entrepreneurship : Innovation + Job News

Twin Cities Software Symposium
 
March 2 - 4
Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington Hotel
3900 American Blvd. W., Bloomington
$975
 
Focusing on best practices in the enterprise software development space, this conference is put on by "No Fluff Just Stuff," a technology event company that usually specializes in Java and Agility. For its Twin Cities gathering, the firm promises "hype-free technical training for developers, architects, and technical managers," with over 55 sessions offered over the weekend.
 
Women Leading in Technology
 
March 6
The Woman's Club of Minneapolis
5:00 - 7:30
$15; free with valid student ID
 
Sponsored by the Minnesota High Tech Association, this event is put on quarterly to help women learn more about the technology industry and to network with other professionals. Industry experts share their experience, and the event is particularly valuable for those who are just entering the technology field.
 
Entrepreneurs Rally
 
March 13
CoCo Minneapolis
6:00pm - 9:30pm
$10 for keynote plus Mentorlab; free without Mentorlab
 
Presented by Entrepreneurs' Organization Minnesota, this networking-fest is designed to bring the entrepreneurial community together for a night of think-tank style interaction. The keynote speaker is Ido Leffler, co-founder of Yes To Inc. (makers of Yes to Carrots products). Those who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs of a company with revenues under $1 million can attend Mentorlab, which pairs participants with leading local companies.
 
Mobile March

March 16 & 17
Embassy Suites-Minneapolis Airport
7901 34th Ave. S., Bloomington
$85
 
This event offers the latest information in mobile technology and trends. Now in its third year, Mobile March offers two learning tracks: mobile development and mobile business. Sessions range in topic from games to mobile trends for the year ahead, to boosting loyalty through mobile app development.

The local beer scene just keeps getting more and more lively, and the latest entrant is Indeed Brewing, located in Northeast Minneapolis.
 
The Line recently covered the growth of craft beer, and also noted how Indeed is moving into the rehabbed Solar Arts Building. With a strong market and a distinctive location, the brewery has a robust head start for growth.
 
"We wanted to create a brewery that could offer a fuller approach," says co-founder Tom Whisenand. "We want to sell in bars and restaurants, but also liquor stores."
 
The use of cans instead of bottles might help that effort. Unlike many of the craft breweries in the Twin Cities, Indeed has chosen to can their beer, emphasizing the durability, portability, and environmental friendliness of cans (lighter to transport, they use less fuel to ship, and are fully recyclable).
 
Another ingredient for success is Josh Bischoff as head brewer, Whisenand notes. Bischoff comes out of Town Hall Brewery, and has won awards for several of his brews. He's been the force behind the beer's first "hop-forward" brews, due this summer.
 
Whisenand came up with the name "Indeed" after he and co-founders Rachel Anderson and Nathan Berndt kicked around numerous choices. He felt that it was an affirmation of living in Minnesota, as in, "Despite the winters, this is indeed a great place to live."
 
That type of positive outlook fuels the company, he says: "We all love living here, and we believe we can create quality beer in a great place."
 
Source: Tom Whisenand, Indeed Brewing
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Justin Kaufenberg and Carson Kipfer were just a couple of students at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, trying to figure out how to make more beer money. What they developed turned out to be a thriving, successful venture that's likely to have over 100 employees by the end of the year.
 
The pair mixed Kaufenberg's economics and business background with Kipfer's graphic design experience, and started doing design and creative work for small businesses in Wisconsin. When they began getting more customers, they rented studio space and ramped up production. By graduation, they were talking about the next step.
 
Having both come from sports backgrounds, the pair decided to focus on developing software that could power sports organizations--everything from online registration to statistics compilation. They originally dubbed their venture Puck Systems, but changed the name to TST Media (Team Sport Technologies) once they moved beyond initial hockey clients.
 
In 2006, they moved to the Twin Cities, Kipfer notes: "At the time, our niche was hockey, so it was natural to come here. This is the best place in the nation to be in the hockey industry."
 
The firm continued to gain momentum, and now has 85 employees, with 10 job openings. "Our hiring plans are pretty aggressive for the remainder of the year," Kipfer says. "We have a product that's geared for explosive growth, and we're trying to maintain that."
 
Source: Carson Kipfer, TST Media
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Strategic expansion, grassroots marketing, and corporate sponsorship: these aren't exactly what you'd imagine when watching the Choo Choo Bob Show. But behind the cheery talk about trains and friendship on the new show, a strong business and brand are being built.
 
The show started after Bob Medcraft, owner of St. Paul-based Choo Choo Bob's Train Store, did a television commercial for the store with Joe Martin and Wilson Webb. The trio had fun making it and subsequent feedback convinced them to do a TV show about trains. At first, they'd envisioned something on cable access, but then they decided to create something with more polish.
 
"The finished shows turned out great; kids loved them and parents were really positive," says Medcraft. "I decided that I was going to do everything I could to find someone who could help us raise money and get more episodes made." He turned to University of Minnesota professor Bob Vince, who offered to finance the project. Vince and Medcraft formed a company, and the Choo Choo production engine got turned on.
 
Because the show is too "old fashioned and atypical" to match what's on Disney and Nickelodeon, Medcraft notes that they're creating a Choo Choo Bob Network, which will pay to broadcast the show throughout the region. They're also putting together a live show that will go on tour, with the first show April 14th at the Riverview Theater.
 
"We came to the conclusion that if we want to get the show on TV, then we'll have to do it ourselves," he says.
 
Source: Bob Medcraft, Choo Choo Bob Show
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Imagine being able to post to numerous, major online job boards in less time than it takes to finish your first cup of morning coffee. Just think of how much you can do before lunch.
 
That ability is part of the offering for Minneapolis-based Resfly, a startup launched last October that gives companies the ability to amp up their online recruiting efforts. The firm allows clients to post to over 20 job boards, including Indeed, Simply Hired, JustJobs, and CareerVitals.
 
A few specialized job boards are thrown into the mix, too, such as ResearchGate for scientists and Hire Health for healthcare professionals. Resfly also lets users screen candidates through customized questionnaires, solicit video interviews, and create a hosted career portal.
 
Launched in October 2011, the company is unique, notes Tony Sternberg, product manager for Resfly: "We let you send out listings to more job boards than any other service, and then we have different tools to go along with it."
 
Since its start, Resfly has seen a twofold increase each month in signups, and developers are constantly tweaking the model to make it more useful. For the future, users can expect even more services that streamline recruitment, including a potential applicant tracking system that will save time and money for HR departments.
 
Although there are just nine employees now, Sternberg expects that the startup has a bright future rife with growth and hiring. "We're excited about everything we have going on," he says.
 
Source: Tony Sternberg, Resfly
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Although Minneapolis-based KeyedIn Solutions is technically a startup, it probably won't be for long.
 
Fired up in late 2011, the company provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) and consulting for small to midsize businesses (SMBs), with specialization in areas like project management and enterprise resource planning. Clients can gain control over their resource capabilities, operational efficiency, business performance, and workflow processes, according to CEO Lauri Klaus.
 
Part of the reason that KeyedIn has been able to ramp up quickly is that it's in acquisition mode. The company took majority ownership in Datacom International in January, and also recently acquired a UK-based software publisher, Atlantic Global.
 
"Our strategy is to look for small technology companies with hot technology that can be deployed in an SaaS model," says Klaus. "We look for best-in-breed products and bring those into our portfolio."
 
Catering to the SMB market also distinguishes the company from potential competitors, she adds: "We believe the SMB market is underserved. That gives us many opportunities for really establishing ourselves in the marketplace."
 
The combination of acquisition and hiring has meant an employee surge: just a few months ago, only four people worked at KeyedIn, and now, there are 50 employees. Klaus notes that her goal was to have 100 by the end of the year, but she believes she'll reach that number within just a few more months.
 
"Recruiting isn't an issue for us," Klaus says. "Many people know that we're creating a good, solid company that's creating and deploying business applications in a new way. We're going to be very successful, and people want to be part of that."
 
Source: Lauri Klaus, CEO
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

"Definitely, everyone here is caffeinated," says Andi Dickson, principal at St. Louis Park-based creative agency SixSpeed.
 
In some ways, he's joking about how energy drinks fuel innovation at the agency, but on a more figurative level, his comments point to the secret of SixSpeed's success: wild energy, properly harnessed.
 
Dickson started the agency three years ago with co-founder Tom Cusciotta, and each brought a background in agency work mixed with action sports and marketing. For example, Dickson worked for Red Bull for some time, where he pulled together some stunningly creative events.
 
In creating SixSpeed, the pair aims to blend traditional agency abilities with event management and, quite simply, a little bit of crazy. They've attracted edgy, fun clients like Polaris, Two Gingers Irish Whiskey, and Colt 45.
 
"We do lifestyle marketing, that's been a major piece of what we offer," says Dickson. "We provide content generation and events, as well as social strategy. Basically, we provide good old-fashioned hard work, and it's allowed us to grow as a result."
 
The agency has doubled in size every year since its founding, and recruitment is never much of a problem. The staff skews toward a younger demographic--no one, including the founders, is over 35 years old--and a recent move to new offices included an aerialist show and craft beers.
 
"We're having a great time, and we're working hard and loving it," says Dickson. "Also, our new offices are attached to a brewery. So, what more could you want?"
 
Source: Andi Dickson, SixSpeed
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) recently added three new members to its staff, with the positions reflecting a new strategic plan for the organization.
 
MHTA is dedicated to making Minnesota one of the country's top five technology states within the next decade, notes President and CEO Margaret Anderson Kelliher, and by boosting skills in certain areas, the group will be able to move forward on that vision.
 
Tim Barrett joins as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Coordinator, a role that will be instrumental in meeting ambitious goals for more STEM education and outreach in the state.
 
The organization's previous coordinator left to go to law school, Kelliher says. With Barrett stepping into the role, the MHTA has had a chance to reformulate its position so that it focuses more strongly on STEM connections between business and education sectors.
 
"This is about being the voice of businesses that are engaged in science and innovation, and making that vital connection to classrooms," says Kelliher. "We want to strengthen that, and create a science and technology ecosystem that's truly dynamic."
 
Another position was made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Science & Technology Authority: a "SciTechsperience Program Coordinator," who will manage a paid internship program for college students pursuing STEM degrees. Becky Siekmeier, who worked in advertising and marketing at Best Buy for 16 years, will take on the role.
 
A third new hire, Erika McCallum, will act as the organization's Programs and Events Assistant. The three positions are aimed at increasing MHTA's effectiveness and reach, and Kelliher is excited about the direction that the group is taking.
 
"There are so many opportunities around science and technology here, there's so much innovation," she says. "We're happy to be fostering the connections needed to make Minnesota one of the top technology states."
 
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, MHTA
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Fundraising for a college or university has always seemed like a complicated and tricky process, but one local company is making the effort more predictable--and garnering fast growth as a result.
 
St. Paul-based Reeher helps colleges and universities to amp up their fundraising power by predicting which alumni are most likely to donate (see our previous coverage of the company).
 
Started in 2002 by Andy Reeher, the company has been growing quickly, with large institutions like Tulane and Johns Hopkins signing up early for the service. Recent deals have included Temple University, Haverford College, and University of the Pacific.
 
A large part of the company's success comes from measurable results, says Reeher. The firm's platform helps clients find up to 40 percent more donors, which results in better use of fundraising time and money. Reeher developed the platform after spending time on a project that included Harvard, MIT, and other top colleges.
 
"I found that they lose money on 94 percent of their relationships," he says. "They invest a great deal, but almost all their funding comes from a handful of very large donors."
 
By demonstrating how predictive tools can stop that type of loss, the company is gaining a strong reputation in the education sector. Reeher says, "They see that it's working for another institution, and that's very attractive to them, so they come to us and find that it'll work for them, too."
 
Currently, Reeher has 20 employees, and the company will continue to hire in the sales and marketing departments, as well as in customer care.
 
With about 30 customers, the goal for the next few years is to build that number to 100, Reeher says. He expects that with additional sales staff and a robust reputation, the company can reach that number within 18 to 24 months. "There's a great deal ahead of us," he says. "Other tools we can add to the platform, more customers. We're looking forward to all of it."
 
Source: Andy Reeher, Reeher
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Helping teenagers and other drivers to put down mobile devices and concentrate on the road seems like a monumental task. But DrivePower is willing to give it a shot.
 
The company's showcase mobile application, DriveScribe, is geared toward using technology in a way that's appropriate, not distracting. The app functions as a real-time driving monitor and "coach" that gives tips on better driving. If a user tries to sneak some text messaging into drive time, the application immediately alerts parents or other administrators.
 
Sorry, kids. But it's not all-stick-and-no-carrot: the app also posts scores based on driving safely, and users can "play" against each other or earn rewards. The technology's market reach is enormous, believes founder and CEO Will England.
 
"We want to be thought of by every parent and every teen when they get in a vehicle," he says. "Our product could become an essential tool when transitioning from a learner's permit, for example."
 
He anticipates partnerships with insurance companies, which could offer lower rates based on safe driving scores. The app will be released to the general public in April, after an intensive research and development phase, including a number of tests with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
 
Although the company is anticipating success with DriveScribe, England notes that they're increasing their reach beyond teen driving, and even beyond driving in general. "As a company, we really want to leverage emerging technology to help people make better decisions," he says. "Right now, that's concentrated on driving, but going forward, we'll broaden our scope."
 
Source: Will England, DrivePower
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Music composition and software programming may seem like they reside in opposite areas of the brain, but one local entrepreneur believes they co-exist quite nicely, and he's built his business around the fusion of the two abilities.
 
Minneapolis-based Hypergolic Motion got its start when composer Zachary Crockett wanted to keep more of the royalties from his music. In the traditional model, a music publisher would retain a portion of royalties, so Crockett opted to become a publisher himself. Since he's been doing programming for a number of years, it made sense that he'd continue that work under the Hypergolic name as well.
 
The company gets its name from a term used to describe rocket propellant--something that's "hypergolic" ignites on contact with another substance. After igniting the company in 2009, Crockett has taken on projects like desktop applications and mobile development, as well as internal corporate websites.
 
The blend isn't as clumsy as it might seem. Crockett notes that although music and programming are distinct arts, they share some unique qualities.
 
"They're both very natural for me, because there's analysis and synthesis in each," he says. "If you take a problem, whether it's a developing software or creating music, you have to understand the bigger vision, and then break that down into smaller pieces."
 
Through his work as a composer, Crockett makes many contacts in the non-profit world, and that sometimes leads to discussions about technology needs. As a result, Hypergolic Motion has built up a robust client portfolio of nonprofits.
 
"I think there's a perception that nonprofits aren't worth pursuing because they don't have a ton of money," says Crockett. "While that may be true, I find that the projects are more satisfying, and the clients are so grateful for the chance to be more efficient and have better systems in place."
 
For the future, Crockett looks forward to blending more programming with his music, and finding harmony in each.
 
Source: Zachary Crockett, Hypergolic Motion
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Innovators & Entrepreneurs of the Twin Cities
 
February 2
Joe's Garage
1610 Harmon Place, Minneapolis
5:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Free
 
This casual networking event aims to bring together those who are starting their own businesses or independently developing new products and patents. Founded last June, the group hopes to keep  introducing innovators to entrepreneurs so they can learn from each other and make the journey more enjoyable.
 
MN Society of Women Engineers Career Expo
 
February 4
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul
Murray-Herrick Campus Center, 3rd Floor Lounge
Noon to 4:00 pm
Free
 
Fire up the business attire and spiff up your resume. This career fair is designed to bring together talented job seekers and innovative companies, and is hosted by the Society of Women Engineers. Companies attending include Hormel Foods, Starkey, Nycor, Medtronic, EV3, Loram, Target, and St. Jude Medical.
 
 Minnesota 2012 Entrepreneur Kickoff
 
February 8
Boy Scout Base Camp at Fort Snelling
5:30 pm
Cost ranges from $5 to $25
 
The Entrepreneur Kickoff brings together investors and startups, in advance of this year's state business competitions like Project Skyway, IDEA Competition and TiE CONS. Now in its second year, the event features business pitch evaluations and ample networking opportunities.
 
How to Leverage Digital Media to Raise Capital
 
February 23
CoCo Minneapolis
400 S. 4th St., 4th floor, Minneapolis
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
$75
 
Speaker Patrick Donohue gives a presentation on why digital media is changing the world of finance. He'll demonstrate tactics for using digital media to achieve business goals, and give an overview of tools that can be used to raise capital.  
 

The way that churches stay in touch with members and involve them in activities is unique in terms of strategy. Now, a local startup is helping them gain some of the advantages of the business world, without having to use software designed for enterprises.
 
Minneapolis-based Fresh Vine--previously called Nineteen05--provides software that's designed to help churches increase engagement while still staying true to a larger mission.
 
"It's different than typical administration or sales software," says company president Paul Prins. "Their goal is not to convert leads into customers. Their goal is getting the community involved in what they're doing. For that, they need to be more proactive with their members, rather than reactive."
 
Prins got the idea for the software when he was involved in the launch of a new church about seven years ago. He was asked to take a look at their software and what he saw was painful, he says: "I thought that they could be doing such a better job of managing members, events, contributions, everything."
 
Fresh Vine's tool helps to define what a church should be focusing on in the near future, and see its strengths and weaknesses. The software is picking up customers, and Prins hopes to expand his current team of four into a larger group of developers.
 
"I love the tech scene in Minneapolis, so I want to have a development team here that can keep growing and innovating," he says. "As the company gets more traction, I'm looking forward to more sales and expansion."
 
Source: Paul Prins, Fresh Vine
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

"You know that moment when you get home, and it's been a long day, and you just want to sit down and treat yourself a little?" asks Terry Williams, founder of food company BlackOnyx Creations. "Well, that moment is what drives our whole business."
 
Williams and her husband Frank work to develop comfort foods for what they call the "ahh time," when people seek peace and relaxation through a cup of chai or bite of toffee. They produce drinks and snacks like coffee, chai, granola, and candy and market many of them under the label Winter Goddess.
 
The firm started a few years ago after Frank was injured at his job working for the TSA and the couple had to take a leap of faith in search of a new income source. "Our business is the result of dealing with economic difficulties," Williams notes. "We had to look at the world differently, to see opportunities where we hadn't seen them before. Most of all, we had to look at our community in a more interactive way. It's been a wonderful shift."
 
BlackOnyx takes it name from the stone, which is thought to increase regeneration, happiness, and intuition. Williams says it helps to create balance, give strength, and boost self-confidence — qualities that are hugely beneficial when starting a new business and gaining traction in the market.
 
The business began with craft shows and farmers markets, but started to grow after the pair took classes with Kindred Kitchen, the food incubator program in North Minneapolis [see our coverage of the program here]. That, in turn, led to the Minneapolis Homegrown Business Development Center loan program. BlackOnyx became the first loan recipient of the pilot program, and they're using the funding for marketing and a chocolate tempering machine.
 
With a strong start for the company, it looks like more local residents are likely to get that "ahh" moment in the future.
 
Source: Terry and Frank Williams, BlackOnyx Creations
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

In today's technology-driven business arena, mobility is an advantage, and St. Louis Park-based I.T. support firm Backpack Tactics aims to give companies that edge.
 
Founders Joel Barker and Brian Roemen chose the company's name as a nod toward how they both work--carrying their laptops in backpacks--but also as a representation of what they provide, like mobile technology services and cloud computing insight.
 
"It's all about lightweight technology," says Barker. "With current technology, you should be able to carry your business with you anywhere."
 
Before teaming up, the pair had worked as consultants, both independently and together on a few projects. They decided to start a business together in 2010, and the firm has grown through word of mouth since then. Since Barker has worked for nonprofits since 2005, that's one sector that's particularly strong for Backpack Tactics.
 
Barker says, "Many nonprofits don't understand what tools are out there and how they can be utilized properly, so it's our mission to help them. Essentially, we're trying to put ourselves out of work by providing training and technology, but that's okay because we're really passionate about helping people to help themselves."
 
He adds that training is a strong focus for most clients, and that many small business owners haven't had any technology training in the past. By blending training with tech-purchasing advice, Backpack Tactics can help them to use tech more effectively.
 
"For the future, we'd just love to be able to grow more and reach more clients," says Barker. "We continue to learn about new tools and connect with more people, and that's what we envisioned when we started, so we're on a good path."
 
Source: Joel Barker, Backpack Tactics
Writer: Elizabeth Millard