Early Stage
Bound to accelerate
For many, founding a company is uncharted territory. 1871 provides the comprehensive roadmap to the structure, accountability, and community of support you need to build the foundation for sustained success.
Resources that make meeting your milestones easy
If you are turning your idea into a reality, finding your product-market fit, or accelerating your startup, 1871 empowers you to take the right steps at the right time. We deliver solutions that are curated to your unique needs when you need them and wherever you are, including:
- A structured yet flexible roadmap that charts important milestones and puts you in control of your growth.
- A mentor, talent, and tech support network made up of industry professionals and experts that you can connect with whenever you need them most.
- Peer connections with fellow innovators who will inspire and motivate you to surpass your every goal.
To dive deeper into the full list of benefits you will receive as an 1871 early stage member, sign up for our next info session.
Choose your experience
DGTL
On your own time
Coming soon!
Virtual
In real time and on your own time
In-residence
In real life, real time and on your own time
Open Desk
Dedicated Desk
Office
Unlimited access to startup roadmap
Unlimited access to expert-led video library
Live workshops & events
Mentor network
Supporting programs
Full access to community messaging platform
Brand amplification support
$150K+ in free services
Physical mailing address
Office amenities
24/7 access to downtown & western suburbs space & conference rooms
Your roadmap
We analyzed the pain points of over 250 founders and designed a roadmap to help you navigate startup fundamentals and propel you forward through every business milestone, from the idea stage through product-market fit.
The structured, yet flexible, model of our roadmap enables you to own your progress and make any necessary adjustments you need. You can access it in three possible ways: in-person, virtually, or asynchronously through our DGTL library.
No matter where you’re at in your business journey, we offer programming education, mentorship, and resources to help you grow. This roadmap, what 1871-ers refer to as “PYROS,” has four tracks: Explore, Build, Launch, and Catapult. Each track is structured around the following three educational pillars:
- Product Marketing & Strategy
- Startup & Business Fundamentals
- Leadership & Development
1871 also connects you with a community of peers to support and push you every step of the way.
- 14 week tracks
- Rolling entry
- Connect from anywhere
- Use what you need
- Expert-led
- Peer engagement
Supporting programs
Bring your full self to 1871. Our specialized identity and industry programs are carefully tailored to help you embrace your unique strengths, connect with industry insiders who will champion your success, and break down the barriers you face. To join any of the groups below, apply to be an early stage member.
Identity
BLK•Tech
Unlock a new world of opportunities among an intimate cohort of peers and mentors designed for Black-led startups. Learn More
LatinX
In partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC), this program provides tailored coaching to help LatinX entrepreneurs thrive. Learn More
WISTEM
WISTEM empowers early stage woman-identifying entrepreneurs to develop, launch, and build their tech businesses faster. Learn more
Industry
Food Foundry
Food Foundry in partnership with Relish Works and Gordon Food Service supports, connects, and propels startups who are reimagining the food industry. Learn More
WMN•FINTech
WMN•FINTech in partnership with BMO Harris Bank pairs women-led startups that create services or solutions for the financial sector with industry-specific education and executive mentors. Learn more
Hear from our early stage members
“We are from Venezuela, living in Caracas, and as entrepreneurs we felt lost for a lot of time and had a rough time trying to find any help in our journey. At PYROS we’re getting not only the roadmap to know what to do along with incredible resources, but also the necessary community that provides the support and energy to keep going no matter what. We’ve always believed that success is mainly on you, but being in PYROS makes us feel sure that there are definitely no excuses. We are so grateful and blessed for being here.”
Ernesto Escalona & Alexandra Ramak
Founders
BoughtThis
“The Pyros-Build experience was amazing, and it provided us the roadmap and structure that we were seeking. I can’t overstate how much money we saved from going through the program and avoiding the costly mistakes we would have made otherwise. Building a company is hard, but you aren’t the first to do it. The famous cliche is not to reinvent the wheel. Pyros is the wheel—use it!”
Keithan Hedrick
Co-Founder & CEO
Candi
“We have done other accelerators, but they didn’t come close to the quality of the workshops, mentors and support that we’ve gotten from PYROS. I still can’t believe the program is included with membership. Launch helped us take our C- financial model and turn it into an A+ decision-making resource. It has also equipped us with new growth ideas and a robust OKR framework that keeps us focused.”
Cheryl Kemps
Founder
IndieFit