Build the System: 1871 Emerging Tech Innovation Summit
Chicago has always been a builder's city.
AI, blockchain, and quantum are no longer ideas to track, they are systems being built, deployed, and scaled right now. Following the Chicago Accord Policy Summit on May 27, this summit moves the conversation from policy to production - what's working, what's not, and what comes next.
Come find out:
The Reality Gap: What’s real vs. what’s hype in 2026.
The Hard Truths: What actually breaks between a demo and a global deployment.
The Capital: What is getting funded in a "production-first" market.
Who Should Attend
Founders building in AI, blockchain, quantum, and deep tech
Enterprise leaders deploying emerging tech into production
Platform and infrastructure operators
Investors backing scalable, production-ready companies
What to Expect
⚡ No Hype, No Hedging
Operators and founders who are shipping tell you what's working — and what isn't.
🧠 The Signal Shorts
Fast, focused sessions on the hardest questions in emerging tech, no fluff, no endless panels.
🚀 Founder Showcases
See emerging tech in action with demos from high-traction startups.
🤝 The Room
Founders, enterprise leaders, operators, and investors. Intimate enough to foster real connections.
Agenda
Supported by Microsoft, Deloitte, United, and DeVry
Built in partnership with C:TPI