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1871 is a non-profit technology incubator and coworking hub based in Chicago, Illinois, that provides physical workspace, educational programming, and mentorship to early-stage digital startups. The organization currently supports over 400 early-stage and 200 growth-stage companies across various technology sectors within its ecosystem. Since its inception, the hub's alumni network has generated 17 unicorns, created more than 14,500 local jobs, and raised over $3.5 billion in venture capital funding. To expand its regional footprint and service offerings, the entity completed strategic acquisitions of suburban tech hub Hub88 in 2020 and peer-selected coworking space Catapult Chicago in 2021. The incubator operates under the current leadership of chief executive officer Betsy Ziegler. 1871 was founded in 2012 as an initiative of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center by a group of local business leaders including JB Pritzker and Kevin Willer.
Key people at 1871.
1871 is not a traditional company, but a nonprofit innovation hub and digital startup incubator based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2012, it serves as the flagship initiative of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) and functions as Chicago’s central platform for early-stage and growth-stage technology startups, as well as corporate innovators. Its mission is to inspire, equip, and support entrepreneurs in building high-growth, sustainable businesses that drive economic development and civic leadership in the region.
Rather than making direct equity investments, 1871 operates as a startup ecosystem builder, offering workspace, mentorship, education, and access to capital through a dense network of venture funds, corporations, universities, and accelerators. It has become a cornerstone of Chicago’s tech renaissance, hosting around 400 startups and 200 growth-stage companies, with more than 850 active alumni companies that have collectively created over 14,500 jobs and raised more than $3.5 billion in follow-on capital. As the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world (UBI Global, 2019), 1871 plays a catalytic role in shaping the Midwest’s innovation economy.
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1871 was founded in 2012 by J.B. Pritzker, then a civic entrepreneur and later Governor of Illinois, with the vision of transforming Chicago into a leading tech and innovation hub. The name “1871” references the year of the Great Chicago Fire, symbolizing rebirth and resilience—positioning the incubator as a spark for a new era of entrepreneurial energy in the city.
The initiative emerged from a public-private partnership that secured $2.5 million in state funding to build out the facility in Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart. From the outset, 1871 was designed not just as a co-working space, but as a collaborative ecosystem where startups, mentors, investors, universities, and corporations could interact daily. Under early leadership including CEO Howard Tullman and later Betsy Ziegler, 1871 rapidly scaled, expanding its footprint in 2016 with a 41,000-square-foot addition and acquiring the Illinois Technology Association in 2020 to further consolidate Chicago’s tech infrastructure under one umbrella.
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1871 stands out not as a venture firm or a product company, but as a uniquely integrated innovation ecosystem. Its key strengths include:
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1871 is both a product of and a driver behind the decentralization of U.S. tech innovation. At a time when Silicon Valley’s dominance is being challenged by rising hubs in cities like Austin, Denver, and Atlanta, 1871 has helped position Chicago as a leading Midwest tech center—particularly strong in fintech, healthtech, edtech, and B2B SaaS.
Its success reflects broader trends: the growing importance of local ecosystems, the rise of corporate-startup collaboration, and the recognition that innovation thrives in diverse, inclusive environments. By integrating accelerators, talent pipelines (including tech talent schools), and corporate innovation programs under one roof, 1871 has created a “one-stop shop” model that other cities have studied and emulated.
Moreover, 1871’s acquisition of the Illinois Technology Association and its focus on inclusive entrepreneurship (recognized as a top incubator for women founders) align with national priorities around equitable access to capital and opportunity. In this way, 1871 doesn’t just support startups—it helps redefine what a modern, inclusive innovation economy can look like beyond coastal tech hubs.
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Looking ahead, 1871 is well-positioned to deepen its role as a national model for regional innovation. As remote work and distributed teams become more common, the value of curated, high-touch physical ecosystems like 1871 may actually increase—especially for early-stage founders who benefit from serendipitous connections, mentorship, and structured support.
Future opportunities include expanding its corporate innovation programs, deepening ties with Midwest universities and underrepresented communities, and potentially exporting its playbook to other cities seeking to build resilient startup ecosystems. As Chicago continues to attract talent and capital, 1871 will likely remain the gravitational center of the region’s tech scene.
Just as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 gave rise to a rebuilt, modern city, today’s 1871 continues to serve as a spark—one that’s helping to rebuild the future of entrepreneurship in the heart of America.
