High Technology : Innovation + Job News

Highlighting technology leaders in the state, the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) announced winners for the 2012 Tekne Awards, handing out top honors to companies like MakeMusic, ReconRobotics, JAMF Software.
 
The award program, now in its 13th year, recognizes innovations from 2011 that impact the lives of Minnesotans, through lifestyle improvement or education. Forty-four finalists were named in fifteen categories. Winners were unveiled at a special event on November 1st.
 
According to MHTA president Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the awards draw attention to the breadth of innovative and competitive technology companies in the state. Greater awareness of the efforts being done here will boost Minnesota's stature as a "silicon prairie" where tech companies can thrive.
 
Fifteen winners show the range of businesses here, and the list includes both large companies like Seagate Technology (winner in the advanced manufacturing category) and smaller companies like Code 42 Software and SparkWeave.
 
Other winners included  PeopleNet, Agosto, GiveMN, OrthoCor Medical, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Imation, and The University of Minnesota Rochester.
 
In addition to showcasing the work of technology-fueled businesses, the awards also honored seven individuals who provided leadership to advance technology and innovation in Minnesota, particularly in state government. The public officials led the effort to consolidate IT services from more than 70 state agencies into a single organization called MN.IT Services.
 
Speaking about all of the awards, Kelliher says, "This year's recipients, once again, raised the bar with the quality and originality of their entries and should be very proud of their accomplishments."
 
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota High Tech Association
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Highlighting technology leaders in the state, the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) announced finalists for the 2012 Tekne Awards.
 
The award program, now in its 13th year, recognizes innovations from 2011 that impacted the lives of Minnesotans, through lifestyle improvement or education. Forty-four finalists were named in fifteen categories.
 
The MHTA noted that the state remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technological growth, and the finalists show that the state's technology future is bright indeed, in areas that range from cleantech to robotics to mobile technologies.
 
In the startup category, finalists are Sophia Learning and Sparkweave, while those competing in the software category are Code 42 Software, Savigent Software and Third Wave Systems.
 
Finalists in other categories represent a range of companies, from large firms like 3M and Seagate Technology to smaller businesses like SheerWind, Digineer, and Agosto.
 
The awards are designed to showcase these types of companies, and draw attention to the innovative and competitive companies in the state, according to MHTA president Margaret Anderson Kelliher. They're part of the organization's larger mission to boost education and entrepreneurship along with technology development.
 
"We're very excited about the opportunities available to technology companies here," says Kelliher. "In general, we believe that individuals and companies in the state have more potential than they do challenges. We're proud and happy to support them in any way we can."
 
The Tekne Awards will be presented on November 1st at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
 
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota High Tech Association
Writer: Elizabeth Millard
 

Technology group Advance IT Minnesota unveiled a new award that could give some high school girls a major boost in their technology careers.
 
The first annual Minnesota Aspirations for Women in Computing Award will be open to girls in grades 9 through 12, and is tied to a national competition from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT).
 
Advance IT decided to take on the award because of the shortage of skilled technical workers graduating from college, according to Ann Thureen, a vice president at Unisys Corporation.
 
She says, "Encouraging students at the high school level to see the possibilities of the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] field is a great way to get them into the right college tracks to sustain and grow our IT industry in Minnesota. We see more young women going to college than young men. We need to tap into this valuable talent pool and expose them to the opportunities for great paying jobs in IT."
 
Advance IT is administered through the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and serves as a connection point among employers, educators, and IT professionals. The group's mission is to position Minnesota as one of the top states in the country for IT-related employment.  The award will help to bring the organization closer to that goal, says Russell Fraenkel, Advance IT Minnesota's Director of Collaborative Programs and Outreach.
 
"The Aspirations Award provides an encouraging environment for young women to gain greater awareness of technology career options and sets the stage for them to become more deeply engaged in determining their education and career path," he says.
 
For high school girls who are ready to compete for the award, act fast: the deadline for entries is Nov. 16th, but entries that come in before Oct. 31 will be eligible for the national award as well.
 
Sources: Russell Fraenkel, Advance IT; Ann Thureen, Unisys Corporation
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Identification cards have come a long way in the past decade, and Eden Prairie-based IdentiSys has been a pioneer in that evolution.
 
These days, cards can carry much more than identity data--they can track history of access to a server room, for example, or provide location info for an emergency worker.
 
"We're on our second or third generation of capabilities," says IdentiSys CEO Michael Shields. "Our customers are very savvy about what they want in a card, and at the same time, we're happy to keep expanding card uses."
  
When the company opened in 1999, it was a spinoff of Datacard Group, an ID card printer and issuance firm. Thanks to that connection, IdentiSys had $5 million in business waiting the moment its doors opened. Not many startups can make that claim.
 
"We found our footing quickly," says Shields. "That allowed us to go from there." The company began acquiring ID firms to expand its reach nationally, and also looked at industries where the card usage was highest. Currently, the largest market share seems to go to casinos, which use ID cards for player reward programs.
 
Another growing area, Shields says, is emergency management. The company provides identification and tracking systems to police and fire departments so they can create a centralized response station. For instance, in a wildfire, the cards are part of a kit assigned to each firefighter. At the command center, supervisors can track how much air is in each person's tank, where they're located during the fire, and other important factors.
 
Areas like this are fueling growth for IdentiSys, Shields notes, and the company is looking ahead to a robust future. "When we started, people were using ID cards just for identification," he says. "Now, there's no limit to the innovations and uses."
 
Source: Michael Shields, IdentiSys
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The Minnesota Angel Tax Credit Program recently celebrated its second birthday, and boasts some impressive numbers for a two-year-old.
 
Since its launch in July 2010, the program has attracted more than $126 million in private investments for small, entrepreneur-led companies in the state. According to Mark Phillips, Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), over 100 businesses have received funding in 2012 alone. Companies attracting the most attention from investors and angel funds tend to be software, biotechnology, and medical device firms.
 
The program has been a tremendous help for promising businesses, Phillips believes. Some of the companies earning funds could be the state's next big high-tech success stories, leading to job growth and a more robust local economy.
 
Run by DEED, the program provides incentives to investors or investment funds, steering them in the direction of putting money into emerging companies, particularly those focused on high-tech endeavors. The Angel Tax Credit gives investors a credit of 25 percent for investments of at least $10,000, and the past few years have shown that plenty of investors are eager to take advantage of that incentive while helping to get innovative companies off the ground.
 
Over two-thirds of $12 million in tax credits allocated for this year have already gone out, Phillips noted, and DEED expects the remaining credits of about $3.3 million to be allocated by the end of August.
 
The program is slated to continue operation through the end of 2014, and if everything works as DEED expects, close to $236 million will have been invested in Minnesota high-tech startups by the time the program ends.
 
Source: Mark Phillips, Department of Employment and Economic Development
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Forget the Olympics: for a truly ferocious competitive environment, take a look at the Minnesota Cup.
 
The annual competition seems to keep gaining prominence and momentum every year, and recently announced the semi-finalists for its eighth go-round.
 
Designed to accelerate the development of the state's most innovative business ideas, the Minnesota Cup gives applicants the opportunity to compete for a share of $200,000--up from $185,000 last year--and to network with individuals and organizations that can help turn a business plan into a reality.
 
Judges chose 49 entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators for the second round of the competition, and Cup co-founder Scott Litman notes that this year is full of exciting and strong business ideas.
 
"We love seeing all the excitement around the program, and it does seem that we see more applications every year," he says. "Everyone is very supportive of the competition."
 
The range of semi-finalists is broad, from a yoga studio that specializes in pre- and post-natal classes to a holistic treatment company to a web application developer for forms processing. Companies include BuyerCurious, Omnicron Health Systems, QuadROI, and EnergyPrint.
 
During this round, the semi-finalists will be paired with entrepreneurial mentors who will help them refine their business plans and presentations. Finalists will be chosen in late August, and winners announced in early September.
 
Source: Scott Litman, Minnesota Cup
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The world of micro-robot systems just got bigger.
 
Edina-based ReconRobotics, the fast-track robotics company that's been growing quickly, announced that it has established an international headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland.
 
The move is part of the company's multi-year global expansion plans, and the HQ there will oversee all sales, marketing, and customer service for operations outside of North America.
 
ReconRobotics has seen a robust amount of traction within the past couple years, garnering some major contracts from U.S. military and law enforcement agencies. Now, the company intends to broaden its international footprint, according to President and CEO Alan Bignall.
 
The Lugano subsidiary, known as RRI Global SAGL, will expand the company's international reseller network, which currently extends to 33 countries.
 
Formed in 2006, ReconRobotics started as a way to commercialize technology developed at the University of Minnesota Distributed Robotics Laboratory, with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), among others.
 
The company's mini-robots are particularly attractive to the military and law enforcement, since they can be sent into dangerous situations and navigated remotely in order to collect intelligence. For example, a SWAT team can throw one into a house and use the robot's cameras to assess a hostage situation.
 
"These robots are just the beginning of what we're seeing in terms of capability," Bignall says. "There are so many applications for this technology, and we're seeing expansion in both geography and in usage."
 
Source: Alan Bignall, ReconRobotics
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

When it comes to predicting a product's shelf life, or detecting leaks or aromas in packaging that could affect flavor, people around the world turn to Minneapolis-based MOCON.
 
For over 40 years, the company has been a leader in the development of testing services and instruments, and its capabilities are impressive. Numerous clients depend on the firm for insights on packaging, cost reduction, sustainability, and food safety.
 
Because it's often considered the industry standard when it comes to such tests (many scientific papers note that researchers did a "MOCON test" to demonstrate a specific result), it's not surprising that the company is growing at a nice clip. Now at 150 employees, some have been brought on as the result of acquisition, while the rest were hired to meet demand.
 
"The packaging industry is a hidden but huge industry," says the company's marketing manager, Guy Wray. "Think about everything around you that has packaging, and you'll get an idea of the scope of this work."
 
MOCON's expertise lies in detecting moisture and oxygen levels within packaging, as well as other factors. Those two issues in particular can destroy food flavor, affect product safety, and significantly shorten shelf life. After all, nobody wants soggy potato chips.
 
About 90 percent of the company's product development is done locally, but it also relies on scientists and engineers in Germany, China, Texas, and Colorado.
 
"We feel very lucky to have gotten to the point we're at," says Wray. "We've become the Hoover or the Kleenex of the industry."
 
Source: Guy Wray, MOCON
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Google Workshop: Get Your Business Online
 
May 3
Rasmussen College
3500 Federal Drive, Eagan
10am - 11:30am
free
 
Create and publish a website for your business in less than an hour. Presenters will also teach attendees how to customize their Google Places online listing, and how to optimize their new websites. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops. For more insight, stick around for the afternoon, when another free workshop, "Grow Your Business Online" will be presented.
 
International Conference on Robotics and Automation
 
May 14 - 18
RiverCentre, St. Paul
Rates vary; visit conference website for more info
 
The theme for this year's ICRA conference is "Robots and Automation: Innovation for Tomorrow's Needs." Some of the top researchers and entrepreneurs in the field will gather for numerous discussions on topics like nanorobotics and bio-integrated robotics. There will also be six "robot challenges" in which teams compete to solve problems in areas like integrated perception.
 
RailsBridge

May 20 & 21
Guthrie Theater, 8th floor classrooms
free
 
RailsBridge workshops were started about three years ago as a way to create more female Ruby developers in San Francisco. Now the organization will bring its expertise to Minneapolis, giving attendees a chance to look at every step involved in deploying a Ruby on Rails application.
 
Tech.2012
 
May 22
The Metropolitan
5418 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley
$25 for members of The Collaborative, $75 for non-members; rates increase after May 11
 
As part of The Collaborative's Vanguard Series for this year, the Tech.2012 event features a series of conversational sessions, breakfast, and networking opportunities. Speakers will focus on areas like cloud computing and how it's changing business, the app economy, and changing Minnesota business models. Scheduled to participate in panels are entrepreneurs and established business leaders from companies like Code 42 Software, UnitedHealth Group, and Split Rock Partners.

Designing Content That Sells
 
April 4
International Market Square
274 Market St., Suite 180, Minneapolis
11:30am - 1:15pm
$35 members, $55 non-members
 
Put on by the Society for Marketing Professionals, this workshop for those in the architecture and engineering industries focuses on developing effective online content. Reporter and PR professional Rachel Gold will give tips on making content interesting and on gauging how well design and content work together.
 
From Focus to Performance
 
April 6
DoubleTree Hotel
7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington
7:00am - 9:00am
$35
 
Sports psychologist and executive coach Dr. Justin Anderson presents the latest advancements in performance psychology and brain research, providing tips on how to use your mind in a more optimal manner to enhance sales and lead a more meaningful life.
 
High Heels, Higher Heights
 
April 10
Minneapolis Convention Center
3:00pm - 6:00pm
$80 members, $95 non-members
 
This annual event honoring women leaders is a prime networking opportunity, and is put on by the Women's Health Leadership TRUST. This year's speaker is Teri Fontenot, president and CEO of Woman's Hospital in Louisiana. Women leaders in health care will also be recognized for two major awards.
 
MHTA Spring Conference
  
April 25
Minneapolis Convention Center
$165 member, $215 non-member
 
The Minnesota High Tech Association presents its popular spring conference, kicked off by a morning keynote address by Rick King, Thomson Reuters chief operation officer for technology. Participants can network with other technology leaders, visit an expanded exhibit hall of more than 100 technology-related businesses, and attend breakout sessions about research, funding, education, and policy development.
 

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.

To say that Minneapolis-based Code 42 Software is having a good year already is something of an understatement.
 
In late January, the firm announced that it had secured $52.5 million in venture funding, which will accelerate product development and greatly expand the company's sales and marketing efforts. A few weeks later, the Wall Street Journal published a lengthy, favorable review of its data backup system, CrashPlan.
 
"This year has started with a bang, that's for sure," says Code 42 co-founder and CEO Matthew Dornquast. "We're very happy with how it's been going in terms of growth in the past few years."
 
The company has added about 60 employees within the last year--bringing the total number to 86--and expects to hire more in the months ahead as CrashPlan gains an even broader customer base. In the last three years, Code 42 has experienced more than 500 percent growth.
 
First offered in 2007, CrashPlan was developed as a way to streamline backup. The company developed multiple versions of the product, targeting home users, private and public cloud creators, small businesses, and large enterprises.
 
With the new infusion of financing, Code 42 has become the recipient of the largest venture round ever for a private Minnesota-based software company. Now, that's the way to ring in a new year.
 
Source: Matthew Dornquast, Code 42
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

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.  
 

Local IT companies seem to always be in need of more professionals for development work, and now they have new resource that could fill their IT departments in the future.
 
The IT-Ready Apprentice Program is launching in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with an eye toward other cities in the future. The non-profit program covers the cost of recruitment, training, and certification for employees taking on help-desk, call-center, and technical duties.
 
"With unemployment at the level it is, we feel this is important for giving individuals what they need to succeed in what might be a new profession," says Charles Eaton, executive director of the Creating IT Futures Foundation, the group leading the IT-Ready effort.
 
Eaton notes that the manufacturing and construction industries have been hit hard locally, and that skills from those careers are difficult to bring to other fields.
 
The apprenticeship program is unique, Eaton added, because it doesn't involve time off from work in order to attend community college. He says, "There aren't many resources for individuals who need to stay in the workforce. Not everyone can afford to take a couple years off to get a different type of training."
 
Minneapolis-St. Paul was supposed to be just one of five urban areas that would feature the IT-Ready program, but the decision was made to focus on the Twin Cities exclusively for the pilot.
 
Currently, apprentice program staff members are recruiting local companies to join the effort, and Eaton says the results are encouraging. They expect that the first class of apprentices should number about 15 and will start work in July.
 
"We think of ourselves as a startup in some ways," Eaton says. "We're coming in without preconceived notions of how this is going to work, but we're hopeful that it will grow and become an incredibly useful resource."
 
Source: Charles Eaton, IT-Ready Apprentice Program
Writer: Elizabeth Millard