Rolling admissions · Rolling admissions
1871 is a Chicago nonprofit innovation hub founded in 2012 by now-Governor J.B. Pritzker as the flagship project of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center. Rather than running fixed cohorts, it offers paid membership across three tracks: Early Stage (idea to product-market fit, following a 14-week “PYROS” roadmap of workshops and mentorship), Growth Stage (seed to IPO, with tiered access to investor and corporate connections), and Corporate Innovator (for established companies running intrapreneurship programs). Ten industry-focused Innovation Labs connect members with corporates and investors across fields from AI to FinTech to supply chain, alongside dedicated tracks for Black, Latino and women founders and an annual Momentum Awards. After 13 years at the Merchandise Mart, 1871 relocated in 2025 amid financial pressure to donated space at Edelman’s Chicago headquarters. Since 2012, member companies have raised more than $3.5 billion and created 14,500+ jobs. 1871 ranks 63rd on the 2026 TIME and Statista list of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators.
Frequency
Rolling
Duration
14 weeks, Rolling
Investment
None
Equity
None
Program fees
$200/mo–$15,000/yr — tiered membership dues
Where
USA
Sectors
Sector Agnostic
Stages
Growth/Late Stage, Idea/Pre-Team, Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Eligibility
• Growth Stage: startups from seed funding through pre-IPO; eligible for the Innovation Lab Portfolio if meeting 3 of 6 criteria (2-5 strong leaders, 10-50 person team, defined marketing, product-market fit, compelling traction, $10M-$100M valuation)
• Corporate Innovator: established companies and enterprises running internal innovation or intrapreneurship programs, across three annual tiers (Access, Connect, Influence)
• Identity and industry tracks (BLK•Tech, LatinX, WISTEM, WMN•FinTech, WMNtech) require an existing Early Stage or Growth Stage membership, then a separate application
• No sector restriction for core membership; the 10 Innovation Labs are open industry-interest communities, not eligibility gates
Selection process
• Growth Stage and Corporate: apply online or through a membership consultation call; Growth Stage applicants are additionally scored against 1871’s own growth-stage criteria to qualify for the Innovation Lab Portfolio
• Identity and industry programs (BLK•Tech, LatinX, WISTEM, WMN•FinTech) require an existing Early Stage or Growth Stage membership, then a separate program application
• Industry Champions (volunteer community leaders for each Innovation Lab) apply separately and are selected annually
Benefits
• 24/7 co-working access in downtown Chicago, $150K+ in free business services, and $100,000+ in discounted partner tools and services
• 1:1 mentorship through the 1871 mentor portal (350+ mentors) and Deep Dive cohort programs led by Entrepreneurs-in-Residence
• Growth Stage members can join the Innovation Lab Portfolio for curated investor/corporate introductions, demo tables at industry summits, and inclusion in corporate deal flows
• Corporate members get co-branded events, speaking opportunities, a talent referral pipeline and university partnership access, scaled across three annual tiers
• Identity and industry programs: BLK•Tech, LatinX (with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), WISTEM, WMN•FinTech (with BMO Harris Bank), and WMNtech, a four-month women’s leadership accelerator
• Annual Momentum Awards, Innovation Summits, and pitch competitions (BLKtech, LTNtech, WMNtech) for member visibility
Notable alumni
Network
Founded by J.B. Pritzker (now Governor of Illinois) as the flagship project of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC), 1871’s nonprofit parent. Led by CEO Betsy Ziegler, with COO Lisa Laws, VP of Experience Mandy Yoh and CXO Stephanie Miller. Board chaired by Larry Eppley (Sheppard Mullin), with Mike Lyman (Treasurer), Ted Souder (Secretary), Jim O’Connor Jr. (Chairman Emeritus) and Troy Henikoff (Programming Committee chair; Managing Director, MATH Venture Partners; former Managing Director, Techstars Chicago). 1871 has acquired the Illinois Technology Association (2020), the Catapult accelerator (2021) and the hub88 accelerator in Naperville, IL (2021). More than 100 corporate, university, venture capital and community partners, including Google for Startups, UPS, Chase, and BMO Harris Bank (WMN•FinTech); LatinX programming runs with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Portfolio
850+ alumni companies still active, out of 1,500+ historical members since 2012
Funds raised
$3.5B+ raised in follow-on venture capital by member companies since 2012
🕐 Sep 2026
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