1 / 16 CHRIS JAEGER Co-founder, RentStuff.com Age: 30 The product: Online marketplace that connects people looking to rent items to local rental companies RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 2 / 16 NEAL EHARDT (left) and JEREMIAH SERAPHINE Co-founders, Groovebug Ages: 30 and 37, respectively The product: Music discovery engine app designed for the iPad RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 3 / 16 CHRISTINE GUTIERREZ Co-founder, BabbaCo Age: 36 The product: A monthly subscription box containing projects for children and their parents RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 4 / 16 JOSH SAUNDERS Founder, Uncorkd Age: 29 The product: A wine menu iPad app for restaurants RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 5 / 16 PERE RIGO Founder, Proven Hires Age: 34 The product: Website that helps firms find employees by using professional and academic data RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 6 / 16 RAVI SINGH Co-founder, Toodalu Age: 34 The product: Mobile apps with loyalty rewards program for customers of local businesses, particularly high-end restaurants RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 7 / 16 BEN BLAIR Co-founder, MarkITx Age: 35 The product: Online marketplace for businesses to buy, trade, and exchange used and refurbished IT hardware RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 8 / 16 JESSICA ZWEIG (left) and ERICA BETHE LEVIN Co-founders, CheekyChicago.com Ages: 31 and 28, respectively The product: Online magazine for Chicago women, including monthly events and a membership program RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 9 / 16 JAIME BRUGUERAS (left) and JOSE RUBIO Co-founders, Mineful Ages: 36 and 35, respectively The product: Automated email marketing software for online retailers RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 10 / 16 DAVE SHEMENSKI (left) and ED LEWIS Co-founders, Media Chaperone Ages: 42 and 43, respectively The product: Social media tools that help parents monitor their children's online gaming activities RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 11 / 16 SHARON SCHNEIDER Founder, Moxie Jean Age: 36 The product: Online consignment website for gently-used, brand-name kids clothing RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 12 / 16 PHILLIP LESLIE Founder, ProOnGo Age: 33 The product: Mobile apps for expense tracking and reports RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 13 / 16 PHIL DZIEDZIC Co-founder, livelocal.ly Age: 25 The product: Mobile apps for shopping districts, downtown shopping areas, and malls that offer discounts and loyalty programs RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 14 / 16 JIN HWANG Founder, EveningFlow Age: 32 The product: A mobile app that finds local bars and restaurants with real-time updates on specials, live music, sports games, and other events and offers RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 15 / 16 ALICIA DIRAGO Founder, Whimseybox Age: 32 The product: A monthly subscription service that sends a box of craft supplies for projects of their choice RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang 16 / 16 RICK DESAI Co-founder, Dashfire Age: 30 The product: Development and strategy services for other startups RELATED: Silicon Prairie Redux: Examining Chicago's Tech Boom »Photography: Esther Kang The Startups at 1871 What’s being made in Chicago right now? Meet some of the entrepreneurs occupying the five-month-old tech hub 1871, located in the Merchandise Mart and home to more than 160 startups. By Esther Kang September 20, 2012, 1:41 pm RELATED STORY: Silicon Prairie Redux: Will Chicago’s Tech Boom Last? »