1871 CEO, mayor announce tech job creation pact
Entrance to 1871 inside Chicago's Merchandise Mart. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune / November 22, 2013)
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The CEO of technology start-up center 1871, Howard Tullman, joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel and about 24 companies Tuesday morning to announce a commitment to create more than 400 jobs in Chicago’s tech industry over the next two years.
1871, based in the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, provides 50,000 square feet of space for digital entrepreneurs and helps them become self-sufficient. It has 250 companies in its space currently and has graduated 30 companies since it opened its doors in May of 2012, creating an estimated 300 jobs.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and technology companies are creating the new jobs of the present and the future," Emanuel said in a statement. "These companies are building the next generation of Chicago's economy."
Emanuel has called for 40,000 new technology jobs within a decade, which would double the size of Chicago’s current tech economy.
Among the companies that will commit to create at least 10 new jobs each during the next two years are: Options Away, Modest, Risk I/O, Centro, Georama, Caremerge, SpotHero, Food Genuis, Eli's Cheesecake, Simple Relevance, MarkITx, Whittl, Philo Broadcasting, Occasion, AdYapper, Rocket Miles, Human Practice, AKTA, Cleversafe, CharlieHQ, Context Media, 640 Labs, and ConversePoint.
ehirst@tribune.com
1871, based in the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, provides 50,000 square feet of space for digital entrepreneurs and helps them become self-sufficient. It has 250 companies in its space currently and has graduated 30 companies since it opened its doors in May of 2012, creating an estimated 300 jobs.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and technology companies are creating the new jobs of the present and the future," Emanuel said in a statement. "These companies are building the next generation of Chicago's economy."
Emanuel has called for 40,000 new technology jobs within a decade, which would double the size of Chicago’s current tech economy.
Among the companies that will commit to create at least 10 new jobs each during the next two years are: Options Away, Modest, Risk I/O, Centro, Georama, Caremerge, SpotHero, Food Genuis, Eli's Cheesecake, Simple Relevance, MarkITx, Whittl, Philo Broadcasting, Occasion, AdYapper, Rocket Miles, Human Practice, AKTA, Cleversafe, CharlieHQ, Context Media, 640 Labs, and ConversePoint.
ehirst@tribune.com