The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and 1871 will present the third annual Chicagoness Award to Lupe Fiasco at the 10th Annual Merrick Momentum Awards Dinner, to be held November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. The award honors individuals and businesses that exemplify the values and unique traits of the Chicago entrepreneur, which include hard work, commitment to community, inclusion and a vision that fosters collective opportunity.

1871 is proud to name McDonald’s as the 2017 Corporate Champion due to the company's outstanding community impact in Chicago. This award celebrates McDonald's decision to open their state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown Chicago, bringing more than 2,000 jobs and the iconic brand to the city. 

To celebrate the opening of their stunning new store on Michigan Avenue on October 20, Apple has joined forces with 1871 and a handful of other select local organizations to produce Today @ Apple: The Chicago Series, a month-long set of in-store events that aim to inspire, connect, educate and support attendees in the pursuit of their creative and entrepreneurial passions.

When three major and catastrophic hurricanes made landfall between late-August and early-October, the destruction left in their wake was described as “unprecedented” and “devastating.” In the following month, it has been inspiring at 1871 -- an organization that is named after those who rose up and rebuilt after a disaster -- to see the innovators and member organizations that have stepped up to use their tools and tap their communities to aid in the aftermath.

It was an open house for parents September 27 at Pullman Elementary School, but the students were scuba diving in the ocean and exploring Mars. Thanks to a donation from 1871 member company, EX3 Labs, students at the South Side school now have an entire classroom equipped with Virtual Reality goggles and more than 600 educational experiences.

BMO Harris Bank and 1871 have announced the three winners for the BMO Harris/1871 Fintech Partnership Program. The three-month mentorship program, launched in April 2017, has supported a number of Chicago’s startup innovators who have developed industry-leading solutions for the financial services industry.

It was appropriate the 3rd annual Chicago TIMMY Awards were held on a day of record breaking heat. Some of Chicago’s hottest, most talented and innovative companies gathered for the Tech in Motion TIMMY Awards at 1871 September 22, packing an energetic Auditorium. The awards recognize the best places for tech professionals to work in Chicago -- from companies that excel at embracing diversity to businesses with visionary leaders.

1871 is excited to announce the extension of its partnership with Hirewell, a Chicago-based recruiting firm. Hirewell's two full-time recruiters have filled more than 100 technical and non-technical positions with 1871 member companies, and 48 percent of those hired met an inclusion standard in 2016 with an average salary of $72,500. 

Strong and Talented Crop of Tech Businesses Among Nominees for Momentum Award and Momentum Rising Star Award; Winners to be Announced at Largest Ever Momentum Dinner November 2

Since April, 1871 has been excited to play host to an innovative partnership program in our space, which has paired mentors from BMO Harris Bank with some emerging Fintech startups in Chicago. Since then, Peanut Butter, Spring Four, Genivity, Medean, Wealth Pool and Tru Crowd have been working closely with the mentors in the 1871 space, refining their value proposition and scaling up to partner or pilot their technology with a large bank like BMO.