1871 TO HOST DEMO DAY
FOR COLOMBIAN IT COMPANIES AS INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS CONTINUE TO GROW
Colombian IT companies
complete TerraBridge Internationalization Project Boot Camp with a Demo Day at 1871; Fifteen companies are
latest international visitors to world’s leading technology hub.
CHICAGO (November,
2014)—1871 has
played host to fifteen Colombian IT firms at The Merchandise Mart over the past
two weeks as part of the TerraBridge Internationalization Project Boot Camp, a
program designed to give technology businesses from emerging markets the skills
and resources to expand into the United States through Chicago and 1871. The
program concludes on November 21 with a Demo Day at 1871, which will allow the
companies to showcase their innovative products and services to the Chicago
entrepreneurial, technology, business and investment communities.
“We are excited to host the Colombian
firms at 1871, and look forward to seeing their progress as they expand their
businesses in the United States,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “1871 is
constantly focused on strengthening our international presence in the
technology community. With our growing range of international visitors and
partnerships, 1871 is advancing Chicago as the point-of-entry to the US market
for global technology companies.”
The TerraBridge Internationalization Boot Camp is produced in
partnership with Proexport Colombia and the Colombian Ministry of Information
Technologies and Communication. The program teaches foreign companies the
skills they need to network, find clients and create partnerships to ease their
entry into the US market. Week one focuses on soft skills and cultural lessons
on the business norms specific to the technology world in the United States. Week two focuses on teaching these firms how
to raise capital, pitch clients and investors, negotiate contracts, close sales
and create a market entry plan. During the program, 1871 welcomed Sebastian
Gomez, the seniormost IT and Creative Trade Official for ProColombia in the
Central United States Region, to visit the TerraBridge program participants and
explore Chicago’s technology community.
“The goal of TerraBridge and its ongoing Internationalization
Program is to make Chicago the premier destination for the expansion of
established tech firms into the US marketplace, and assisting Chicago’s tech
firms in entering and accessing the large consumer economies in emerging
markets,” said TerraBridge founder Greg Stevens.
Since its opening, 1871 has hosted thousands of foreign dignitaries and entrepreneurs
seeking to explore the entrepreneurial and technology industries in Chicago. In June, 1871 hosted twelve international startups for
the Global Innovation through Science and Technology Initiative (GIST), which marked
the first time that program was held outside of Silicon Valley. More recently,
1871 hosted eight Turkish startups to participate in specialized programming,
business development and a Demo Day as part of the Teknojumpp Acceleration
Program. 1871 also has formalized agreements with incubators and co-working
spaces in London, Tel Aviv and Mexico City. This international involvement not only highlights
Chicago’s growing ecosystem for digital entrepreneurs, but also provides 1871
members with an expanding set of tools and resources so that they can remain
globally competitive as they develop their businesses.
The Demo Day for the visiting Colombian firms will take place on Friday,
November 21 at 1871. Those interested in attending can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/terrabridge-colombian-it-firms-demo-day-at-1871-tickets-14284616673.
About the TerraBridge
Internationalization Project
The TerraBridge Internationalization Project is a two-week
boot camp for information technology firms from emerging markets designed to
give them all the skills needed to enter the US marketplace via Chicago and
1871. It is run by TerraBridge Partners, a Chicago based Internationalization
Consultancy.
About 1871
1871 is an entrepreneurial incubator for digital
startups. Home to over 300 companies, the 75,000-square-foot facility in The
Merchandise Mart provides Chicago startups with programming, access to mentors,
educational resources, potential investors and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs
that help them on their path to building successful businesses. Recently ranked
9th in the world in the 2014 UBI Index list of top
university-associated business incubators, 1871 has become a global leader in
the entrepreneurial community. 1871 is the flagship project of the Chicagoland
Entrepreneurial Center.