1871 (company)
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Business incubator, Startup accelerator |
| Founded | February 29, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | J. B. Pritzker |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Betsy Ziegler (CEO) |
| Products | Startup incubation, accelerator programs, technology education |
| Owner | The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) |
1871 operates as a nonprofit digital startup incubator situated within Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Illinois. Established in 2012 by J. B. Pritzker, it functions as the principal initiative of The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding entrepreneurs in developing scalable, sustainable ventures that promote economic growth and civic engagement. Under the leadership of CEO Betsy Ziegler, 1871 has evolved into a pivotal component of Chicago’s tech and entrepreneurial landscape, supporting more than 400 early-stage startups alongside nationally prominent accelerators, sector-focused incubators, and technology education programs. In 2019, UBI Global recognized 1871 as the leading private business incubator worldwide and honored it as the Most Promising Incubator for Women Founders.
History
During the early 2000s, Chicago’s entrepreneurial scene featured organizations such as the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago Ideas Week, and TechNexus. Confronted with competitive pressures, TechNexus redirected its strategy in 2012 toward serving established businesses, which opened opportunities for 1871 to nurture emerging startups and support regional companies. In 2020, 1871 expanded its influence by acquiring the Illinois Technology Association, further strengthening its presence in Chicago’s startup ecosystem. This ecosystem’s development was notably examined in a 2016 Harvard Business School case study.
Community
Providing workspace for upwards of 200 startups, 1871 leverages partnerships with entities like UPS, Google For Entrepreneurs, and Chase to integrate its members into the wider technology community. It extends complimentary workspace access to students from universities including DePaul University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, and Loyola University. Additionally, the facility organizes numerous networking opportunities and educational workshops.
Since its inception, 1871 has inspired the creation of specialized innovation spaces such as the Connectory (focused on IoT), Matter (healthcare innovation), and Relish Works (food service industry).
Funding controversy
As a nonprofit incubator, 1871 benefits from state funding aimed at supporting technology startups. However, some critics—among them Bill Bennet, CEO of Novel Coworking—contend that public funds should not underwrite a single facility when alternatives like WeWork are available. Former CEO Howard A. Tullman defends 1871 by emphasizing its distinctive offerings including mentorship programs and community-driven events.
Publicly available tax documents reveal that the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC), which oversees 1871, allocated approximately 27% of its revenue during 2013-14 toward employee compensation and benefits.
Expansion
In April 2016, 1871 initiated its 3.0 expansion phase by adding 41,000 square feet to accommodate major tenants such as Impact Engine and Accenture. This enlargement was financed entirely by 1871 and CEC without reliance on government subsidies and resulted in doubling daily visitor numbers from around 1,000 to approximately 2,000 individuals. By that year, over 500 companies were operating within the facility.
Further reading and viewing
This is 1871, a video created by Chicago poet Nate Marshall for the center’s grand opening on February 29, 2012.