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12 international startups to demo at 1871

12 international startups to demo at 1871 tonight

posted by Connor Boehm

 

on 06/12/2014 09:55 am

 

12 entrepreneurs from around the world will give two-minute pitches at 1871 tonight as a part of their two-week entrepreneurial visit to the US.

The visit was organized as a part of the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative, led by the US Department of State and nonprofit CRDF Global, which aims to build entrepreneurial ecosystems in 54 countries across the Middle East, Turkey, Asia and Africa.

1871 and Illinois Science and Technology Coalition are playing host to the international group before they head off to Washington DC for more training and mentorship opportunities. This is the first time in the history of the GIST program that the Demo Day has been held outside of Silicon Valley. And what better place for it than 1871, the Chicago entrepreneurial hub that has become quite international recently: in May the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. participated in a roundtable at 1871 and in April one of Israel's biggest VCs Jon Medved and four Israeli startups spoke at the space.

“1871’s work with the GIST Initiative provides an important platform for international collaboration in the digital community,” 1871 CEO Howard Tullman said in a statement. “As a leading hub for technology and innovation, 1871 is uniquely equipped to provide international entrepreneurs with the education and experiences that help companies succeed in an inherently global industry.”

Tonight Tullman, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Jonathan Margolis, a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State, will welcome the entrepreneurs pitching the following businesses:

Akida (Kenya) - a mobile app that helps large organizations verify employee attendance

Agar-Estate (Jordan) - an online real estate marketplace

Braci (Jordan) - a wireless solution for the hearing-impaired

Eneza Education Limited (Kenya) - a provider of mobile device access to quality study materials

Farmspace Africa (Kenya) - a lending platform for investors in sustainable agriculture

Handasiyat.net (Jordan) - a virtual construction engineering company run by femaile engineers

IdeaCentricity (Pakistan) - a mobile platform to inform workers about nearby work opportunities 

Kola Studios (Uganda) - a creator of mobile versions of local games

Netizen Testing (Malaysia) - a provider of usability testing for website owners

Smarter ++ (Tunisia) - an IT company specializing in B2C marketing solutions

Tiket (Indonesia) - an online gateway for buying tickets

Wakuwakuw (Indonesia) - a platform to manage communities

Tickets to tonight's Demo Day available here.

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1871

• Website:1871.com
  Date Founded:May 2012
  A center for digital entrepreneurs to instantly plug into a vibrant community of peers, mentors, partners, and investors. 1871 will be home to hundreds of entrepreneurs, developers, and designers who are building the next generation of successful digital technology companies in Chicago.

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1871, STATE OF ILLINOIS, ISTC, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND CRDF GLOBAL ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP FOR GIST INITIATIVE

1871, STATE OF ILLINOIS, ISTC, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND CRDF GLOBAL ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP FOR GIST INITIATIVE GIST Entrepreneurship Journey will bring together 12 international startups for acceleration programs in Chicago and Washington D.C. Chicago, IL and Washington, D.C. (May 28, 2014)— 1871 joined the state of Illinois, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, CRDF Global and the U.S. Department of State today to announce a partnership that will bring the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative to Chicago and Washington D.C. Twelve competitively selected startups based in Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Uganda will participate in the two-week GIST Entrepreneurship Journey that introduces international science and technology entrepreneurs to American innovation ecosystems and accelerates the development of their early stage companies. “Freedom of opportunity is humanity’s most powerful motivator,” said Secretary of State John Kerry.  “This is true for all people, regardless of geography or gender, regardless of race or religion.  And, entrepreneurship is about how you build a society that values competition and compassion at the same time.  The Obama Administration is really inspired by the kind of work that the GIST Journey participants here are doing, and that’s why we are going to continue promoting entrepreneurship around the world.” “The state of Illinois was an early and proud investor in 1871, and that support continues to pay dividends for our economy,” Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said. “This innovative initiative will improve the links between Illinois’ businesses and international entrepreneurs who are looking at expanding into the North American market.” Participants in the GIST Entrepreneurship Journey will receive leadership and practical training, as well as one-on-one mentorship tailored to their startups. The entrepreneurs will also have opportunities in Chicago and Washington D.C. to engage with the media, industry leaders, potential partners and investors. “1871’s work with the GIST Initiative provides an important platform for international collaboration in the digital community,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “As a leading hub for technology and innovation, 1871 is uniquely equipped to provide international entrepreneurs with the education and experiences that help companies succeed in an inherently global industry.” “One of the goals of the GIST Entrepreneurship Journey is to provide the tools necessary for the 12 selected entrepreneurs to become leaders in their community and strengthen the startup ecosystem in their countries. Our partnership with 1871 will achieve that,” said Natalia Pipia, Associate Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, CRDF Global. Representatives of the twelve startups will arrive in Chicago on Sunday, June 8, and begin their program with three days of mentorship, scheduled work time, and training sessions that cover leadership, marketing, and doing business in the United States. The entrepreneurs will then meet with executives of tech companies before participating in the Chicago GIST Demo Day where they will pitch their product to a panel of judges. Following the Demo Day, participants will meet with potential customers and funders, engage with mentors, and participate in further training sessions before departing Chicago. While in Washington D.C., entrepreneurs will give interviews, meet with potential customers and funders, engage directly with the U.S. Department of State, and showcase their products at the D.C. GIST Demo Day.  This year’s GIST Entrepreneurship Journey marks the first occasion that the program has traveled to a location other than Silicon Valley. #### About CRDF Global CRDF Global is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, training and services. CRDF Global is based in Arlington, Virginia with offices in Moscow, Russia; Kyiv, Ukraine; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Amman, Jordan. About 1871 1871 is an entrepreneurial hub for digital startups. Located in The Merchandise Mart, the 50,000-square-foot facility 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. 1871 is the flagship project of the CEC. About ISTC The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition is a member-driven nonprofit entity that drives public-private partnerships between industry, research universities, federal labs and government to foster innovation and economic development. About GIST The GIST Initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems in over 54 countries in the Middle East, Central & South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, by identifying, coaching and funding promising entrepreneurs through its competitions, start-up acceleration services, online social media platform, and interactive mentorship programs. The GIST Initiative is a partnership led by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global.