What 2112 Creative Industries Incubator does

2112 Creative Industries Incubator is a Chicago-based private for-profit incubator founded in 2015, operating within the 160,000 sq ft Fort Knox Studios ecosystem in the Portage Park neighborhood. It describes itself as Chicago's first business incubator focused on entrepreneurs in music, film/video, and creative technology, and serves as a physical workspace and community hub for early-stage creative businesses. The company monetizes through tiered monthly memberships ($250 for unreserved workspace, $375 for a reserved desk, and $550+ for a private office) supplemented by facility rentals of The Hangar, a 7,200 sq ft production space outfitted with 200 amp 3-phase power, a craft service kitchen, dressing rooms, and equipment rental.

Its product surface extends beyond workspace to include the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (CCE), a hands-on training and bootcamp program with an explicit equity focus on communities of color; a mentor program spanning more than 15 disciplines including music, film, immersive tech, esports, culinary, fashion, legal, and finance; and recurring event programming (workshops, panels, networking receptions, and partner-driven events). Distribution is community-led and event-driven, with growth relying on a partner ecosystem that includes Comcast Business, Dell for Startups, Shure, AIGA Chicago, MMF-US, NIVA, the Esports Trade Association, VRAR Chicago, and the Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, among others. The organization operates with 1-10 employees, has no disclosed outside funding, and is founder/owner-operated, with no reported M&A activity, leadership changes, or restructuring events in the source material.

Name

2112 Creative Industries Incubator

Legal name

2112

Website

https://2112inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

2112 is a Chicago-based for-profit incubator and coworking facility for entrepreneurs in music, film, and creative technology, offering tiered workspace memberships and production space within Fort Knox Studios, plus mentorship, events, and equity-focused training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Industries Incubator / Shared Workspace

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Temporary Structures (Truss Roofs, Tents, Barricades) (MPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Creative industries incubation
• Shared workspace memberships
• Production facility rental
• Entrepreneurship mentorship programs
• Creative technology incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Monthly membership fees for workspace access including unreserved workspace, reserved desk space, and private office space. Includes access to educational programming, mentor hours, and facility amenities.
2. Facility Rental: Rental of The Hangar production space and conference/meeting rooms for events and creative projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

2112 Creative Industries Incubator operates a membership-based business incubator providing tiered workspace access (unreserved, reserved desk, and private office), on-site production facilities including The Hangar (7,200 sq ft), and structured entrepreneurship programming (Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, mentor hours, events) for creative industry entrepreneurs in music, film/video, and creative technology. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly membership subscriptions and ancillary facility/event rentals.

Product overview

2112 is Chicago's first business incubator focused on developing entrepreneurs in entertainment, creative industries, and lifestyle brands. The facility offers a tiered membership model providing workspace access (unreserved hot-desks at $250/month, reserved desks at $375/month, and private offices starting at $550/month), with all tiers including educational programming, mentor hours, and 24/7 access. The 160,000 sq ft ecosystem at Fort Knox Studios also features The Hangar, a 7,200 sq ft production space for film, video, music, photography, and events. Key programs include the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (CCE) providing hands-on training and bootcamps, a mentor program connecting members with industry experts across 15+ fields, and regular event programming including workshops, panels, and networking receptions. The organization serves creative professionals in music, film/video, design, culinary, fashion, esports, and immersive technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hangar: Fort Knox Studios' The Hangar provides 7,200 square feet of flexible production space for film, video, music, photography and special events. Features include 200 amp 3 phase power, production office, in-house workshop for set design, equipment rental, 24 hr security, craft service kitchen, private parking, dressing rooms.
• Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (CCE)

Products and services

• 2112 Membership - Unreserved Workspace

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AbsenminorOthersLED display products and service supplier. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Absen Inc. is the US subsidiary of Absen, providing LED display technology solutions.
• AIGA ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign organization dedicated to embracing, amplifying, and advancing designers and the role of design in the community. Provides programming and networking for the design community.
• Business IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for branding and marketing of Iceland and Icelandic export industries. Supports Icelandic companies in entering foreign markets and facilitates foreign investment.
• Comcast BusinesscoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the nation's leading providers of communications, entertainment, and cable products and services. Employs over 100,000 employees nationwide.
• Dell for StartupscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides startup expertise from dedicated technology advisors and scalable solutions to ensure businesses are always ready to grow.
• MMF-UScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Managers Forum - US is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association for music managers and self-managed artists providing a platform to connect, educate and advocate.
• National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, and promoters. Works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment.
• ShurecoreTechnology or IntegrationInnovative audio products for musicians, audio engineers, podcasters, and broadcasters. Provides professional audio equipment solutions.
• Esports Trade AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes, protects, and advances the broader interests of the esports community through professional development programs, networking opportunities, and industry research.
• Music TectonicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExplores the intersection of music, technology, and business through a conference, podcast, and blog focused on music industry innovation.
• VRAR ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports individuals and organizations integrating virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (XR) into products, services, and operations. Provides solutions architecture, XR strategy consulting, and business development.
• CREWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative supporting enterprise development, innovation and job growth in the Creative Technology sector in the West of Ireland. Founded by Atlantic Technological University, Western Development Commission, and Ardán.
• Chicago:BlendminorStrategic or Co-development Partner501c3 nonprofit organization working to create a more inclusive venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Provides industry data, supports emerging talent, and works with VC investors.
• FunnyConminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew comedy event happening in Chicago March 31 - April 2, 2026, founded by Scott Dikkers (founder of TheOnion.com). Three-day celebration including stand-up, workshops, panels, comedy films, and awards show.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Spring Studios: Creative production and events space in NYC and LA offering studios, event venues and creative office space. Directly comparable to 2112's Hangar on the production/studio side but serving a different geography and at much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Industrious: Premium flexible workspace operator combining coworking, private offices and meeting/event space with hospitality-style amenities. Comparable on the workspace + event rental model, but no industry specialization or accelerator programming.
• Techstars: Global venture-backed accelerator running cohort programs and partnering with corporations across multiple industries. Comparable as an incubator offering structured programming and mentorship, but investor-operated and equity-taking — a fundamentally different capital model from 2112's.
• WeWork: Largest flexible-workspace operator globally, providing co-working and private offices across thousands of locations. Comparable only at the level of recurring-membership workspace; lacks 2112's vertical specialization in creative industries or its production infrastructure.
• Convene: Workplace and meeting/event venue operator combining flexible offices with premium conference and event space. Comparable to 2112 in combining workspace with event revenue (akin to The Hangar), though larger and more general-purpose.

Direct peers

• 1871: Chicago's flagship tech and business incubator, providing workspace, mentorship and programming to early-stage companies out of the Merchandise Mart. Directly comparable to 2112 as a non-VC-operated industry-tilted incubator serving Chicago entrepreneurs.
• NeueHouse: Membership-based creative workspace and cultural community serving film, design, fashion and media entrepreneurs in LA, NYC and beyond. Closest like-for-like peer to 2112 in terms of vertical (creative industries), membership pricing model, and event/production programming.
• MassChallenge: Global zero-equity startup accelerator offering mentorship, programming and community to early-stage entrepreneurs across verticals. Comparable to 2112's programming-plus-community structure, though operating at much larger scale and broader industry focus.
• Galvanize: Hybrid coding-school and coworking operator that combines educational programming with workspace and event space for tech and data entrepreneurs. Comparable to 2112 in blending structured programs (bootcamps, mentor hours) with physical workspace.
• Soho Works: Member-based workspace and social club from the Soho House group, designed for creative and entrepreneurial members. Closely comparable to 2112 in its tiered membership, community-led model and creative-member focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 2112 Creative Industries Incubator