Thursday, August 20, 2015

MARC USA Chicago and tech hub 1871 ink marketing program partnership

MARC USA Chicago and tech hub 1871 ink marketing program partnership

MARC USA Chicago and tech hub 1871 ink marketing program partnership

Lewis Lazare

Chicago Business Journal 
20 August 2015


MARC USA Chicago has inked an exclusive marketing seminar partnership deal with Chicago tech hub 1871. The deal comes on the heels of MARC's two successful "Marketing Sparks" gatherings that formed the foundation for the extended relationship.

Over the course of the next 15 months, MARC USA and 1871 will jointly host five additional sessions. The Marketing Sparks events are described as evening-long marketing "hacks" in which key leaders from major corporations in the area — mostly chief marketing officers — come together in small groups to work directly with start-up companies. The sessions aim to help start-ups more clearly define their key audiences and their value propositions, as well as develop marketing plans.

Noted 1871 CEO Howard Tullman: "By partnering with industry leaders, 1871 provides a range of expert mentorship and educational resources to help start-ups develop their businesses. Marketing Sparks provides individualized, industry-specific marketing advice to its participants, and we are excited to continue to work with Marc USA."

Added Jean McLaren, president of MARC USA: "We've found that bringing together seasoned marketers with start-up entrepreneurs has tremendous benefits for all involved. The start-ups come away with actionable marketing strategies, and the marketers report it helps them to rethink their approaches to their own businesses and stretch their mental muscles."

The next event, slated for Sept. 15, will focus on businesses participating in WiSTEM, 1871's new program to foster opportunities for female entrepreneurs.