(Above) Pat Quinn (wearing the tie), J.B. Pritzker (right of Quinn), and Howard Tullman (right of Pritzker) cut a ribbon on Tuesday morning to officially open new space at 1871. (Photo obtained from 1871. Click on image to view larger version.)

October 17, 2014 – Big ideas need lots of room. River North’s technology incubator has opened new space at Merchandise Mart that increases its size from 50,000 to 75,000 square feet.

Governor Pat Quinn, philanthropist and venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker, and 1871 CEO Howard Tullman officially unveiled the space on Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new space will house tech companies that have outgrown their current space, along with venture capital firms and hundreds of other organizations.

The cost of the new space was paid for by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

“Since its inception, 1871 and its alumni companies have created more than 1,000 jobs and this new space will allow the hub to expand and create more high-tech companies and good jobs right here in Illinois,” said Quinn.

The entrepreneurial hub for digital startups was launched in 2012 on the 12th floor of Merchandise Mart.

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