# 1871

> 1871 is a Chicago nonprofit innovation hub operated by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center. It connects technology founders and growing businesses with education, mentors, investors, corporate partners and peer communities through memberships, specialist programs and events.

- **Founded:** 2012
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, United States
- **Founders:** J. B. Pritzker (Founder and early financial supporter)
- **Products:** Early Stage Membership, Startup Roadmap, Growth Stage Membership, Corporate Membership, Innovation Labs
- **Notable:** Opened May 2, 2012 at the Merchandise Mart., Received UBI Global recognition in 2019 as the top private business incubator and most promising incubator for women founders., Acquired the Illinois Technology Association in 2020.

## Products & services

- **Early Stage Membership** — Founder education, Startup Roadmap workshops, mentor access, pitch feedback, peer networking and partner resources. Published individual pricing is $200 monthly or $2,000 annually; team pricing is $500 monthly or $5,000 annually, checked October 1, 2026.
- **Startup Roadmap** — Educational programming organized around Explore, Build and Launch milestones; weekly workshops and deeper cohort programs.
- **Growth Stage Membership** — Corporate and investor introductions, leadership support, specialist portfolios, recruiting resources and scaling workshops.
- **Corporate Membership** — Corporate peer meetings, reverse pitches, custom intrapreneurship programs and access to founders and technology partners.
- **Innovation Labs** — Industry communities and programs covering areas including AI, fintech, health tech, climate, construction and supply chains. Availability varies by program.
- **WMNfintech** — BMO-backed accelerator for women fintech founders; the 2025 program selected five founders and included Chicago, New York and San Francisco visits.
- **Tech Founders and Tech Leaders programs** — Programs including WMNtech, BLKtech and LTNtech connect underrepresented founders and leaders with peers, mentorship and education.
- **Momentum Awards** — Annual Chicago technology awards and fundraiser; the nineteenth edition took place September 17, 2026. The awards predate the 1871 hub.

## Achievements

- Opened May 2, 2012 at the Merchandise Mart.
- Received UBI Global recognition in 2019 as the top private business incubator and most promising incubator for women founders.
- Acquired the Illinois Technology Association in 2020.
- September 2026 self-reported alumni outcomes: more than 20,000 jobs, approximately USD 1.4 billion in annual salaries and more than USD 7 billion raised. These are alumni outcomes, not 1871 revenue or causally proven results.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Announced the shared innovation hub near Edelman’s Chicago headquarters, with Current and IHCC.
- **2026-09** — Held the nineteenth Momentum Awards and reported that the move to 111 N. Canal reduced costs.
- **2026-09** — September 23 recap reported updated alumni impact and announced September 16, 2027 for the twentieth Momentum Awards.

## Links

- Website: https://1871.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1871-com/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/1871tech
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1871tech
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1871tech
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1871tech

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/1871
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-01