1871

Tonight was our sixth community event this time with Warren Packard, Partner at AI Fund. After graduating from Stanford, Warren began his career designing dialysis kits at Baxter before returning to academia. His path then led him to Drager Fisher Jervisin (DFJ), where he helped invest in transformative companies including Skype, Hotmail, Box, Baidu, and even early investments in Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla. Along his journey, Warren also founded Thuuz Sports, as an early pioneer of AI for real-time excitement measurement in sports and creating personalized highlight reels—winning an Emmy along the way. Today at AI Fund, Warren helps build and scale AI-driven companies from the ground up, leveraging his unique perspective as both investor and founder. Key Takeaways 1. The Orchestra Metaphor for Our AI Future Warren compared humans and AI to a conductor and an orchestra. AI can handle specific tasks (like instruments), but humans will direct how those tasks are used (like a conductor). This means AI will change how we work, but our creativity and judgment will still be essential. 2. AI's Strengths Mirror Its Shortcomings AI is good at things like summarizing information and finding specific details. However, like humans, it can be biased, make mistakes, and learn from bad examples. This means we should use AI as a tool, not expect it to be perfect or fear it as a threat. 3. The Democratization of AI Is Accelerating New AI technologies are making it easier for anyone to build AI tools. Soon, you won't need to be a tech expert to create powerful AI applications. You'll be able to describe what you want, and AI will build it. In fact Warren shared how he built an exercise clock in just five minutes. A deep thank you to Warren for sharing his journey and insights as both a founder and investors. And a special thanks to everyone who joined and asked thoughtful questions. The conversation doesn't just end there, here's whats coming up for the month of April for those who'd like to join: April 1st: Innovation to Implementation of Equitable Healthcare Solutions with 2Flo Ventures, MATTER, Nucleate Chicago, and Takeda April 8th: Designing AI-Powered Consumer Experiences with Menlo Ventures, AbbVie, and Klaviyo April 8th: How AI is Transformimg the Food Industry with AI2030, Supply Change Capital, and Mars Wrigley April 16-18th: Emerging Tech Summit - Register Here: https://lnkd.in/dEabK4qy April 22nd: Industry Convergence Forum with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Center for Excellence April 22nd: Building AI Agents with Royal Cyber Inc. April 23rd: 1871 Farewell Celebration

Applications for WMNtech Founders close next week on March 31st! Apply to the 100% virtual program today and scale your solution under expert guidance and mentorship. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/g65pZgVH

We are thrilled to introduce the Emerging Tech Summit opening keynote speaker for Day 1! Keith Toney Toney is an Executive Vice President and President of Credit & Decision Management at Discover Financial Services . He has over 20 years of IT experience in financial services and analytics, and will be bringing his knowledge of emerging technologies in big data, AI, machine learning, and data governance and security to the 1871 stage on April 16! Don’t miss this insightful conversation — presale ends April 2! Tickets are free for all members! RSVP now: https://bit.ly/40IEaWd

Hey?startup founders!?Are you innovating in the #AI or #Web3 space? Join 1871’s Innovation Labs Portfolio — an exclusive opportunity for?post-launch startups?to be showcased to investors and corporates throughout the year. Benefits include: ? Pitching to an audience of 250+ experts and leaders ? Booth space at the Startup Expo ? Selective introductions to key investors, partners, and customers AI Innovation Lab Focus Areas: ?? Multimodal & GenAI ?? Agents & Orchestration ?? Trustworthy AI & Risk Management ?? Enterprise AI Architecture Web3 Innovation Lab Focus Areas: ?? Digital Assets ?? Market Infrastructure ??Web3-Powered AI Apply by March 29 to be showcased at the Emerging Tech Innovation Summit! Take advantage of the Portfolio benefits: Join the AI portfolio:?https://bit.ly/4isYPFn Join the Web3 portfolio:?https://bit.ly/4iWcgxw

Join us in person on March 25th for a Consumer Tech co-working day! Connect with fellow innovators in the FinTech, InsurTech, and Sports and Entertainment communities and collaborate to make your ideas come to life! ?RSVP: https://lnkd.in/giW5Taeu #Coworkingday #Consumertech #Fintech #InsurTech #SportsandEntertainment

Did you register yet?! Emerging Tech Summit is happening April 16 and 17! Spend two days diving into the hottest topics in the AI and Web3 spaces and connecting with the innovators driving these industries forward. Agenda Highlights: ??Keynote Conversations & Expert-Led Breakout Sessions ??Startup Alley and Startup Pitch Showcase ??Happy Hours, Dinners, & Networking Lunches Hot Topics:? ?? Web3-Powered AI: Decentralized AI and the Threat of Misinformation ?? Funding the Future: Web3 VC Trends & Investment Insights ?? Mind Meets Machine: The Rise of Multimodal & Generative AI ?? Tokenized Money: Who Holds the Risk? ??and more! If you’re a founder, join the portfolio and get your solution in front of potential investors and corporate partners. https://lnkd.in/gsUzX4z6 If you’re an investor or corporation, connect directly with founders creating industry-shaping solutions. RSVP! Presale ends April 2, members attend for free: https://bit.ly/40IEaWd?

We had a fantastic time participating in Midwest House at SXSW! It was inspiring to connect with such a vibrant community of innovators and entrepreneurs. The energy was electric!

We’re partnering with 1871 for the Emerging Tech Innovation Summit! Join us on April 16 and 17 for two impactful days of learning, networking, and celebrating AI and Web 3 innovation! Register: https://lnkd.in/g2PCmRq6 ?? Stay Connected & Engaged: ? LinkedIn Group: https://buff.ly/4hARa7n ? AI 2030 Summit Series: https://buff.ly/4hbQRPS ? Join the Movement: https://buff.ly/DNWtlWw ? Join our Circle.so Portal: https://buff.ly/DZCGRHA

Save the date! ScaleUp 2025 is happening on May 7 — a day dedicated to helping you take your company and team to new heights. ? If you’re a founder, leader, or both, ScaleUp will provide you with tangible tactics to enhance your leadership skills, practical insights from Chicago’s most successful tech leaders, a wide professional network of thought leaders, peers, and innovators, and a renewed inspiration for growth. Register: https://bit.ly/40OAcLT

Hey Chicago students! Are you bored of the library ??? Sick of working at home ??? Grab your laptop and a friend and come work at 1871 on March 27th! Enjoy complimentary coffee, snacks, and professional headshots, and experience 1871’s energizing space! RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gb8MTRha #Students #Workat1871 #Network