Our 1871 | Joel Pollick of Percent Pledge

If you’ve ever fronted money for an event or been stuck with the group bill then you know how much it can hurt to pony up the extra cash for your friends or co-workers. And it’s not just your wallet that suffers; after all, no one wants to be taken advantage of or feel like they’ve been duped. It’s an issue that Mia Velasquez, Co-founder and CEO of Commit, is all too familiar with — and one that she’s dedicated to solving.

[Read more…] about Mia Velasquez Helps You and Your Friends Collect Money and Split Bills Without Splitting Hairs

Investment in EdTech reached record highs in 2015, and it didn’t stop there. GeekWire revealed that in 2017 EdTech investments reached the $1.2 billion mark. And industry experts expect this to continue to grow in the coming years, as new innovations are released to the market. In this guest post, EdTech blogger Dana Anderson shares her thoughts on how startups in this industry can secure funding.
[Read more…] about A Guide to Funding and Developing an EdTech Startup

Technology is constantly evolving, but Shayna Atkins, Founder, and CEO of AtkCo Inc., offers learning with in-person certification courses, online curated curriculum, and coaching for lean product development to prepare employees for tech’s next curveball. In this interview, Atkins shares her insights on the rapidly changing Fintech space, the importance of recruiting from underserved communities, and why it’s important to have great expectations.

[Read more…] about Shayna Atkins is Building the Workforce of the Future with AtkCo Inc.

Most of us don’t need to know anything about our insurance other than a provider name and an identification number, but like a Swiss watch, there’s a whole lot going on beneath the surface than most of us realize. Unfortunately, the similarities stop there — while most Swiss watches are efficient automated wonders of Swiss engineering, the insurance industry runs closer to the opposite end of the spectrum. Thankfully, Richard Perrott of WatchTower is bringing the industry into the 21st century.

[Read more…] about Richard Perrott Brings Insurance Distribution to the 21st Century with WatchTower

Yesterday evening, 12 women entrepreneurs from Chicago’s tech and entrepreneur community showcased their businesses in front of a full auditorium at 1871. The showcase, which helps each founder generate leads and connect with investors, officially marks their graduation from our seventh WiSTEM cohort. To celebrate this achievement, we asked them to share their experiences and most memorable moments with us in their own words. From tough moments and challenges to triumphs and business breakthroughs, we hope you enjoy hearing their stories as much as we did. 

[Read more…] about Words of WiSTEM: Cohort 7 Reflects on Lessons Learned and Friendships Forged During 12-Week Accelerator

There’s a lot of fake news out there today. Take Twitter as an example — recent studies show that false information spreads six times faster than the truth on the social media giant. It’s an issue that Daniel Rendon, a former CBS employee and current CEO of SUJO, plans on solving. In this article, he takes a look at the very real impact of fake news and how we can prevent fiction from turning into fact.

[Read more…] about Fed Up with Fake News? Daniel Rendon’s SUJO has Coverage You Can Count on

Physical health, mental health, and emotional health; these three subjects have stirred many national conversations — but what about financial health? There’s no doctor for that. No therapist. No psychiatrist. In fact, there’s barely any education around the topic. Thankfully, Joe Holberg, Founder and CEO of Holberg Financial, is working to help today’s professionals better understand the value of a dollar.

[Read more…] about Joe Holberg is Helping Americans Build a Better Budget

Regret. It’s that feeling in your stomach when you buy the perfect Hawaiian shirt only to remember that you live in Alaska. It’s finding out post-purchase that your brand new vacuum cleaner received, at best, a two-star review. Thankfully, Fara Alexander is helping consumers diminish their disappointment with ReturnRunners, on-demand return service for retail merchandise. In this interview, Alexander talks about the importance of initiative, community, and strong role models. [Read more…] about Buyer’s Remorse? Fara Alexander’s ReturnRunners has the Cure