James O’Connor, Jr. to be Named Entrepreneurial Champion at 10th Annual Momentum Awards Dinner

November 2, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and 1871 announced Thursday that CEC Board Chairman James O’Connor, Jr. will be named the Entrepreneurial Champion at the 10th Annual Momentum Awards Dinner, held November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. This honor is given to an individual who has made a significant impact on the Chicago entrepreneurial ecosystem.

November 1, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

A program two years in the making, ChiBuys aims to direct 1871’s catering expenditures towards diverse and woman-owned food vendors throughout the city. So far 1871 has had over 75 events catered by ChiBuys vendors and is now calling on the community to exert their buying power in support of diverse small businesses.

October 30, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and 1871 announced Monday that Howard A. Tullman, 1871’s outgoing CEO, will receive the first ever Lifetime Achievement in Entrepreneurship Award at the 10th Annual Momentum Awards Dinner, held November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. This is a new honor that will periodically recognize a serial entrepreneur or businessperson who has left a significant, long-term and permanent mark on the Chicago community through his or her business and civic contributions.

October 27, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

What did you have for breakfast? Photographer and creator behind Instagram account “What Was Breakfast” Alan Epstein bets that he can get to know you through your first meal of the day. He sat down with Social Media Associate Lewis McKinney to talk inspiration, improv and what he learned by taking over our Instagram account.

October 26, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and 1871 will present the third annual Chicagoness Award to Lupe Fiasco at the 10th Annual Merrick Momentum Awards Dinner, to be held November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. The award honors individuals and businesses that exemplify the values and unique traits of the Chicago entrepreneur, which include hard work, commitment to community, inclusion and a vision that fosters collective opportunity.

October 26, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Our amazing sponsors at Google for Entrepreneurs hosted the 5th Annual Trailblazers this past September in Santa Rosa, California, bringing leaders from around the globe who are passionate about growing entrepreneurship in their ecosystems. This year, 1871’s Director of External Affairs and International Relations Diana Lopez-Obaldo, who attended and reconnected with old and new friends, shares her takeaways from the retreat.

October 25, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

In Part 2 of the Hacking IRL series, Jim Holcomb – Associate Security Consultant at Evolve Security Academy – clears up terms we’ve all heard but may not have completely understand, such as the Deep Web, Dark Web, and even The Internet. Minor Mr. Robot spoilers ahead!

October 25, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Home is where the heart is, and last weekend both were on Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago. Alongside a float built to resemble the iconic Merchandise Mart, the 1871 team marched in the Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, a special nighttime celebration of Chicago’s vast creative and cultural community hosted by LUMA8.

October 23, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

1871 is proud to name McDonald’s as the 2017 Corporate Champion due to the company’s outstanding community impact in Chicago. This award celebrates McDonald’s decision to open their state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown Chicago, bringing more than 2,000 jobs and the iconic brand to the city.

October 20, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

1871-based sente.link has brought more than 60 companies from more than a half-dozen countries around the world. What did it take for Serhat Cicekoglu and Gerod Carfantan to build a bridge between Chicago and the rest of the world?

October 19, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

To celebrate the opening of their stunning new store on Michigan Avenue on October 20, Apple has joined forces with 1871 and a handful of other select local organizations to produce Today @ Apple: The Chicago Series, a month-long set of in-store events that aim to inspire, connect, educate and support attendees in the pursuit of their creative and entrepreneurial passions.

October 17, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

1871 held its latest quarterly Fintech Forum on September 29th, in partnership with Capco, to showcase Chicago’s strongest data and analytics experts and to help create engagement between 1871 startups and corporate partners in the fintech space. Here are four key takeaways on how to use reporting information to drive insights, automation, and a competitive advantage.

October 16, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Marketing your startup in social media is something you should begin on day one —but there’s a right and wrong way to go about it. 1871 member and social media pro Carol Fowler, CEO and Co-Founder of TheSocReports, provides a checklist of steps to lay the foundation for growing your social audience.

October 13, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

When three major and catastrophic hurricanes made landfall between late-August and early-October, the destruction left in their wake was described as “unprecedented” and “devastating.” In the following month, it has been inspiring at 1871 — an organization that is named after those who rose up and rebuilt after a disaster — to see the innovators and member organizations that have stepped up to use their tools and tap their communities to aid in the aftermath.

October 13, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Every entrepreneur has a story of what inspired them to build their dream, and for some, the passion is in their bloodlines. For our final Hispanic Heritage Month spotlight, meet Manny Ozaeta, Director of the 1871/IHCC Hispanic Technology Incubator.

October 12, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Jim Holcomb, an Associate Security Consultant at Evolve Security, breaks down Mr. Robot’s (surprisingly accurate!) portrayal of hacking in this three part series for the 1871 blog. Be warned, there’s spoilers, and some crazy surprising information about real-life cybersecurity in here.

October 10, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

The auditorium was filled October 9 for what has become one of of 1871’s signature events — the WiSTEM Showcase. Thirteen women-led companies took the stage to pitch their businesses and showcase their success after 12 weeks of intense workshops, mentorship and programming.

October 9, 2017 by J Blaszczykiewicz

1871 mentor and McEntee Law Group Managing Attorney Fiona McEntee shares the work her firm has done to support the potentially stalled International Entrepreneur Rule and what the startup community needs to do to support efforts to make sure it is not threatened.

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