Private violin lessons can range up to $75 -- or more -- an hour. And while there’s no denying the benefits of 1-on-1 instruction, it can still be a hefty price to pay. But what if there was a more convenient way to learn the violin? One that not only cost less, but also allowed students to learn from the comfort of their own homes? That’s what Sam Walder’s building with Trala, an app that teaches users how to play the violin. In this post, Walder talks about technology as therapy, the importance of a strong support system, and why feedback should be one of the first things on every entrepreneur’s to-do list.

If you have a spare moment today, make sure to stop by your Human Resources department -- and just say ‘thank you.’ You may not always see it, but these professionals are integral to your productivity and employee experience. But what happens if the HR department isn’t providing an amazing employee experience? It may be because they have never felt an amazing work experience. That’s the issue Daniel Vallejos, Founder of 360HRE, is working to solve. In this interview, Vallejos takes us into the HR revolution and talks about why curiosity -- though dangerous to cats -- is an entrepreneur’s best resource.

“Where do I even start? How do I research charities? Who’s actually doing great work? Once I do give, where’s the money really going? If I’m not rich, can I even make an impact?" These are a just a few of the questions that pop when young professionals think about giving. To answer these, Joel Pollick, Founder and CEO of Percent Pledge, has made it his mission to empower every young professional to become a philanthropist and easily make giving a habit. In this post, Pollick discusses the importance of simplicity, transparency, and even fear.

The current taxi and rideshare market is competitive to say the least. That’s why brothers Joe and Jeff Talamantez built Cab Dash, an app that helps rideshare and taxi drivers locate their next fare quicker. In this post, they’ll talk about why cab and rideshare drivers always feel the need for speed, conviction, and the importance of good mentorship.

Most families don’t see themselves as caregivers. They’re just a son or daughter doing their duty as a child or grandchild. The caregiving journey is often just as life-changing as having a new baby, but they don’t get 9 months to prepare.  It happens in an instant: with a fall, a hospitalization, or a new diagnosis. This leaves families scrambling and stressed, often for years. Fortunately, Carl Hirschman, Founder and CEO of CareTree, a caregiving software, is bringing peace of mind to families and the caregiving industry into the 21st century.

As any entrepreneur can tell you, good teams equal good business. And though most founders have good intentions, it’s not easy to build and organize the right team, set the right processes, and develop the right leaders. It’s an issue that Krys Burnette, Co-owner and Org Design Lead at August -- which helps organizations optimize for uncertainty by emphasizing agility and experimentation -- has dedicated her career to solving. In this post, Burnette talks about the value of innovation, creative freedom, and self-honesty.

It's the time of the year for gifts, eggnog, and all-around cheer. While we love winter wonderlands, we understand if it's just a little too cold to go outside at the moment. Instead, take a minute to cozy up in front of a warm fireplace and check out 1871's greatest hits from this past year -- in case you've been out of the loop on Twitter, here are The 12 Days of 1871.

Last week, 10 female entrepreneurs from Chicago's tech and entrepreneur community presented their business ideas in front of a packed auditorium at 1871. The event, which helps founders generate leads and connect with investors, officially marks their graduation from our eighth WiSTEM cohort. To celebrate this achievement, we asked them to reflect on the 12-week program in their own words. Here are their 'words of WiSTEM.'

Most of us will wear a few different hats throughout our lives. At 40, Donald Hyun Kiolbassa, President and Owner of Donald Hyun Kiolbassa, Attorney at Law, has already been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and (quite literally) wrote the book. In this post, Kiolbassa reflects on his entrepreneurial journey and what it truly means to grow as an individual and professional.

“Just put one foot in front of the other.” If you’re building a business, you’ve probably heard this line more than once. However, Matthew Thor, a software engineer at Screencastify, takes the saying a bit more literally than his peers. As a runner who once came in 84th place at the Chicago Marathon (out of an estimated 45,000 participants), Thor is no stranger to endurance, initiative, and hustle. In this post, he talks about the importance of focus, balance, and competition.