1871 HOSTS SHARK TANK EVENT FOR THE
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM
1871 and J. Walter Thompson showcase
five travel and tourism-focused startups from Illinois as a part of this week’s
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism
CHICAGO, IL (February 4, 2015) — Digital
startup incubator 1871 and
J. Walter Thompson, the world’s best-known marketing communications
brand, will host a Shark
Tank-style competition tomorrow for five travel and tourism-focused startups
based at 1871. As a part of the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel and
Tourism, the competition will allow the participating companies to showcase new
technologies in the travel and tourism industries and compete for the chance to
win a $5,000 cash prize, as well as presentation coaching courtesy of J. Walter
Thompson.
"1871’s primary goal is to support the new businesses
that are crucial creators of job and economic growth across Illinois,” said
1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “We are excited to highlight some of the state’s
most innovative companies in the travel and tourism space, and look forward to
watching the ongoing growth and success of these startups.”
Much like the hit ABC reality series, a group of three judges will grill the
contestants about their business models and avenues for growth. The panel of
judges includes 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman, TimeZoneOne President and CEO
Daniel Thomas, and J. Walter Thompson Senior Partner and Group Management
Director Erin Clark. Following the company presentations and questions from the
judges, conference attendees will vote to decide which startup gave the best
business pitch and is deserving of the grand prize.
“J. Walter Thompson is thrilled to partner with 1871 and the
state of Illinois to support the startups helping to shape the travel and tourism
industry,” said Erin Clark, Senior Partner and Group Management Director at J.
Walter Thompson Chicago. “This event reinforces our commitment to pioneering
and innovative thinking, and we are so excited at the prospect of propelling the
winner of this event to the next level.”
The 1871 companies participating in the Shark Tank include:
·
Breakwater – a floating luxury entertainment
venue
·
Georama – an interactive travel discovery
platform
· Options Away – a company that provides airfare
price locking and travel management services
·
SiMple – a company that facilitates
effortless international cell service activation
·
Trytn – an event booking gateway and
online marketing presence for excursion providers
To learn more about the Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism, please visit: http://www.ilgovconference.com/.
About J. Walter
Thompson Worldwide
J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, the world’s best-known marketing
communications brand, has been making pioneering solutions that build
enduring brands and business for more than 150 years. Headquartered in New
York, J. Walter Thompson is a true global network with more than 200 offices in
over 90 countries, employing nearly 10,000 marketing professionals. The agency
consistently ranks among the top networks in the world and continues a dominant
presence in the industry by staying on the leading edge—from hiring the
industry's first female copywriter to developing award-winning branded content
today. For more information, please visit www.jwt.com and
follow us @JWT_Worldwide.
About 1871
1871 is the home of more than 325 early-stage, high-growth
startups. Located in The Merchandise Mart, this 75,000 square foot facility is
also the headquarters of nationally recognized accelerators, Techstars Chicago
and Impact Engine; half a dozen industry-specific incubators in key areas such
as real estate, education technology and the Internet of Everything; several
emerging tech talent schools (The Starter League and the Startup Institute),
and the state's leading technology advocate, the Illinois Science and
Technology Coalition. It is the second home to Chicago-based VCs, Pritzker
Group, MATH Ventures, Hyde Park Angels, OurCrowd and Chicago Ventures, as well
as satellite offices for Northwestern University, University of Illinois,
University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and DeVry. 1871 has
fast become recognized as the hub for the city’s entrepreneurial/technology
ecosystem and has been featured in TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, New York
Times, Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business among other top media.
Georama wins $5,000 in tourism-focused pitch competition
Cheryl Jackson
Chicago Blue Sky
5 Feb 2015
Virtual travel company Georama took off with tourism
professionals Wednesday.
The Chicago-based startup, which licenses wearable camera
and backpack technology that allows for real-time interaction in live streaming
tours, took first place among five startups pitching to a state
tourism-industry audience at the Palmer House Hilton.
“It provides the ability to give your prospective travelers
a preview of the experience,” Georama founder and CEO Nihal Advani told
attendees of the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism.
Columbia College Chicago has started using the technology
for campus tours, Advani told Blue Sky before the competition.
Georama won $5,000 and coaching from the J. Walter Thompson
marketing firm.
Audience members voted, and Georama nabbed 35 percent of the
vote.
Options Away, a service that lets users hold flights while
they finalize travel plans, took second place with 28 percent of the vote.
Other contestants were:
• Trytn, an online booking and reservation platform for
small and mid-sized activities and excursion businesses.
• SiMple, a service that delivers smartphone SIM cards to be
used abroad to avoid roaming charges.
• Breakwater Chicago, which hopes to build a $23 million
floating recreational venue on Lake Michigan to include restaurants, swimming
pools, spas, a nightclub and a private club.
All are members of the 1871 tech incubator at the
Merchandise Mart.
