Following Successful Pilot of Program, EIR Program Will Be Continued and Scaled Nationally Beginning in March 2016; Applications Open Through January 11; All Interested Entrepreneurs and Community Builders Encouraged to Apply
CHICAGO (December 14, 2015) - 1871 joined CODE2040 and Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) today to announce the opening of applications for the selection of the second CODE2040/GFE Entrepreneur in Residence at 1871, who will begin service in Chicago in March. This selection process is the culmination of a program launched last spring and successfully piloted in Chicago, Austin and Durham. The program is facilitated by Google for Entrepreneurs, which runs a nationwide network of technology hubs, of which 1871 is a part.
“The Entrepreneur in Residence program provides another important resource at 1871 to support underserved communities across Chicago,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. "As a non-profit organization with a community focus, 1871 is well-positioned to promote greater inclusion in the technology community at large. CODE2040 and Google for Entrepreneurs have been incredible partners in this endeavor, and we look forward to continuing the EIR program at 1871."
CODE2040 is a nonprofit organization that seeks to create access, awareness, and opportunities for underrepresented minorities. CODE2040 joined forces with Google for Entrepreneurs last year to start the CODE2040 Residency, a launchpad for Black and Latino/a entrepreneurial companies and underrepresented entrepreneurial communities. Chicago was one of the first three cities in the GFE network to host an EIR. That EIR, FoodTrace founder Riana Lynn, will complete her term as EIR at 1871 in March.
The selected Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) will receive:
- $40,000 in seed capital to help grow their business (no equity asked for in return)
- Work space in 1871 for themselves and their team
- A trip to the Googleplex in Silicon Valley for training and networking with Google and CODE2040
- Mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs in the Google for Entrepreneurs and CODE2040 networks
- Support from CODE2040 on the creation of community impact through diversity, inclusion, and community building events throughout the year
Applications are now open at http://www.code2040.org/entrepreneurs, and will remain open until January 11, 2016. In order to be qualified for Google/CODE2040 Residency, applicants must:
- Self-Identify as Black or Latino/a
- Have been a resident of the Chicagoland area for at least a year and commit to remaining in Chicago through the duration of the program
- Be a founder of an early stage tech venture
- Be committed to improving the racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the Chicago tech sector
The EIR opportunity is the latest element of the ongoing and vibrant partnership between Google for Entrepreneurs and 1871. Google for Entrepreneurs enables tech hubs by providing them with technical content, business tools, and infrastructure upgrades so that they can support increasing demand from developers and startups. In addition to 1871 in Chicago, GFE tech hubs are located in Minneapolis, Waterloo, Nashville, Durham, Denver, Detroit, Montreal, San Francisco, and Austin.
Google for Entrepreneurs provides a range of programming, events, and support to each of its North American Tech Hubs, as well as a number of special opportunities to startups within the hubs. Each year, startups are selected directly from the hubs to pitch their companies to an audience of Silicon Valley investors as part of the Google Demo Day. Members also have the opportunity to participate in the GFE Blackbox Connect programs that occur throughout the year. Recently, 1871 hosted the first GFE North American Tech Hub Vertical Summit, drawing tech hub partners and their startups from across North America to participate in a two-day event focused on the travel and tourism industry.
