News

mHUB start-up solutions fighting COVID-19

Across the country, companies and entrepreneurs are pivoting to develop and accelerate technologies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. In March, we put out an open call in collaboration with 1871 and MATTER to rally the tech ecosystem around fighting Coronavirus. The energy and enthusiasm we've seen in response is inspiring and we're continuing to talk to entrepreneurs, front line experts, civic leaders and influencers every day to accelerate the development of life-saving technology. See below for a list of new products and existing technology from mHUB with direct application to challenges posed by the pandemic.

Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2020

Workers on the front lines, essential agents in the fight against the ravaging effects of COVID-19, need to protect themselves so that they can continue to treat the ill and infirm. With a shortage of equipment for doing just that, anxiety about the fallout shot through Chicago’s healthcare community. Leaders in Chicago’s entrepreneurial world didn’t stand by idly.

Posted: Monday, April 27, 2020

Betsy Ziegler is the CEO of 1871, which is the #1 Private incubator in the world. They are home to ~400+ early-stage, high growth digital startups and count 670 alumni still operating. Recently they announced a partnership with mHUB, the world's fastest-growing physical product innovation center in the nation, and MATTER, Chicago's healthcare incubator, & accelerator, to seek solutions to combat the COVID -19 pandemic.

Posted: Friday, April 17, 2020

The PPE shortage is one of the most immediate threats to those on the clinical frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Rheaply, an 1871 Alumni Company, has created ERx, the Emergency Resource Exchange platform, to connect those who need supplies to those who have them. The goal is to move fast, come together, and support our frontline heroes.

Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2020

In some cases, hospitals are reaching out directly. Haven Allen is the CEO and co-founder of MHub, a non-profit manufacturing firm that after shutting down its 63,000-square-foot facility last month, is now using its equipment, materials and idle engineers to help Chicago-area hospitals get supplies.

Posted: Friday, April 10, 2020

MATTER start-up solutions fighting COVID-19

Many MATTER member companies are developing solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a growing list of companies who are changing retooling, accelerating, and providing to get ahead of this pandemic.

Posted: Friday, April 3, 2020

mHUB has pulled together a team of engineers and entrepreneurs to develop low-cost solutions to quickly increase the supply of ventilators. These solutions will include both hardware and software technologies. There is an open call to medical partners, local hospitals and greater community for problem statements and challenges around prototyping and manufacturing new technologies to support patient care, testing and worker safety. Submit problem statements or ideas >>

Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Crowd Funding Campaign Launched to Support Medical Equipment & PPE Innovation

Entrepreneurs working to develop low-cost, efficient and quickly scaleable solutions for vital medical devices and personal protective equipment launch GoFundMe to support efforts. Funds will be used to purchase individual components like hoses, pumps, and filters and activate 3D printing facilities to print custom components.

Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Over one weekend, mHUB began working on a prototype for face shields to respond to a request from Northwestern. The team had a working prototype within 2 hours – and pilots in hospital by Monday. A week later, the first shipment of 500 was in the hands of frontline healthcare workers at Northwestern.

Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

As the coronavirus has completely upended “business as usual,” Chicago-based companies are coming up with ways to innovate and offer customer-oriented solutions. After all, this is a time, if any, to bring something new to the table, and we’re seeing it happen in real-time across multiple industries, from technology and health and wellness to food and beverage, supply chain, and beyond. I recently reached out to my network to see what they’re doing to adapt — or better yet make a difference — during these uncertain times.

Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020

Chicago tech hubs and accelerators are coming together to find ways to fight the ongoing coronavirus crisis. mHUB, MATTER and 1871 revealed a website this week that’s aimed at recruiting ideas to fight the illness. The organizations said they plan to tap into their networks of industry experts, entrepreneurs and software developers to source ideas, including local companies like Jiobit, Impossible Objects and Manufacturing x Digital. The site also makes an open call for solutions from health officials, policy makers, advocates and other administrators.

Posted: Friday, March 20, 2020

Small Business Administration Disaster Relief Loans

The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. All affected small businesses and nonprofits can apply now.