1871 KICKS OFF INAUGURAL ADVANCED MEMBER PROGRAM (AMP) FOR MORE ADVANCED, FAST-GROWING 1871 MEMBER COMPANIES

12 Later-Stage Companies to Participate in Six-Month Program Supporting Scaling and Market Expansion; Program to Provide Mentorship, Additional Resources, and Stage-Specific Support

CHICAGO (February 1, 2018) - 1871 announced today the first cohort of the Advanced Member Program (AMP), a six-month program geared toward scaling, later-stage companies.  In addition to the regular benefits of 1871 membership, AMP participants receive additional resources, including specialized, stage-specific workshops.

“The goal of AMP is to help our member companies increase traction, make substantial progress on their sales and marketing strategies, and improve their leadership and communication skills as they gain more visibility in their markets,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “This first cohort is comprised of some truly impressive companies, and we look forward to seeing how the program accelerates their growth.”

AMP was created as a direct response to feedback from 1871's board and member community about the need for an advanced curriculum for later-stage companies. Participants will have access to 20-30 high-level mentors, selected based on their exemplary background and relevance for scaling companies. Each AMP member will also be individually paired with a ‘super mentor’ -- an 1871 board member or corporate partner who will work with the member throughout the duration of the program.

“I’m honored to be a mentor with 1871’s Advanced Member Program and take part in an initiative that will support the region’s best and brightest companies,” said Rumi Morales, an Advisory Board Member at the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “Like many other mentors at 1871, I’m passionate about helping companies grow, and I look forward to working with all of the innovative entrepreneurs participating in this program.”

Member companies in the first cohort include:

• Anomalix | Anomalix is a cybersecurity solution and services company offering identity management, risk mitigation, and security governance for the cloud.

• Cameo | Cameo is an online marketplace where fans can book personalized video ‘shoutouts’ from their favorite celebrities. In a world where selfies are the new autograph, Cameo helps talent monetize their social following in a brand-positive way.
• Cubii | Cubii is a compact, connected, and affordable under-desk elliptical that integrates wirelessly with mobile devices and existing fitness trackers to make sitting healthier and more social.
• Genivity | Genivity is an award-winning A.I. software platform helping financial professionals engage clients and retain next generation heirs through life-stage, health-risk, and care cost planning.
• Heretik | Heretik combines efficient workflows with advanced machine learning to make the contract review process smarter.
• Peanut Butter | Peanut Butter gives companies the ability to offer student loan assistance as a benefit. Leading employers across North America use Peanut Butter to contribute to the repayment of employee student loans and provide their team members with the necessary resources to manage student debt.
• PeopleVine | PeopleVine combines CRM, marketing, loyalty programs, content management, and more into a single, seamless suite.
• Proxfinity | Proxfinity is a first-to-market leader enhancing human connection through event technology. Using a patented wearable, Proxfinity inspires conversations, drives face-to-face engagement with real-time matchmaking, fosters sustained collaboration, and gauges event impact.
• Rheaply | Rheaply aims to close the growing scientific resource gap by better connecting scientists and researchers on its novel marketplace platform. With Rheaply, researchers can find, transact, and share pricey scientific equipment and supplies, which ensures that their research is more cost-efficient, sustainable, and collaborative.  
• Sage Corps | Sage Corps is a global entrepreneurship program that connects top college students with successful startups from abroad. Students in the Sage Network also have opportunities to network with business leaders and program alumni.
• Sparkl | Sparkl takes the inconvenience out of car washing by bringing a waterless, eco-friendly car wash to its customers.
• TraknProtect | TraknProtect provides a technology platform to hotels to track their physical assets and to protect their most important asset -- their employees. TraknProtect provides panic buttons to help hotels comply with local laws and protect their employees in case of an emergency.

“Our participation in AMP comes at a perfect time,” said Arnav Dalmia, CEO of Cubii. “1871 supported us immensely when we launched in 2013 and now, almost five years later, our challenges are different as we embrace rapid growth. We’re grateful and very excited that 1871 continues to provide new opportunities for us to learn and grow.”

For more information on the program, or to speak with one of the AMP members, emailpress@1871.com or contact Yun Tai at (910) 391-9496.

About TraknProtect
TraknProtect is the only “Internet of things” (IoT) infrastructure for back-of-the-house operations at hotels. Through its proprietary app, TraknProtect hotel customers have access to real-time locations and data about their inventory, room service trays, and vendor activity on property, all on a single platform. The TraknProtect app also offers panic buttons for staff that provide instant alerts and locations of employees in need of assistance. TraknProtect is enabling hotels to enhance guest satisfaction, increase employee efficiency, and improve employee safety throughout their properties. Hotels can also use TraknProtect data analytics to save significant capital costs by making smarter inventory purchasing decisions and better managing outside vendors. For more information, please visit http://www.traknprotect.com.

About 1871
1871 is the home of nearly 500 early-stage, high-growth digital startups and more than 1,500 members supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. Visit www.1871.com for more information. Located in a 150,000 square-foot space over three floors in The Merchandise Mart, 1871 has more than 600 current mentors available to its members, as well as more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and other organizations that make its extensive matrix of resources possible. For more on our partners, visit www.1871.com/about/partners, or become a partner by reaching out to contact@1871.com.