Tech incubator 1871 finds new home after leaving the Merchandise Mart

Chicago's 1871 Tech Incubator Set to Find New Home in Edelman Office Space

The prestigious tech incubator, which has been a hub for innovative startups since its launch in 2012, is set to relocate from the iconic Merchandise Mart to a newly donated office space in Chicago's Loop. The organization will be joining forces with Current, a nonprofit focused on solving water challenges, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in a 23,000-square-foot space at Edelman's headquarters.

The move comes as an end to a long-standing commitment made by 1871 to the Merchandise Mart, which was deemed unsustainable due to changing business needs. However, after exploring alternative options, the group found itself welcomed into the Edelman office with open arms. The communications giant has offered the groups a three-year lease on rent-free terms, anticipating renewal if they choose to stay.

The new space is designed to foster collaboration among the three organizations, boasting co-working areas, over a dozen huddle rooms, and conference spaces. While an exact opening date has not been confirmed, CEO Betsy Ziegler is hopeful to be settled into the new space by the end of the year.

Ziegler acknowledged that the move came as a significant change for 1871, but expressed excitement about the potential for increased collaboration with Current and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "It will probably be more like joint events," she noted, suggesting that the proximity of their offices could give rise to numerous new partnerships and opportunities.

The relocation marks an opportunity for Edelman to anchor a new collaborative innovation space in Chicago's Loop. CEO Amanda Edelman emphasized the importance of fostering growth and innovation in the city, saying "We don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be extended" if the groups choose to stay.

For Current, the new home promises to provide a solid foundation as they scale their organization to advance their mission of promoting sustainable water management across the Great Lakes region. CEO Alaina Harkness highlighted the group's existing partnership with 1871, noting that their collaboration has been consistent and fruitful.

As the tech incubator makes its way into its new home, it will be interesting to see how the close proximity of these organizations sparks new partnerships and initiatives in Chicago's vibrant innovation ecosystem.

I'm glad 1871 is moving out of that old building... I mean, it was probably due for an upgrade anyway . But honestly, Edelman's new office space sounds like a solid deal. Rent-free terms? Yes, please! And I love how they're making this whole thing about fostering growth and innovation – sounds like a total marketing gimmick to me . But hey, it'll be cool to see what kind of partnerships come out of this setup. Maybe we'll finally get some sustainable water management going on in the Great Lakes region... or maybe not .

this is a pretty sweet deal for 1871, gettin' a new space without havin' to pay rent! edelman seems like a cool company, all about fosterin' growth and innovation. current's mission is really important too, water conservation and all that. i'm not surprised they're stoked about the collaboration potential . but, gotta wonder if 1871's gonna stick around for the full three years or just play it cool and see how things go .

I don't get why they're leaving Merchandise Mart, it's a iconic spot! They're just gonna fit in with Edelman like it's no big deal? I mean, what about the history and the vibes of 1871 Tech Incubator? It's like they're giving up some of that cool factor to save a buck. And what's up with this "joint events" thing, sounds like a fancy way of saying "we're gonna work together but still keep it separate". I hope the new space has some good coffee and decent Wi-Fi, that's the bare minimum for me.

omg, i'm so hyped about 1871 moving to edelman's office space ! it's like, totally gonna change the game for those innovative startups . i think it's awesome that they're joining forces with current and ilinois hispanic chamber of commerce - imagine all the cool joint events and collab opportunities . and can you believe edelman is just giving them rent-free terms? that's like, super generous! anyway, i'm excited to see what kind of new partnerships and initiatives come out of this . it's gonna be a blast to watch these organizations work together!

So finally some good news about 1871! I'm stoked they're making the move to Edelman's space . It makes total sense, those offices are basically begging for a tech incubator like that. Can't wait to see what kind of innovation comes out of it . Current and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are gonna bring some serious firepower to the table ! And on the bright side, Edelman's not just gonna sit back and collect rent ... they're actually investing in the community . Now let's get this innovation party started !

This is just a classic case of them trying to control the narrative, ya know? I mean, think about it - 1871 Tech Incubator is moving from Merchandise Mart to Edelman's HQ on rent-free terms? That's just too convenient. What if they don't really want to stay and are just using this as a ploy to get closer to Current and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce? And what about the fact that Edelman is already an established player in the market, so why would they need 1871 to anchor their innovation space? It's all about control and manipulation, if you ask me...

idk, I'm all for this move , but at the same time, I think it's gonna be super confusing for 1871 to have like, three different spaces to navigate now ... meanwhile, I guess having a rent-free lease from Edelman is kinda cool ... on one hand, the new space sounds awesome with all those co-working areas and huddle rooms , but on the other hand, are we really sure this collaboration thing is gonna work out in the long run?

I'm so down for this . A tech incubator like 1871 was always meant to be about bringing together innovators, I mean, who needs more space when you can have a collaborative environment that encourages creativity? It's actually pretty cool that Edelman is offering rent-free terms, I guess it's one of those times where the big players are willing to take a risk on some exciting startups. The new space sounds amazing, with all those co-working areas and huddle rooms – it's like they're making a conscious effort to make it easier for these organizations to connect and grow. Fingers crossed that the partnerships between Current, 1871, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce lead to some real game-changing initiatives. Can't wait to see what's in store for Chicago's innovation scene!

omg I'm so hyped about this ! a 23k sq ft space in edelman's HQ? that's like a dream come true for startups & innovators it's gonna be sick to see all these organizations collab & create something new & amazing together the fact that edelman is offering rent-free terms is a huge win too, it just shows they're committed to fostering growth in chicago and I'm def intrigued by the idea of joint events & partnerships coming out of this... can't wait to see what the future holds for these organizations

I gotta disagree , this is a total sellout move for 1871! They're basically abandoning their legacy space at Merchandise Mart and jumping onto the Edelman bandwagon just to save some cash . I mean, rent-free terms? That sounds like a sweet deal, but what's the real catch here? Are they gonna be forced to share their innovation with Edelman's comms giant or something? And what about the soul of 1871? They've built this incubator into something special, and now they're just gonna pawn it off on some corporate entity? I don't buy it .

The tech scene in Chicago is still alive! I mean, who wouldn't want to work with Current, tackling water challenges? It's awesome that they're scaling up their efforts and 1871 gets to be a part of it. And Edelman just swooped in with an open arm, offering them a sweet deal. It's like the whole city is one big innovation hub Can't wait to see what kind of cool projects come out of this setup!

I'm low-key hyped about this move ! The new space at Edelman's HQ is gonna be LIT with those co-working areas and huddle rooms. I can already imagine the networking events and joint events that'll pop off ️. Did you know 1871 has been around since 2012? That's like, old-school startup vibes ! And now they're gonna be part of a bigger collaborative ecosystem with Current and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce? It's like, Chicago is on fire !

Stats-wise, 23,000 sq ft is a huge space to work with. Assuming 3-4 people per room, that's around 60-80 people in the co-working areas alone . Not to mention all the huddle rooms and conference spaces... I'm imagining a hub of innovation and creativity .

And let's talk about the non-profit angle . Current is scaling their organization with the help of this new space, which means more sustainable water management efforts across the Great Lakes region . That's like, actually making a difference in people's lives, you know?

I'm guessing this relocation will bring even more attention to Chicago as an innovation hub . The city's already got a thriving ecosystem, but this just takes it to the next level !

I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda bummed that 1871 is leaving the Merchandise Mart . That place was iconic, you know? It had character. But at the same time, I can see why they'd wanna move to a new spot - changing business needs and all that jazz . The idea of them joining forces with Current and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce sounds pretty cool tho . I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of a collaborative innovation space in Chicago's Loop? It's like they're gonna be the ultimate team-up! As for Edelman, I'm happy to see 'em investing in the community . Can't wait to see what new partnerships and initiatives come out of this deal .

just thinkin' about all the new connections that gonna happen cuz 1871 is movin in w/ Current & Illinois Hispanic Chamber... should be super cool for startups & orgs workin on water management this space sounds like a hub for innovation & collaboration, can't wait to see what kinda awesome projects come out of here

omg I'm so hyped about 1871 relocating to Edelman's office space ! This is going to be a game changer for those innovative startups, and I'm loving the idea of more joint events and collaborations between Current and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce . It's like, Chicago is already so cool with all its startup vibes and now this? I'm expecting some amazing things from 1871 in their new space, especially with Edelman on board . Can't wait to see what kind of partnerships and initiatives come out of this!