In this profile of WiSTEM C4 members, Shaniqua Davis, Founder and CEO or Noirefy, talks about her digital platform that connects diverse professionals with corporations in order to create inclusive workplaces.

1871 Business Development Associate, Colleen Maxwell, sat down with Andres Mendoza-Pena from 1871 partner and 2015 Momentum Awards Corporate Champion, A.T. Kearney.  She asked him more about A.T. Kearney’s commitment to the Chicago ecosystem and what the team has learned from 1871’s startups.

In this profile of WiSTEM C4 members, Heather Holmes, CEO and founder of Genivity, introduces her award-winning life-planning platform that better connects financial advisors to their clients’ medical history to better drive engagement, retention and growth.

The largest and most diverse cohort of businesses to date have been selected for the fourth cohort of WiSTEM, 1871’s innovative and customized program designed to accelerate and cultivate opportunities for women in technology. The 14 women-owned companies will begin the 12-week program March 21.

We celebrated the hard work of the first Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce x 1871 Hispanic Tech Cohort. Right before the event kicked off we rolled a video that shed light on how the program impacted each member. Food and drink were provided by Felix's Famous Cookies, Amanecer Breakfast Tacos, Atzimba - Catering & Event Services and Dulcelandia/Yogolandia Sweet & Savory. All Hispanic owned businesses.

Check out this Polar Plunge recap video! Wondering where the GoPro footage came from? Our very own COO, Tom Alexander, strapped on a headband GoPro rig for a first person look at ALL the fun. BRRRRRR!!! The water was so cold, but it didn't phase us! We're proud of our team for sticking it out and taking the plunge for a great cause.

From our International Women's Day Battle Scars discussion with Feminist Fight Club author Jessica Bennett and WBEZ's Lauren Chooljian, DePaul Women's a Cappella (DWaC) perform MILCK's "I Can't Keep Quiet".

On February 28th, 1871 welcomed the incredible and inspirational Craig Kielburger, founder of Free the Children and WE Charity. What an amazing story and event! Watch the full event recap video linked here. Enjoy!

It was a Fight Club…but without the fighting and without the men. Every month, the women would huddle in a friend’s apartment to share sexist job frustrations and trade tips for how best to tackle them. These women weren’t just there to vent. They needed battle tactics. And so the Feminist Fight Club was born. Author Jessica Bennett shared with our community the bruises, scrapes, and scars that mark their experience – and ultimately their victories – in battling office sexism. 

Kristen Sonday is the founder of Paladin, an online platform that connects legal professionals to pro bono opportunities, and was also a member of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and 1871’s first cohort of their joint accelerator program. She was chosen from 45 applicants to serve as the 2017 EIR, focusing on diversity and inclusion efforts in the entrepeneurship community.