On August 9, 1871 joined more than 75 tech hubs around the world in partnership with 1776 for the Challenge Cup, a global pitching competition where startups pitch world-changing ideas to solve meaningful problems.
Watch our recorded livestream of Challenge Cup Chicago!
1871 tapped eight startups from inside and outside of its community, each with their own innovative solution, to pitch in front of the crowd and an esteemed panel of judges.
EdTech company and 1871-member led Sidekick won the night and a chance to compete in the global Challenge Cup competition held in November. But all who took the stage had innovative and disruptive ideas. They included:
- Sidekick: A digital assistant that allows high-school teachers to turn current company problems into engaging in-class projects in seconds.
- Asenda: An organization focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of non-profit boards by producing a scorecard of team members’ responsibilities and tasks.
- Electric Spokes: A company with an innovative IKEA-like approach to small-scale turbines to make wind energy widely available to the developing world.
- Advocatia: Provides tools for hospital staff to more effectively assist the uninsured and underinsured patient population.
- myLoop: A smart engagement platform that enables business associations to drive, engage and retain their members.
- ChoreRelief: An app for busy people to find gig workers, and to enable gig workers to run and grow their freelancing business.
- Mesh++: A tech company which enables educational, economic and social advancement through the use of Wi-Fi and solar-powered mesh networking.
- Gather: A centralized platform for civic engagement, where activists find events and groups related to their political or civic interests.
The judges for the evening included:
- David Spielfogel, Managing Partner at Ekistic Ventures
- Jessica Yagan, Managing Partner at The Impact Engine
- Kristen Sonday, 1871 Code2040 EIR and Co-founder at Paladin
- Renee Sang, Managing Director at Accenture - Accenture Customer Innovation Network
- Tony Wilkins, Private investor in multiple startups and early stage ventures with a preference for Chicagoland based firms.
Interested in more awesome happenings at 1871? Check out our Upcoming Events.
