CHICAGO (JUNE 14, 2016) - 1871 joined member company Get20 today to announce a new on-demand mentoring resource that will be available exclusively to 1871 companies. Get20, an app that connects mentors and entrepreneurs over the phone at mutually convenient times, will facilitate additional office hours and mentorship opportunities between 1871 entrepreneurs and industry experts in Chicago and beyond.
“1871 has been committed to educating Chicago’s entrepreneurs since its founding,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “By partnering with Get20 to harness the power of the now economy in mentorship, we are able to expand our offerings and make the process more convenient for both busy entrepreneurs and those who volunteer their time to educate Chicago’s entrepreneurs.”
Get20’s on-demand office hours allow members to request calls with mentors and be notified via text when the mentors are available. Mentors can choose times when they are free during the day to directly connect with 1871 members using the app, which reduces the time commitment for mentors and avoids the hassles of scheduling. Through an anonymous rating system, the app gives information on the success of the interactions and the demand for education on various topics.
“Get20 makes mentoring more seamless and accessible to provide valuable educational opportunities to Chicago’s entrepreneurs,” said Get20 Founder Suvro Goswami. “As an 1871 member company, we are thrilled to work with 1871 to provide this resource to our community.”
1871 and Get20 will facilitate a Mentor-of-the-Week program, which makes particularly popular mentors available throughout a set week on the Get20 app. To kick off the Mentor-of-the-Week program, 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman and Fieldglass founder Jai Shekhawat are giving individual office hours via Get20.
Education is fundamental to the technology ecosystem in Chicago and an important part of 1871’s mission as a nonprofit. Over 350 individuals currently offer office hours and workshops, representing leading VC, accounting, law, marketing, consulting, strategy, and communications firms from the entire Chicago area. These mentors are experts in their fields, and give their time and expertise on a volunteer basis at no cost to members. By facilitating over 7500 hours of mentoring annually, 1871’s educational programming provides a critical resource to its members and further differentiates it from other incubators and traditional co-working spaces. Get20’s on-demand office hours add an additional set of resources to 1871’s robust educational offerings.
“The mentorship I’ve been able to access through 1871 has been an incredible resource for me and my company,” said 1871 member and Proxfinity Co-founder Lisa Carrel. “We’ve not only been able to learn from industry experts and develop our business, but have also built relationships with companies that have become partners and customers.”
The partnership between 1871 and Get20 provides access to new and consistently in-demand mentors. Get20 is also working with local organizations like the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management in order to expand the pool of mentors and maximize the time spent mentoring. Get20 has also partnered with The Cambridge Group, which has donated consulting services to advise the company on its growth.
“As a firm with deep Chicago roots, we at The Cambridge Group are extremely pleased to work with the Get20 team and to contribute to 1871,” said Jason Green, CEO of The Cambridge Group. “The entire Chicago business community benefits from the support and counsel 1871 provides to Chicago-based startups, and we look forward to helping Get20 develop its growth strategy.”
In addition to its substantial educational programming, 1871 facilitates numerous opportunities and resources that make entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone. 1871 offers its members plans for health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, identity theft protection, telehealth services, pet insurance, and student loan repayment. By providing access to these resources, 1871 seeks to expand the viability of entrepreneurship and working for new businesses as successful and sustainable career paths.
About Get20
Get20 is a flexible, on-demand platform that can be customized for many types of groups and organizations. The primary product is focused on providing subscription access for startups and small businesses to on-demand attorneys. Subscribing companies have access to document reviews, document creation services, and unlimited on-demand consultations with attorneys, starting at just $49 a month. Subscribers are able to choose their attorney, and even rate the quality of the service, similar to an Uber Ride.
