1871 ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SECOND COHORT OF WiSTEM
Women's Entrepreneurship Program To Welcome Second Cohort In
March Of 2016; First Cohort Is Underway At 1871 With 13 Strong Businesses
CHICAGO (NOVEMBER ##, 2015) – 1871 announced that its
thriving WiSTEM program has opened applications for its second class of
applicants, who will begin at 1871 in March of 2016. Successful applicants will
be part of the second cohort of the WiSTEM program, which is currently working
with thirteen companies at 1871.
“We're hoping to attract another amazing group of applicants
for the next cohort," said Jessica Williams and Nicole Yeary,
co-facilitators of WiSTEM. “We've been able to do so much with the current
companies and we've learned a lot about how to create a great program that
leads to business success. We are thrilled with the progress we've made so far
and the potential to help even more women-owned companies in the future.”
To apply for WiSTEM, interested businesses should visit 1871.com/wistem. There are just two
qualifications – the companies must have at least one woman as a co-founder,
and the companies must be technology-enabled. Each company that is accepted to
WiSTEM will also have to meet the general 1871 acceptance criteria.
The WiSTEM program features 16 weeks of classes, workshops,
mentorship and engagement opportunity, covering every aspect of the business
cycle. The program is focused on three main challenges facing women-owned tech
businesses: access to capital, access to technology, and access to community.
Each company works with a mentor consistently throughout the program;
additionally, each company has the opportunity to tailor its curriculum based
off of its own size and challenges.
"We expect that the entire original class of WiSTEM
will play a significant role in the second cohort and in all future
cohorts," said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. "Our hope is that this
program allows us to build an ever-growing community here in Chicago that
attracts women and men from around the world to engage with this important
initiative."
1871 has become the hub in Chicago for the conversation
about the role of women in entrepreneurship. In the last several months, 1871
has welcomed a number of guests who have shared their stories with the members
of the WiSTEM cohort as well as the broader community, including Illinois First
Lady Diana Rauner, Springboard Ventures founder Kay Koplovitz, uBeam founder
Meredith Perry, Vosges Haut-Chocolat founder Katrina Markoff, and Digital
Citizen Fund co-founder and CEO Roya Mahboob. 1871 has also worked with partner
organizations such as Women Tech Founders and the IoT Meetup to host several
popular events focused on women in entrepreneurship.
The board of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, which
operates 1871, has also been directly involved with WiSTEM. Board members have
met with the women of the cohort and are working to connect the businesses to
opportunity in the Chicago business community.
"One of the most powerful things we can do for the
businesses is use our networks and connections on their behalf," said
Laura Ferris Anderson, CEC Board Treasurer. "We're working directly with
the companies to help find and facilitate opportunities that will accelerate
their growth."
The first class of WiSTEM features 13 businesses, including:
• Alex Buck –
Co-Founder and CEO, Plumwise
• Amanda
Greenberg – Co-Founder and CEO, Baloonr
• Annie
Mohaupt – Founder and CEO, Mohop
• Catherine
Merritt – Founder and CEO, MUMZY
• Elena
Valentine – Co-Founder and CEO, Skill Scout
• Holly
Bellmund – Founder and CEO, Werenro Group
• Julie
Novack – Founder and CEO, PartySlate
• Linda
Zabors – Founder and CEO, Honorary Chicago
• Michelle
Smyth – Founder and CEO, Pay Your Selfie
• Parminder
Batra – Co-Founder and CEO, Sekure Trak, Inc./TraknProtect
• Reva
Minkoff – Founder and President, Digital4Startups and DigitalGroundUp
• Rose
Afriyie – Co-Founder and CEO, mRelief
• Veatrice
Glenn – Founder and CEO, Insightful Decisions, Inc.
“There is no question that WiSTEM has been extremely valuable
for my business,” said Julie Roth Novack, Founder and CEO Of PartySlate. “I
have made invaluable connections with other women founders that I wouldn’t have
had without the program. I am also grateful to have the additional
support from the WiSTEM facilitators and the 1871 leadership. I'm looking
forward to being involved with the next cohort.”
Applications are live now at 1871.com/WiSTEM.
The application deadline is January 5, 2016; selected businesses will be
notified in early February and the cohort will begin in March 2016.
About 1871
1871 is the home of more than 325 early-stage, high-growth
digital 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, food and financial
technology; several emerging tech talent schools (Flatiron, The Fullbridge
Program, Designation 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 Venture Capital, MATH Venture
Partners, Hyde Park Angels, OCA Ventures, OurCrowd and Chicago Ventures, as
well as satellite offices for Northwestern University, University of Illinois,
University of Chicago, Loyola University 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 Inc.
Magazine, TechCrunch, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chicago
Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business among other top media. 1871 is the flagship
project of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.
