Supply Chain

Innovation Lab

1871’s Supply Chain Innovation Lab connects growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate tech businesses that want to solve the biggest challenges and opportunities in Supply Chain.

Now recruiting for 2025! 

Built w/

Supported by

Our Innovation Labs Connects
Founders
Corporates
Investors
Innovation Ecosystem

Focus Areas in Supply Chain for Lab 2025

Smart Manufacturing
Supply Chain Responsibility
Global Resiliency
AI in Supply Chain
 
Visibility and Planning

Agents & Orchestration

The design and management of AI-driven software that autonomously or semi-autonomously perform tasks and make decisions, often within complex workflows or multi-agent environments. 

Intelligent Operations & Supply Chain:
 

AI-powered systems that optimize and automate complex operational processes, from manufacturing to logistics

Multi-agent systems:
 

Coordinated networks of AI agents that work together to solve complex problems, each specializing in specific tasks while collaborating toward common goals

Autonomous process execution:
 

Self-running systems that can complete entire business processes with minimal human intervention, adapting to changing conditions and requirements

Goal-driven business agents:

 

AI agents programmed to pursue specific business objectives, making decisions and taking actions to achieve desired outcomes

Trustworthy AI & Risk Management

Frameworks and technologies ensure AI systems are reliable, fair, and secure while maintaining transparency and accountability.

AI safety and security:
 

Comprehensive approaches to protect AI systems from threats while ensuring they operate safely within intended parameters

Bias detection and mitigation:
 

Tools and methodologies to identify and address biases in AI systems, promoting fair and equitable outcomes

Explainable AI solutions:
 

Technologies that make AI decision-making transparent and interpretable, enabling trust and accountability

Privacy-preserving AI techniques:
 

Methods and tools that enable AI capabilities while protecting sensitive data and maintaining privacy compliance

Enterprise AI Architecture

The design and implementation of robust, scalable frameworks that enable organizations to build, deploy, and manage AI solutions across various business units while ensuring that AI initiatives are well-aligned with business objectives and can be effectively scaled and maintained over time.

Model operations and governance:
 

Systems and practices for managing the lifecycle of AI models, from development through deployment and monitoring

System integration:
 

Technologies and methodologies for seamlessly incorporating AI capabilities into existing enterprise systems and workflows

Performance monitoring:
 

Tools and frameworks for tracking and optimizing AI system performance, ensuring reliability and efficiency

Security and access control:
 

Comprehensive security measures protecting AI systems and data while managing user access and permissions

“Every organization has their own reason for wanting to innovate…

1871 CXO Stephanie Miller at our  C1 Supply Chain Innovation Lab Summit.

Supply Chain Innovation Lab 2024

Key details

4 months | Immersive | Hybrid

Runs: 8.12.24 - 11.08.24

What's included for participants

•Unique benefits per business stages

• Inclusion on 1871 press release

• Immersive  programming by experts

• Community of peers

• Featured at 2024 Supply Chain Innovation Summit

Who's in the lab>>

Growth-stage startups

Late-stage Lab partners

Corporate lab partners

Growth stage startups

Late stage lab partners

Corporate lab partners

Built with industry experts

Strategic partner

“The Supply Chain Innovation Lab is the connective mesh we need between innovative startups, corporate partners, and the supply chain community. We’ve seen the lab’s ability to reinvent how we navigate supply chain complexities through collaboration, creativity, and cutting-edge technology. Accenture is thrilled to join as 1871’s Supply Chain Innovation Lab Partner for our third year!”

Patty Riedl, North American Supply Chain Lead @ Accenture

Join the lab

Growth-stage startups

For supply chain tech companies with a demonstrated product-market fit & is poised to grow.

Exclusive benefits
  • Share their product with corporate partners, strategic investors, and other growth and late-stage companies
  • Iterate faster and level up their product & business strategy
  • Tap into advice from industry experts 
  • Gain a deeper understanding of industry trends and positioning
  • Create a network of peers in their industry
  • Amplify your brand at the 2024 Supply Chain Summit

Late-stage Lab partner

For late-stage supply chain tech companies interested in becoming an industry expert and influencing major industry outcomes.

Exclusive benefits
  • Emerge as a showcased thought leader
  • Network with peers and leaders in your industry
  • Mentor future industry leaders
  • Connect with industry leaders and up-and-coming companies disrupting your industry 
  • Explore curated connections between potential partners across maturity curve (growth to corporate)
  • Amplify your brand at the 2024 Supply Chain Summit

Corporate
lab partners

For corporations looking to innovate and accelerate supply chain tech solutions.

Exclusive benefits
  • Ability to shape Lab focus areas and programming tied to your business and broader  industry needs
  • Connect & network with top tier growth and late-stage startups 
  • Curated introductions related to your business needs and objectives 
  • Mentor future industry leaders
  • Amplify your company as thought leaders through workshops and panels 
  • Gain peer-to-peer access and insights from industry leaders at other partner companies 
  • Seat on 1871’s Supply Chain Innovation Council with like minded industry experts

Lab timeline

Programming

Week 1

8.12.24 - 8.16.24 [Virtual]

Week 2

9.09.24 - 9.13.24 [In-person]

Week 3

10.07.24 - 10.11.24 [Virtual]

Week 4

11.04.24 - 11.08.24 [In-person]

Capstone event w/ public showcase

11.07.24

Lab partners

Ecosystem partners

Supported by

Anchor partner

General partner

Late stage partner

2024 Supply Chain Summit

Join us  for our third annual Supply Chain Innovation Summit! We’re bringing  early, growth and late stage startups, corporate innovators, mentors, venture capitalists, and community leaders together to discuss the cutting edge of supply chain tech innovation.

How Members Get Involved

There are two steps for you to start engaging in the Innovation Lab Communities and Events:

Step 1: Self-Select & Join Innovation Lab Communities 

On the member portal, you have the power to self-select exactly which industry communities you want to be a part of. Joining tech specific Lab Industry Groups you are interested in gets you access to those member-only events and indicates to our team that you are interested in other events and opportunities in that specific industry.

 

Step 2: Start Signing Up for Innovation Lab Events! 

Take a look at all upcoming labs programming and start signing up to get engaged in the range of programing for each Industry. 

Lab Portfolio for Growth Stage Members
 

The Innovation Lab Portfolio is an exclusive opportunity for growth-stage startups in our Innovation Lab communities. As a part of the portfolio, your company will be highlighted in various ways throughout the year and prioritized for corporate and investor connection opportunities. 

Eligibility:
  1. You must be in the startup stage as defined by 1871.
  2. Your solution must align with the industry or technology focus of the lab.
  3. Submit the growth stage information form.
How 1871 Defines a Growth-Stage Startup:

If a startup meets 3 out of 6 of the following criteria they are considered a Growth Stage Company and eligible for a Lab Portfolio: 

  • 2-5 strong leaders
  • 10-50 person team and growing
  • Strong marketing definition
  • Product Market fit 
  • Compelling Traction
  • $10-$100M Valuation
Portfolio Member Benefits:

Being in the portfolio provides opportunities to be showcased throughout the year to investors, corporates, and the larger industry-specific innovation ecosystem. Being in the portfolio makes you eligible for these benefits, but does not guarantee that you get to participate in all of them. Here is a look at the showcase opportunities available to our Lab Portfolio Startups:

  • Inclusion of your profile in the industry portfolio, where your tear sheet is shared with corporates and investors interested in 1871 startups
  • Guaranteed demo table at the startup expo during that specific industry summit 
  • Exclusive access to industry-dedicated mentors and experts in residents
  • Showcase Opportunities Include: 
  • Featured in Investor showcases
  • Featured in Lightning Talks (these are events where our startups pitch to a curated audience of corporate partners) 
  • Selected for Deal Flows for corporate partners
  • Curated introductions to corporate members (based on mutual interest) 
  • Pitch in Summit Showcase

Build Tech Innovation Summit

Construction & Supply Chain

Innovation Week
February 24-28, 2025
Innovation Summit
July 7-11, 2025