Startup Institute is
Moving its Campus to 1871, Expanding Programing for Growth Companies
09/05/14
@2:51pm in Tech
The Startup Institute
is moving its Chicago headquarters to the Merchandise Mart as part of the
expanded 1871 2.0.
The company, which helps future
startup employees land tech jobs by teaching product and design, web
development, technical marketing, and sales and account management, will move
into a roughly 2,500 square foot dedicated space in 1871's growing office. They
expect to be in by the first week in October, according to Startup Institute
Director Jenn Yee.
The Startup Institute's team,
along with the 10-15 students enrolled in each of its four tracks, are moving
from their current location at 405 W. Superior. Yee said the chance to work
inside 1871 was "incredibly attractive" to the company.
"I’ve seen an amazing
evolution of the [Chicago tech] ecosystem and I think that 1871 has definitely
anchored that in many ways," Yee said. "It's clear they have a
really great brand proposition and recognition throughout the city, so
obviously this is big for us. There's the proximity to 1871 from an exposure
perspective, but we'll also literally be proximate to some of the startups
we’re partnering with."
Yee called the move a win/win for
both the Startup Institute and 1871. Startup Institute students are looking for
jobs upon completion of the 8-week program, and 1871 member companies are
looking for talent. But Yee said the Startup Institute is planning to expand
its programming to offer growth companies education as well, potentially
bringing another benefit to the 1871 community.
Startup
Institute Director Jenn Yee (via Linkedin)
"In addition to training
employees, what we're trying to build is some thought leadership and programing
around how to build a better organization," Yee said. "How to build a
team. How to work with senior developers. How to evaluate senior talent. How to
build culture at your growing company. We're experimenting with building
educational models around those things."
Yee declined to comment on the
financial terms of the move, but because of the complementary nature of the two
organizations, the deal was "more than economic," she said.
"It was very beneficial for
both of us to partner, so it ended up being pretty good for both," she
said.
Ultimately, Yee feels the move
will offer Startup Institute students more of why they took the courses in the
first place: access to tech jobs.
"To be closer to the jobs
that are being broadcast and to the companies that have the need for the
talent--when you think about coffee chats and getting to know people and
applying for those positions--it's such a great advantage to be able to access
companies so close by."