1871 2.0: Innovation Hub's Expanded Space Officially
Opens, Growing 50 Percent Overnight
ChicagoInno
Jim Dallke
14 October 2014
1871 2.0, the 25,000 square foot
expansion of Chicago's tech and startup hub, is finally complete and open for
business.
The ribbon cutting event is scheduled for
this morning and will feature remarks from CEO Howard Tullman and 1871 founder
J.B. Pritzker. Alumni companies will also speak about how they plan to grow
their businesses within the new space.
1871 received a $2.5
million state grant to
complete the expansion, which will increase its size by 50 percent.
1871 2.0 will be home to larger companies
that have outgrown their current space but want to continue to grow within the
startup environment. The space will also house several niche incubators that
will have a specific focus on a number of industries and demographics. The
programs include:
● The Bunker: the nation’s first veterans-exclusive
technology business accelerator, which will harness the leadership experiences
of veterans as a strategic differentiator for startup and early stage
veteran-owned, technology-enabled businesses.
● LEAP
Innovations: an
incubator that seeks to foster the development of the best learning
technologies by supporting startups that create these technology products and
programs for key learning gaps and helping pilot these technologies in
real-life learning environments.
● The DeVry EdTech Incubator: an incubator designed to help startups
develop new educational technologies to accelerate innovation in teaching and
learning by offering mentorship, coaching and access to DeVry’s network of
educational leaders.
● The
Elmspring Real Estate Incubator: an incubator supporting startups that leverage
technology to create solutions for complex challenges throughout the real
estate industry. Elmspring seeks to foster clever and innovative concepts that
disrupt traditional models in real estate and its related industries. 1871’s
real estate technology incubator space is sponsored by DTZ.
● The Good Food Business Accelerator: a fellowship program focused on
encouraging broad-based food entrepreneurship and leveraging technology in the
food industry. Operated by FamilyFarmed.org, the GFBA will be the nation’s
first business accelerator focused on building supply chains of sustainable
local food.
● WiSTEM: a program for women-owned and operated
technology businesses. In addition to its complete access to the 1871 community
and all of its resources, WiSTEM will offer a rigorous yet flexible program to
foster and support women entrepreneurs.
The expansion represents a big step for
1871, which in many ways serves as the embodiment of Chicago's thriving tech
ecosystem. Tullman frequently acknowledges that 1871 is no longer a "tech
treehouse" and startups are being told it's "up or out" when it
comes to growing their businesses. The expanded 1871 will give more resources
to startups and shows that Chicago is committed to tech and innovation.
