1871 Events: Scale the System: 1871 Emerging Tech Innovation Summit

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 live Q&A. This year's hot topics include:

How to Maintain a Moat in AI Development

What is the Real Speed Limit of AI? (Featuring leaders from ComEd, Clayco, and Current exploring physical infrastructure bottlenecks)

How Emerging Tech is Defining the Future of the Workforce

👥 Who Should Attend?

Founders & Builders looking for funding, technical meetups (Anthropic), and actionable growth strategies.

Investors scouting the next wave of midwest tech talent at the TechRise pitch competition and 1871 Founder Showcase.

Enterprise Leaders & Policy Enthusiasts needing to de-risk their tech roadmaps against upcoming regulations and infrastructure constraints.

Note on Ticketing: This is a combined, full-day event. Your registration grants you access to both the morning Policy track and the afternoon Innovation track. Select mid-day lunch sessions are private and require separate RSVPs.