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1871's Overview

Total employees765
HeadquartersChicago
Founded2012

1871 is a globally recognized technology and entrepreneurship center located in the heart of Chicago. It serves as a vital hub for over 450 digital startups, growth-stage companies, and corporate innovators, providing co-working space, specialized industry programming, extensive mentorship networks, and access to venture capital. Named after the year of the Great Chicago Fire and symbolizing the city's spirit of rebuilding and innovation, 1871's mission is to inspire, equip, and support founders to build groundbreaking businesses and bolster Chicago's reputation as a leading global tech hub.

Where is 1871's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the primary physical hub for 1871's operations, housing its extensive co-working spaces, private offices for startups, event venues, classrooms for workshops and educational programs, and administrative offices. It's designed to facilitate collaboration, networking, and innovation among its members.

Notable Features:

Expansive 140,000+ sq ft facility, state-of-the-art event spaces, numerous conference rooms, dedicated industry vertical hubs (e.g., for fintech, supply chain), a welcoming community area, podcasting studio, and stunning views of the Chicago skyline and river.

Work Culture:

The work culture at 1871 is dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial. It fosters a strong sense of community, encouraging peer-to-peer support, mentorship, and a 'pay-it-forward' ethos. The environment is high-energy, driven by innovation and the pursuit of growth.

HQ Significance:

As one of the largest and most influential tech incubators in the United States, 1871's headquarters is a cornerstone of Chicago's tech ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in nurturing early-stage companies, attracting tech talent, and connecting startups with corporate partners and investors.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' design and atmosphere reflect 1871's core values: innovation, collaboration, community, resilience, and a commitment to fostering entrepreneurial success.

Location:

While 1871's physical operations are centralized at its Chicago headquarters, its global presence is significant. This is achieved through its diverse community of international founders, partnerships with global innovation hubs and corporations, an alumni network of companies with worldwide operations, and by hosting international delegations and events. 1871 actively participates in global tech discussions and attracts talent and ideas from around the world, contributing to a globally connected innovation ecosystem.

Street Address:

222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212

City:

Chicago

State/Province:

IL

Country:

USA

1871's Global Presence

Buying Intent Signals for 1871

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of 1871

As of April 2025, 1871' leadership includes:

Betsy Ziegler - Chief Executive Officer
Tom Alexander - Chief Operating Officer
Shayna Atkins - Chief Revenue & Business Development Officer
Stephanie Hannon - Chief Product & Technology Officer
Leticia Mooney - Chief Experience Officer

Investors of 1871

1871 has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Pritzker Group Venture Capital (Founding Partner)
State of Illinois
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation
Google for Startups
Microsoft
Salesforce
Wintrust
United Airlines
Bosch

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire2
Exits1

1871 has strengthened its leadership team with key appointments in revenue generation and member experience, while also seeing a transition in its innovation leadership. These changes reflect a continued focus on growth and community support.

Departures

Desirée Vargas Wrigley, Desirée Vargas Wrigley departed from her role as Chief Innovation Officer to become CEO of Pearachute.

New Appointments:

Shayna Atkins, Shayna Atkins appointed as new Chief Revenue & Business Development Officer.
Leticia Mooney, Leticia Mooney appointed as new Chief Experience Officer.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by 1871

Discover the tools 1871 uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

1871 Email Formats and Examples

1871 primarily utilizes a standard email format for its staff, typically combining the employee's first and last name. This is a common practice for professional organizations.

The most common email format for 1871 is [first].[last]@1871.com. For example, jane.doe@1871.com.

Format

betsy.ziegler@1871.com

Example

80%

Success rate

News and media

1871 Blog2023-11-01

1871 and World Business Chicago Announce Ninth Cohort of ThinkChicago Launchpad Program

1871, in collaboration with World Business Chicago, unveiled the ninth cohort of the ThinkChicago Launchpad program. This initiative is dedicated to supporting and retaining promising student founders from Chicago-area universities by providing essential resources, mentorship, and community....more

1871 Blog2024-02-15

1871 Announces 12th Cohort of Advanced Member Program (AMP)

1871 introduced the 12th cohort of its Advanced Member Program (AMP), a six-month curriculum designed to help growth-stage member companies scale their businesses through expert-led workshops, peer roundtables, and dedicated mentorship....more

1871 Blog2023-09-20

1871 Announces New Partnership with MSI PROmoteCHI to Expand Tech Talent Pipeline

1871 partnered with Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago's (MSI) PROmoteCHI program to broaden the tech talent pipeline by offering hands-on tech experiences and mentorship to high school students from underrepresented communities....more

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