, LemonadeLXP

Sony Gabriel. Co-founder & CEO, Traice Inc.

Sara Gilbert, Communications Manager, Fr0ntierX

Gavin Gillas, Co-founder & COO, Giving Docs

Marc Held, Co-founder & CEO, Fishtail

Omar Hernandez, Founder & CEO, ONEBIT INC.

Tim Hyde, Co-founder & CTO, Baselayer

Cory Jaeger, Head of Business Development, Physis Investment

Behnam Javanparast, Co-founder & CEO, yiyaniQ

Andrew Kibe, Co-founder & CTO, Lemonade Payments

James Kim, Founder, AlumSum

Hempstone Maroria, Founder & CTO, Waya

John Mizzi, Co-founder & CEO, Vero Technologies 

Pedro Moura, Co-founder & CEO, Flourish Fi 

James Muhato, Co-founder & Community Success Lead, Woveo

Saji Nair, Co-founder & CEO, BCube Analytics Inc

Olutola Omembe, Co-Founder & Head of Technology, Expedier Inc.

Rachel Obenshain, Co-founder & President, Xeni Inc.

Mick Oppy, CEO, Neural Payments

Lucas Posada, Co-founder & CEO, Takenos

Shima Rayej, Co-founder & CPO, Safe Rate

Bret Rietow, Co-founder & COO, Apriority Financial

Isabela Rodriguez, COO, Domu

Jorge Ruiz, Founder & CEO, FinConecta

Ehsan Shariati Varnosfaderani, Founder & CEO, Functionland Inc

Gaurav Singhal, Founder & CEO, Annuity Risk

Axel Thibon, Co-founder & CEO, Wizest

Kumar Ujjwal, Founder & CEO, DwellFi

Victor Unda, Co-founder & CEO, OKY

Jake Vacovec, Co-founder, FlyCode Inc.

Derrick Wolbert, Co-founder & CEO, The New Money Company

Saujin Yi, Founder & CEO, LiquidTrust

About the Program

1871’s FinTech Innovation Lab connects early startups, growth-scalers, corporates and VCs in FinTech. Through virtual and in-person immersive sessions, cohort members receive tailored programming led by industry leaders and professionals. 

Exclusive benefits for the cohort include: 

  • Product exposure to corporate innovators and VCs
  • Network with industry leaders
  • Emerge as a showcased thought leader
  • Explore curated connections to potential partners
  • Connect with tech talent interested in the fintech industry
  • Give back by mentoring early-stage startups

This Innovation Lab is built with FinTech4Good and supported by Discover, United, World Business Chicago and EX3.

Learn more about FinTech Innovation Lab!

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CHICAGO, September 2024 — 1871’s 17th Annual Momentum Awards took place on 9.19.2024, bringing together hundreds of attendees from the Chicago tech community for an evening that celebrated innovation, community, and fundraised for 1871’s 501c3 Mission.. 

Congratulations to our eight winners who were honored for their successes and contributions to the tech communities in Chicago and beyond:

Corporate Champion: United Airlines

Chicagoness: Kristi Ross

Outstanding Tech CEO: Dhruv Saxena

Industry Disrupter: AQUA Cultured Foods

Social Impact: ReloShare

Rising Star: Mycocycle

Momentum: Hallow

CityLIGHTS: Loadsmart

The Momentum Awards are integral to our organization where we receive our largest donations of the year to support our mission as a nonprofit. 86% of every dollar donated supports our offerings, and we thank all those who contributed this year. We couldn’t do what we do without you. While we continue to work together to build a world guided by innovation, let’s look back on some highlights of the incredible night.

Cocktail Hour

VIP guests entered the space via our teal carpet. Following pre-ceremony cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking.

The cocktail bar quickly filled with people sporting name tags that featured companies from Chicagoland and around the country. Against the backdrop of excited chatter, The Jellyvision band played classic hits, their cherry red instruments contrasting beautifully with 1871’s teal branding.

Jellyvision Band

The spirit of Chicago was in the room as Chicago style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches circulated to accompany dinner. 

Award Ceremony 

The show commenced with opening remarks from Betsy Ziegler, 1871 CEO, and Larry Eppley, 1871 Board Chairman and founding managing partner of Sheppard Mullin Chicago.

Each award was introduced and presented by an 1871 Board Member who handed off our signature Momentum award to the winner. The award recipients then had a few moments to address the audience, thank their supporters and express gratitude for their win.

Highlights of the award ceremony included: 1871’s 2024 Impact video, Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, accepting the Momentum Award with his newborn baby, Betsy Ziegler walking onstage to Charli XcX’s “365” (the instrumental version) and witnessing the excitement of the winners. 

17th Annual Momentum Awards Winners | 2024

7 Videos

Celebrate Good Times

The night concluded with an afterparty where guests, nominees and winners continued to revel in the excitement of the event. When asked about their favorite part of the night, attendees were overwhelmingly impressed with the winning founders, emphasizing how special it was to experience their wins. 

 DJ Tess got the crowd grooving to Beyoncé, Gloria Gaynor and Bad Bunny. As the 1871 team danced into the night, our minds were all on next year’s Momentum Awards. 

See you on 09.18.25!.

About The Momentum Awards

The Momentum Awards, now in its 17th year, is the largest annual celebration of tech innovation across Chicago and beyond. The event brings together 1871’s full community of innovators, leaders, civic supporters, and partners to celebrate the people that are disrupting their industries, building up their communities, and shaping the future.

With  many nominations and  thousands of votes casted, this year’s finalists were selected from the most competitive and impressive pool of nominees in the event’s history. Winners were determined by a combination of public vote and vote by the 1871 Board of Directors.

Our lead sponsors this year are Aon and Discover. Other sponsors include  BMO, Cooley, ExpoPass,  ITW, Molson Coors, PNC, SpotHero, Suntory, U3 Coffee, Dscout, OCA Ventures, Eternal Creations, Lettuce Entertain You, Lofty Ventures, Ashling Partners, 1440 & Reloshare.

The 18th Momentum Awards will take place on 9.18.25.

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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CHICAGO, September 19, 2024 — 1871 is thrilled to announce the 2024 award winners of their 17th Annual Momentum Awards event that honors and celebrates the best in Chicago tech. 

The award ceremony & fundraiser for the nonprofit was held at Morgan Manufacturing on 9.19.24 ,bringing together hundreds of Chicago’s dreamers, builders and status quo challengers.

This year’s impressive award winners represent the brightest leaders and companies in Chicago’s tech industry. On stage, industry leaders passed the torch on to the next generation of trailblazers in the form of eight awards. 

Among the milestones celebrated at the event, 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler reinforced the power of togetherness in the Chicago tech community and the significance of entrepreneurship, as demonstrated by the Momentum finalists and the larger 1871 community, in driving innovation.

In celebration of the people and companies who are working to create a brighter and smarter future, the 2024 Momentum Awards was one for the books.

“These award winners represent the future of our industry, and by celebrating these leaders and innovators, we inspire others to pursue bold ideas, take risks, and create meaningful impact,” said Larry Eppley, Chairman of 1871 and Founding Managing Partner of Sheppard Mullin’s Chicago office.

“Real impact comes from giving every founder, leader, and innovator access to the education, community, support, and customer, capital, and talent opportunities they need to grow and thrive,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871.  “We’ve made progress, but this work is never done. There is always more to learn, more to do, and more to be.”  

The 2024 Award Winners

Corporate Champion Award winner: United Airlines

The Corporate Champion Award was presented to United Airlines for its dedication to driving innovation across industries through connectivity and forward thinking strategies. 

United Airlines demonstrates its commitment to the 1871 community through its involvement in our Innovation Labs. By investing time and resources into improving the next generation of companies, United is an advocate for our local tech community. 

Congratulations to CEO Scott Kirby and the entire team at United Airlines!

The 2023 Corporate Champion Award went to CDW. 

Chicagoness Award winner: Kristi Ross of U3 Coffee

The Chicagoness award was presented to Kristi Ross, co-founder of Tastytrade and Thinkorswim and co-founder of her newest venture, U3 Coffee. 

Ross is an inspiring leader in the Chicago tech and startup communities, and commitments to philanthropy and mentorship reflect her dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders. 

Congratulations, Kristi Ross, and thank you for your continued support of the Chicago tech community. 

2023’s Chicagoness award went to Kevin Willer, the first Chicago-based employee of Google and the first CEO of 1871. 

Outstanding Tech CEO Award winner: Dhruv Saxena of ShipBob

The Outstanding Tech CEO award was given to Dhruv Saxena, co-founder and CEO of ShipBob. 

As the leader of one of the fastest-growing tech companies in North America, Saxena demonstrates the dedication and skills that it takes to be a successful driver of innovation. Since its founding in 2024, ShipBob has grown from operating out of Saxena’s Chicago apartment to thousands of square feet of warehouse space across the country.

ShipBob provides fulfillment services for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands, ensuring that the companies they serve are competitive and deliver exceptional customer experience. 

Congratulations to Dhruv Saxena and the entire ShipBob team!

2023’s Outstanding Tech CEO went to Maria Christopoulos Katris, CEO of Built In. 

Industry Disrupter Award winner: AQUA Cultured Foods

AQUA Cultured Foods took home the Industry Disrupter Award, which recognizes companies that are driving meaningful change by thinking outside the box and breaking boundaries. The award was accepted by Brittany Chibe, Co-founder and CEO. 

AQUA Cultured Foods is changing the game of the food tech industry. Using the same fermentation process that creates beer, wine and sourdough, they’ve cracked the code at creating fish-free seafood that tastes delicious without harming ocean ecosystems. 

AQUA products are grown in Chicago but can be tasted around the world, from a Michelin-starred Malibu hotspot to a quaint pub in the Cotswolds. The company’s impact is huge. It is making seafood safer, helping the ocean heal, reducing emissions and preventing ocean pollution. 

Congratulations to the entire team at Aqua Cultured Foods who is doing the seemingly impossible and paving a more sustainable future. 

2023’s Industry Disrupter Award went to Rivet.

Social Impact award winner: ReloShare

The Social Impact Award was granted to ReloShare, hotel booking software for social service agencies. The award was accepted by Paige Allmendinger, CPO. 

ReloShare is dedicated to helping vulnerable populations find safe shelter. Founded in 2020, evolved from founders Matt Singley and John Moats idea to simplify the B2B corporate housing booking process. During the pandemic, however, they discovered the dire lack of shelter spaces for victims of domestic violence. They changed their mission and, in under two months, housed over 100 survivors. 

ReloShare honors the Social Impact award by using technology to make the world a safer place for a vulnerable and overlooked population.

Congratulations to the entire ReloShare team, your work does not go unnoticed!

2023’s Social Impact Award went to WeSolve. 

Rising Star Award winner: Mycocycle

The Rising Star Award went to Mycocycle, a company that transforms industrial waste into low-carbon raw materials using fungi. The award was accepted by Joanne Rodriguez, CEO. 

Through Mycocycle’s patent-pending process, fungi, natural cleaners and builders, are used to reduce the toxicity of environmentally harmful materials like rubber and asphalt and turn them into safe raw building materials. 

Congratulations to the Mycocycle team, they are one to watch!

Momentum Award winner: Hallow

Hallow took home this year’s Momentum Award, dedicated to a company that is destined to succeed as a frontrunner in its market. The Award was accepted by Alex Jones, Co-founder and CEO. 

Hallow is an American Catholic meditation prayer app that provides users with audio Bible stories, prayers, meditation and Christian music.

Founded in 2018, Hallow was built on curiosity surrounding the intersection of meditation and faith. The app now hosts millions of users, including actor Mark Wahlberg who has partnered with Hallow for a Super Bowl ad last year. 

Congratulations to the Hallow team for creating a meaningful community through innovative technology. 

The 2023 Momentum Award went to 1440, which was founded at 1871. 

CityLIGHTS Award winner: Loadsmart

To close out the ceremony, Loadsmart took home the CityLIGHTS Award which honors a late-stage company that is on its way to becoming a household name. The award was accepted by Danielle Shuey, VP of Service Delivery. 

Loadsmart provides innovative logistics solutions that lower costs, increase efficiency and digitize transportation. From analyses to audits to execution, Loadsmart is reinventing the future of freight operations.

Congratulations to the Loadsmart team, who is leading the way to disrupting a $900B industry. 

The 2023 CityLIGHTS Award went to SpotHero.

About The Momentum Awards

The Momentum Awards, now in its 17th year, is the largest annual celebration of tech innovation across Chicago and beyond. The event brings together 1871’s full community of innovators, leaders, civic supporters, and partners to celebrate the people that are disrupting their industries, building up their communities, and shaping the future.

With  many nominations and  thousands of votes casted, this year’s finalists were selected from the most competitive and impressive pool of nominees in the event’s history. Winners were determined by a combination of public vote and vote by the 1871 Board of Directors. 

Our lead sponsors this year are Aon and Discover. Other sponsors include  BMO, Cooley, ExpoPass,  ITW, Molson Coors, PNC, SpotHero, Suntory, U3 Coffee, Dscout, OCA Ventures, Eternal Creations, Lettuce Entertain You, Lofty Ventures, Ashling Partners, 1440 & Reloshare

The 18th Momentum Awards will take place on 9.18.25.

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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Cultivating Tech Leaders of Tomorrow: Introducing the Fall 2024 Tech Leaders Cohort

CHICAGO — 1871’s Fall 2024 Tech Leaders program kicked off in August 2024, and we are thrilled to introduce the 15 professionals who have been accepted into this season’s cohort. 

The leadership development and mentorship program aims to empower the next generation of Black and Latin individuals in the technology space. The tailored 4-month program is designed to equip cohort members with meaningful experiences that further hone their personal and professional skills.

Through this initiative, 1871 reaffirms its commitment to creating a supportive environment that inspires members of underserved tech communities. 

During this season’s program, we are partnering with SANDWINA, a collective of world-class career coaches dedicated to empowering women by making coaching affordable, approachable and actionable. 

Meet this fall’s impressive tech leaders!

Latin Technical Track

Alina Andino, Senior Manager of Strategy & Advanced Analytics, Latinas in Tech

Andres Lopez, Engagement Manager, United Airlines 

Emely Matus, Senior Manager of Product Operations, 1871

Gustavo Arroyo Nolasco, Supply Chain Engineer, Zebra Technologies 

Jessica Ramos, Senior Pricing Manager, AVANT Communications

Jimmy Lopez Perez, Project Manager and Business Analyst, United Airlines

Jorge Weiss, Technical Project Manager, United Airlines

Jose Gutierrez, Product Manager, Paylocity

Lucia Campbell, Board Chair, Latinas in Tech

Metzli Vazquez Reyes, Senior Product and Marketing Manager, dscout

Black Technical Track

Akin Akinlawon, Senior Manager of Strategy and Advanced Analytics, United Airlines

Billy Ndizeye, Program Manager of Innovation Labs, 1871

Carl Lewis, Communications Lead, ETHChicago

Joe Taylor, Product Manager, Signify

Tastey Blackman, Zone Manager, JAMPRO

About the program

The 4-month program is designed to mentor, accelerate and empower the next generation of underserved leaders in the technology space in both technical and market-facing roles. 

The cohort will meet virtually, one Friday each month from 9.6.14 – 12.11.24, for curated peer-driven forums, group coaching sessions, leadership development, workshops and more.

Each member is paired with a “Super Mentor” who they will meet with outside of the workshops for leadership, personal and professional development guidance. 

Thank you to our mentors who have volunteered to support this program and their mentees with their dedicated time, experience, and expertise.  

Interested in learning more about our Tech Leaders programming? Subscribe.

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The Power of Momentum: Why We Host the Momentum Awards

At 1871, the Momentum Awards are more than just a celebration; they are a testament to the strength and innovation of the Chicagoland tech community. But beyond the accolades and applause, there’s a deeper purpose driving this event—one rooted in our mission to inspire, equip, and support leaders positively changing the world through innovation and entrepreneurship. This mission fuels everything we do, and the Momentum Awards are a critical part of how we achieve it.

“The Momentum Awards are a powerful testament to the future we are shaping together. They’re not just about recognizing past successes, but about fueling the limitless potential that lies ahead. Each time we celebrate these innovators, we’re making a bold investment in a brighter, more inclusive future—one where every dream is given the chance to take flight. Every dollar raised reinforces our collective commitment to creating a world where innovation thrives and opportunities abound,” says Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871.

A Legacy of Resilience: The Story Behind 1871

Our name, 1871, is a tribute to the year of the Great Chicago Fire—a catastrophic event that devastated much of the city. Despite the immense loss, the fire sparked an era of unprecedented innovation, growth, and rebuilding. The people of Chicago transformed the city into a global hub of commerce, industry, and creativity. They embraced new ideas, technologies, and ways of thinking, laying the foundation for a modern, thriving metropolis.

This spirit of resilience, innovation, and community is the cornerstone of 1871’s identity. Founded in 2012 by JB Pritzker and a team of visionary individuals, 1871 was established to be a catalyst for the next wave of innovation in Chicago. Pritzker envisioned a space where entrepreneurs could come together, share ideas, and build the future—much like the city’s leaders did after the Great Fire. Today, 1871 stands as a beacon of that same indomitable spirit, fostering a community where ideas ignite, and dreams become reality.

Fueling Innovation Through Philanthropy

When you support 1871, you’re not just supporting a nonprofit—you’re supporting the Technology community. The Momentum Awards serve as a cornerstone for our fundraising efforts, directly supporting 1871’s mission. 86% of every dollar goes directly to support programming. 

At 1871, we believe there is nothing more important than entrepreneurship in driving economic development and job growth. We want people to build where they live, create their own path to wealth creation, develop jobs, and invest back into their communities. We aspire to partner with all 77 of Chicago’s neighborhoods (currently partnered with 27) and to have an early-stage founder group that mirrors the demographics of Chicago (currently at 30% woman, 50% non-white). We meet founders where they are in terms of the maturity of their idea/product, who they are as a leader and person, and in what industry/technology they are building. Real impact comes from giving every founder, leader, and innovator access to the education, community, support, and introductions to customers, capital, and team talent they need to grow and thrive. 

Key Data Points:

  • ~30% of the startups in our community are led by women founders.
  • 50% of our members identify as non-white 
  • Since 2012, 1871 has supported the creation of ~ 15,000 jobs in the Chicagoland area.
  • Our programs have helped tech startups secure funding, totaling over $3.7B.

Inspiring and Equipping Innovators at All Stages

At 1871, we meet you where you are and support a community that spans “I have an idea” through “I am trying to scale” and “I am trying to drive innovative change at the enterprise level”. Our community is designed to foster innovation at all stages, creating an environment where entrepreneurs and leaders can have peer-to-peer interactions, experience fortunate collisions, meet milestones, and find a clear pathway forward.

Through our efforts, we help founders unlock roadblocks, gain the tools to be heard, and soar as they tackle their respective blockers on innovation. This holistic support is essential for founders to thrive, whether they are just starting out or scaling their businesses to new heights.

Celebrating Excellence: The 8 Award Categories

The Momentum Awards feature eight distinct categories, each representing a vital part of our community and the broader tech ecosystem. These categories honor the outstanding achievements of founders, leaders, and companies who are driving innovation and making a significant impact. Our past winners include companies like 1440, Active Campaign, Cameo, Farmer’s Fridge, Rheaply, SpotHero, SMS Assist, and TastyTrade, among others!

1. Rising Star Award: Recognizes an early-stage tech company that is well-positioned to become a market leader.

2. Momentum Award: Awarded to a growth-stage tech company with the strongest potential to emerge as a market leader.

3. CityLIGHTS Award: Honors a late-stage tech company that has become a category leader through innovation and growth.

4. Outstanding Tech CEO Award: Recognizes a tech CEO who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has successfully scaled their company.

5. Industry Disrupter Award: Awarded to a company that has developed an innovative product or service that is disrupting their industry.

6. Social Impact Award: Given to a tech company that has made a significant commitment to social equity and inclusion.

7. Chicagoness Award: Presented to an individual who exemplifies the values of Chicago’s entrepreneurial community and empowers future innovators.

8. Corporate Champion  Award: Recognizes a company that has championed the growth of Illinois’s tech industry through community-focused action.

These awards not only celebrate success but also reflect the diversity, resilience, and collaborative spirit that define our community at 1871. They highlight the achievements of those who are not just advancing their own ventures but are also contributing to the greater good of the tech ecosystem. Learn about the 2024 award finalists here.

Investing in Our Core Offerings: Programs, Community, and Resources

The funds raised through the Momentum Awards are directly invested back into our core offerings—our programs, community, and resources. These are the pillars that support the success of startups within our ecosystem.

  • Programs: We provide tailored programs that equip founders with the knowledge, mentorship, and skills necessary to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. These programs are designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, providing the right support at the right time. 
  • Community: Our community is a vibrant hub of collaboration and innovation. We create spaces where entrepreneurs can connect, share insights, and form partnerships that drive their businesses forward. Your donations help us sustain and grow this community, ensuring that every entrepreneur has access to the network and support they need.
  • Resources: From cutting-edge technology to workspace and beyond, we offer the essential resources that startups need to succeed. These resources empower entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best—innovating and building the future. Your contributions enable us to continue providing these critical tools.

A Celebration with Purpose

While the Momentum Awards is a night of celebration, it is also a call to action. It’s an opportunity for the tech community, investors, and supporters like you to come together and champion the future of innovation. By contributing to this event, you are not just recognizing success; you are investing in the continued growth and success of the tech ecosystem in Chicago and beyond.

Join Us in Making a Difference

We invite you to join us in making a difference. Your support through donations enables us to keep our programs, community, and resources accessible and impactful, ensuring that all entrepreneurs—regardless of their background—have a chance to thrive. When you contribute to 1871, you’re investing in the dreams of countless innovators who are shaping the future. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more innovative community, one that reflects the diversity and resilience of our city.

The Momentum Awards is more than just an event; it’s a movement. A movement towards a future where innovation knows no bounds, and where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed. We hope you’ll consider donating to support this important cause and help us continue to inspire, equip, and support the innovators of tomorrow.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or giving please contact our Director of Development at sponsor@1871.com. 

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1871 Partners with U3 Coffee to Develop & Introduce their signature “1871 Founder’s Blend”, Now Complimentary at Their Chicago Office

Chicago, IL –  8.26.24 – 1871, nonprofit tech innovation hub, is delighted to announce the launch of an exclusive 1871 Founder’s Blend by U3 Coffee, now available complimentary to all members in our community & guests. This exciting new offering is part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant and inspiring environment for our community, where innovative ideas can thrive over a great cup of coffee.

Kristi Ross, a board member at 1871, serial entrepreneur, and founder of U3 Coffee, is eager to bring this distinctive blend to the innovators at 1871. “I’m excited to energize the brilliant minds at 1871 with our Founder’s Blend,” said Ross. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our mutual dedication to innovation, and I look forward to the connections and creativity that will spark over a cup of U3 Coffee.”

“A simple cup of coffee holds the power to spark something extraordinary. Thanks to our partnership with U3 Coffee, we’re proud to offer the exclusive 1871 Founder’s Blend—a beverage that’s more than just a drink; it’s an invitation to pause, connect, and discover”, said Betsy Ziegler, CEO at 1871. “  As people gather around a steaming mug, conversations flow, ideas collide, and the unexpected begins to unfold. So, whether you’re here to work, learn, or simply take a break, remember: the next great idea might just be brewing in the cup beside you.”

The 1871 Founder’s Blend, specially crafted by U3 Coffee, embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels both our members and the dedicated farmers who cultivate the beans. This unique blend reflects our shared values of excellence, sustainability, and community connection. 

Community Reactions

“As a coffee lover, we can say that 1871 provided not “a machine”, but “the coffee machine,” which in addition to quality has varieties such as mocha and latte, one of my favorites! Great opportunity not just to take a coffee, but also to interact with other coworkers! Love that, thank you 1871,” said Cezar Tondini, CEO & Founder at Tradesi.

“Who ever thought having a fancy coffee maker in the office would cause so much enthusiasm? But, I can tell you that instead of spending over $50 a week at the local coffee shop, I am now able to get my latte right here in the office.  I’m saving money, and the coffee tastes great! Win Win,” said Cathay Lennon, Office Manager at IHCC.

‘The new coffee machine has been a real plus now in the workplace at 1871 Not only has the coffee tasted great, like a great barista anywhere, it is a new talking piece where people are getting more engaged,” said Yoni Torchman, Founder at Torchman IP.

About U3 Coffee

U3 Coffee is dedicated to creating a meaningful coffee experience for mindful, motivated humans. By establishing the first coffee ecosystem that connects farmers, co-ops, brokers, roasters, and consumers, U3 Coffee fosters a direct and impactful relationship between all parties involved. The U3 Coffee ecosystem includes the U3 Coffee Media content platform, the U3 Coffee Exchange online marketplace, and the U3 Coffee Bank charitable arm. U3 Coffee’s Cafe will open later this year.

Through the U3 Coffee Exchange, customers can purchase high-quality, sustainably farmed beans from around the world, available for online purchase in the US. The platform also offers a variety of coffee brands through subscriptions or one-time purchases, along with merchandise and at-home coffee equipment. U3 Coffee Bank is dedicated to giving back to farmers and supporting coffee entrepreneurs. 

About 1871

1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community 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 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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