1871 Events: Scale the System: 1871 Emerging Tech Innovation Summit
09:00Chicago, IL, Chicago, United States
Emerging Tech Innovation Summit 2026: Policy, Power & Production
The future of technology isn’t just being coded—it’s being regulated, scaled, and funded.
Join 1871 for a comprehensive, full-day summit bringing together builders, investors, policymakers, and enterprise leaders across AI, Quantum, and Web3. This year, we’ve combined our specialized tracks into a single powerhouse day. Step into the room to separate hype from reality, explore the guardrails shaping development, and see the next generation of breakthrough startups pitch live.
The Agenda At-A-Glance
🏛️PART 1: The Policy Track | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Before you build the future, you have to understand the boundaries. We’re kicking off the morning with an in-depth look at the shifting regulatory landscape governing emerging tech.
Opening Policy Keynote
Two Specialized Panels diving into compliance, ethics, and the regional/national policies impacting AI, Quantum, and Web3. (Full speaker lineup coming soon!)
Who is Responsible When AI Acts with Waymo
Illinois Digital Assets Bill/ Carrots-Sticks-Challenges with IBA
🤝 THE MIDDAY CONNECT | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Network, grab lunch, and dive into focused, concurrent community tracks:
Claude Code Meetup: Hosted in partnership with Anthropic— A 20 minute AMA Session with Claude with open networking for founders, developers, and builders.
Private Corporate Innovation Meetup: Closed-door collaboration for enterprise leaders.
Private Founder & Investor Lunch: Curated networking for founders and funders.
💥 PART 2: The Innovation Track | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The afternoon shifts gears into pure execution, scaling, and fundraising.
• Opening Innovation Keynote
• 1871 Founder Showcase: Meet the companies moving the needle in AI, Quantum, and Web3.
• $25K TechRise Pitch Competition: Watch top founders battle it out live on stage for a piece of a non-dilutive $25,000 prize pool.
• 1871 "Short Series" Conversations: Our signature, rapid-fire 20-minute expert conversations with liv