CHICAGO, January 2, 2023 – 1871 has opened applications to their BLKtech Founders and LTNtech Founders spring cohorts, starting February 2023. These unique affinity offerings run for twelve weeks, combining professional development curriculum, mentoring, and peer group development to elevate Black and Latin tech founders. Applications for both members and non-members will be accepted through January 30th, 2023. The programs will run from 2.7.23-4.11.23, every Tuesday, from 3:00-5:00 PM CST.
BLKtech and LTNtech Founders are designed to inspire, equip, and support Black and Latin founders to maximize their key leadership strengths, overcome obstacles, and build relationships with experienced founders and mentors who are dedicated to supporting them.
These cohorts are designed to create a safe, judgment-free space for founders to meet others in similar entrepreneurial situations to connect and address unique challenges they face due to their racial identity.
BLKtech
BLKtech Founders is supported by Verizon, Molson Coors, EY, Gordon Food Service, Relish Works, and William Blair. This will be the 3rd cohort of the program, created in 2020.
LTNtech
LTNtech Founders is executed in partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This will be the 10th cohort of the program, previously called “Latinx,” but renamed in 2022. While 1871 uses Latin for brevity, we happily welcome those who identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, Latine, Latin@, etc.
About the experience
Key takeaways for participants in the program:
- Learn how to maximize their key leadership skills
- Gain confidence in themselves and their startups
- Overcome obstacles one faces when starting a business
- Build reputable relationships with experienced founders and 1871 members who are dedicated to supporting these groups.
“The beauty of a community is its common unity and to be surrounded with like-minded individuals with similar backgrounds and challenges makes the journey of entrepreneurship bearable,” said Keesha Vinson, founder of Heart of Culture Inc. “There was something so refreshing about seeing so many individuals who look just like you and are just as ambitious, if not more, on similar paths to solve real problems with amazing businesses. I’d recommend BLKtech Founders to anyone looking for an amazing tribe in their entrepreneurial pursuit.”
“As a Latinx entrepreneur, it has been challenging to find business-minded organizations that understand the complexities and challenges of being a Latinx startup and with whom we could engage at so many levels, feel at home, and welcome,” said Reginald Maisonneuve, founder of Aegis.“When that organization is also active and effective in advocating and advancing the businesses under its wings, it is truly rewarding. That is 1871 & IHCC. They are making an important difference for us in the short time we’ve been with them.”
Important Dates
- Non-Member Information sessions:
- January 10th from 5:30 – 6:15 PM CST
- January 20th from 9:00 – 9:45 AM CST
- Member-only Q&A
- January 24th from 4:00 – 4:45 PM CST
- Applications close January 30th, 2023
About 1871
1871 is Chicago’s innovation hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth stage and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~400 technology startups, ~200 growth stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 850 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 14,500 jobs, and have raised more than $3.5 billion in follow-on capital.
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