emerging technology : Innovation + Job News

With an impressive growth rate over the last three years--leading to recognition by Inc. magazine multiple times--Jobs2web made for an attractive acquisition target last year. So, it's no shock that business software firm SuccessFactors snapped it up in December.
 
But one pleasant surprise is that the Minneapolis-based firm won't get consumed by its new owner. Instead, Jobs2web is likely to get even stronger, believes chief marketing officer Peter Baskin.
 
"We'll not only remain completely intact, but we may grow even more aggressively," he says. "SuccessFactors wants us to keep on pace and keep expanding, in every way."
 
The firm is currently shopping for larger office space, and plans to increase its 120-employee base. Baskin notes that Jobs2web has been doing very well for the past few years, but it still struggled with "opening doors" at large prospective clients. The acquisition by the well-respected SuccessFactors should help in that regard, he says.
 
But Jobs2web will still keep the major attribute that has contributed to its success: the agility to deliver its interactive recruiting solutions quickly, in a customized format.
 
The firm helps clients draw on digital strategies to streamline recruiting efforts. For example, in addition to traditional employee referrals done by word-of-mouth, Jobs2web can integrate social networks into the mix, and then bring in mobile technology, analytics, and research portals to increase effectiveness.
 
"By linking so much together and bringing in automation, it's created a great degree of success for us," says Baskin. "It's helped us blow the doors off the barn for the past few years."
 
He adds that the addition of SuccessFactors as a strategic partner will keep those doors wide open.
 
Source: Peter Baskin, Jobs2web
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Imagine you run a yoga studio, or a plumbing shop, or a coworking space. How do you link up with other small businesses to build a network, do creative marketing partnerships, or just take advantage of bulk purchasing?
 
Michael Noble believes he's found the answer to that question, and it's called Nitch.
 
While working at the CoCo Minneapolis shared business space, Noble came up with idea of a website that connects small businesses to each other and to sponsors that cater to specific industries.
 
For example, a yoga mat manufacturer could get introduced to all of a city's studios by signing up with Nitch, or could create a private network of existing customers.
 
"Nitch is supposed to be about saving money, connecting with vendors, collaborating with industry peers," says Noble. "What we found in our initial research was that many small businesses spend the majority of their time trying to get new customers, and they're less adept at managing the back office. They don't have time to submit bids, or team up with others for purchasing."
 
The site's pilot industry was restaurants, and Nitch has about 100 on the site now. Noble expects that number to grow, and for other industries to start being represented, like bicycle retailers.
 
Although the site only launched in December, Noble feels that the unique mission and the lack of competitors should make for a strong start.
 
"We're excited to see where this can go," he says.
 
Source: Michael Noble, Nitch
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

In the past year, the economy didn't rebound with as much bounce as anyone would have liked, but a few fascinating things are happening on the way to recovery: the Twin Cities business community seems to be getting closer, more creative, and in some ways, more relaxed. The past year has seemed less like a slog and more like a fresh start.
 
In covering the innovation and jobs beat for The Line, I've spoken to dozens of entrepreneurs, some CEOs of large firms, and quite a few non-profit folks, and the trends are the same across every sector. The recession delivered a blow, certainly, but rather than going right back to business-as-usual, many companies here are seeing success through different measures. They brag about flex time for employees, community-based projects, and buying locally. It's as if the economic storms brought many enterprises under the same roof, and now they've learned that rather than survive independently, they're better off thriving together.

An Incubator Boomlet
 
For example, look toward the business incubator boomlet, and the wealth of services for entrepreneurs, like CoCo, WorkAround, MOJO Minnesota, the Economic Gardening Network, Homegrown Business Development Center, Minnesota High Tech Association, and so many others. The University of Minnesota, in particular, is a powerhouse of advice and skill building. Even the engineering school is teaching its students how to play well together in a business setting. 
 
This level of closeness to each other has created a business community that supports new endeavors so enthusiastically. Look at our recent feature on Kindred Kitchen, an effort in North Minneapolis that supports food entrepreneurs, for just one example, but there are many others. A sampling of companies that got their start this year include Sophia, DogWonderful, BuyerCurious, Pashen, and CRAM.
 
Through strategic hiring and expansion of services and products, many companies are showing a sense of starting anew, even if they've been around for years. For instance, just look at Bulk Reef Supply, an aquarium supplies service that has done such tremendous growth through increased product offerings that it landed on the Inc. 5000 list.

Companies Chillaxin'
 
Finally, there's the relaxation factor. Business can always be a bit of a meat grinder at times, but as companies learned to operate lean and get creative, they started to identify different measures of success, like happiness. As Chris Trifilio, co-founder of Primordial Soup noted, "We don't want to be a 50-person firm. We want to keep going down the path we're on, because it's fun and we love it." That's a sentiment that I heard often this year, leading me to believe that if a company didn't start fresh in terms of operations, then maybe they did in terms of attitude.
 
In the year ahead, I predict that these trends will keep rolling strong, because they contribute to the health of the business community, and make the Twin Cities a strong and vital area. Happy, satisfied entrepreneurs and business owners are creating a business climate that's sweeping away the economic clouds of the recent past with something awfully close to a sunny outlook.

Elizabeth Millard, Innovation and Jobs Editor

"Even in these tough economic times, many of the segments we target are thriving," says Jim Cairns, vice president of marketing at Multi-Tech Systems. "We provide technology that allows for greater efficiency and cost savings, and that's always welcomed."
 
Founded by Raghu Sharma, Multi-Tech has been producing connectivity technology for nearly 40 years. Part of the company's strength lies in its diversity: products range from smart grids that can monitor a house's electricity, to sensors that allow remote ATM machines to communicate with bank systems quickly, to patient-monitoring systems that make home health care easier and safer.
 
Health care is a major part of Multi-Tech's offerings, and the company has major clients like Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Cairns says, "The cost for health care these days is almost obscene. So, if we can allow people to manage their health care from their homes instead of rushing to the hospital, that makes for major savings."
 
Growth in all areas is creating a demand for new talent, he adds, and hiring has been steady at the company's headquarters in Mounds View. Recent hires have joined teams in sales, engineering, and manufacturing.
 
A unique part of Multi-Tech's operations is its in-house manufacturing facilities. By not outsourcing any production to overseas entities, the company doesn't benefit from cost breaks, Cairns notes, but there's greater control over the supply chain and more adaptability to customer needs.
 
For the future, Multi-Tech intends to keep hiring at a steady pace and expand into new markets. "We feel fortunate to be growing, while still striving to provide the best solutions for our customers," says Cairns.
 
Source: Jim Cairns, Multi-Tech Systems
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

With a central koi pond, free lunches for employees (yes, there is such a thing, apparently), and ample space in its new world headquarters, Infinite Campus might seem like a dreamy visit back to the dot-com boom days.
 
But the Blaine-based company is looking toward the future instead. More specifically, the firm focuses on creating cutting-edge technology for the education market, and it's being rewarded with an increasing number of contracts.
 
Recently, Jersey City Public Schools, Chandler Unified School District, and others chose Infinite Campus for better data management capability. Infinite Campus is also keeping ahead of technology, by releasing a mobile portal that will be the first of many mobile learning tools.
 
The company had its start in 1996, when a principal at Centennial High School in Circle Pines challenged his son-in-law, Charlie Kratsch, to do something meaningful for humanity. Working out of the Centennial band room, Kratsch drew on his experience with web-based medical systems to create technology that could help K-12 school districts become more streamlined, cost-efficient, and productive.
 
"Most of our competitors work to give districts what they want," says Karl Beach, the company's evangelist and interim marketing manager. "They gather requirements, and build the tools from there. We're different, because we build what they need. That puts them ahead on the invention curve, and it may be assertive, but it also works."
 
Infinite Campus has about 300 employees in its headquarters, but is doing steady hiring to fill out its space and advance its technology. The company is expanding into tools for school finance and HR departments, and plans to focus on more mobile technology as well.
 
"As we keep moving forward, growth is inevitable," says Beach.
 
Source: Karl Beach, Infinite Campus
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The traditional method for buying and selling real estate involves realtors, bankers, and appraisal experts, but rarely does it give those most connected to the process the ability to talk directly to each other. For many homebuyers, for example, the first time they ever meet a property's seller is at closing.
 
But now, the paradigm may shift, thanks to a new Minnesota startup, BuyerCurious, that connects buyers and sellers and allows them to negotiate with one another.
 
Put out by DealCurious, the service is in its very early stages, having launched only about a month ago. But already people are registering and there's tremendous potential, believes co-founder Jim Lesinski.
 
"We recognized that real estate is not progressing as fast in the e-commerce realm as other industries," he says. "There have been some strides by innovators like Zillow, and some companies in the valuation process, but not much has been done with respect to actual negotiation and transactions. It felt like there was a real void."
 
BuyerCurious aims to fill that gap with a simple-to-use site that allows buyers to make offers on properties or to contact a seller. Once an offer is made, the prospective seller can respond, and BuyerCurious assists by setting up a "deal room" where they continue negotiations until a binding purchase agreement is signed.
 
Like any software development project, BuyerCurious has run into its share of challenges, particularly because the site needs to be in compliance with real estate laws, but Lesinski says it's built to go nationwide. "We have a very robust platform that will allow us to be compliant in every area of the country," he says.
 
The company is still small right now—Lesinski notes that they've just hired their fourth employee—but it relies on an extensive network of service providers. The team is excited about the chance to create an electronic marketplace for real estate.
 
Just think: if BuyerCurious catches on, your next home purchase could be only a few clicks away.
 
Source: Jim Lesinski, BuyerCurious
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

As Internet-based marketing continues to boom, a newer field is growing along with it: online reputation management.
 
That's good news for companies like Minneapolis-based Internet Exposure, a web design and development firm that specializes in helping companies keep track of what's being said online, and advises them on ways to increase positive buzz.
 
The firm added two new people within the last month, and is likely to bring on more in the year ahead if demand continues as expected.
 
"In the last five years, the issue of a company's online reputation has come up more and more," says Internet Exposure CEO Jeff Hahn. "Almost every new business meeting I have covers social media, and although it's more important to certain clients, all of them need to address it in some way."
 
Companies of any size, particularly those run by multi-hat-wearing entrepreneurs, can find it daunting to build a good reputation online through sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. They might have an executive blog or a business website, but often they struggle with how to create true influence through social media.
 
Internet Exposure assists them by using search tools to see what's being said about the business, and then helping executives to use social media more effectively to create a positive image. If a company has negative reviews or feedback online, the firm has tactics that can help to push the comments lower in search results, and also works to address the feedback directly.
 
Hahn expects to see more interest in the tactics in the future, and as a result, Internet Exposure should see more growth as well. He says, "The Internet is still a bit in the 'Wild West' phase. So, we're excited to help people make these online tools work for them, instead of against them."
 
Source: Jeff Hahn, Internet Exposure
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

CIO Panel
 
December 6
7:30--9:30 a.m.
Minnesota High Tech Association
Free for MHTA members, $85 for non-members
 
The annual CIO Panel at the MHTA is an educational forum aimed at addressing key technology issues, trends, and challenges that CIOs are facing. This year's panel includes Abdul Bengali of the Mayo Clinic, Joe Topinka of Red Wing Shoes, and Ranell Hamm of Patterson Companies.
 
 
LifeScience Alley Conference & Expo
 
December 7
Minneapolis Convention Center
From $70 - $525 depending on membership and different attendance options
 
Now in its 10th year, LifeScience Alley is a must-attend event for medical technology professionals from around the globe. Session topics cover finance, IT, sales and marketing, product development, research, and other issues.
 
 
Doing Business in Africa

December 7
Carlson School of Management
321 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Suite 2-206
Free
 
This panel discussion about education and workforce development is being put on by the Carlson Global Institute of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, the Corporate Council on Africa, and Books for Africa. The panelists include Hussein Samatar of the African Development Center, Trevor Gunn of Medtronic, and Michelle Grogg of Cargill.
 
 
Kindred Kitchen Food Show and Buyers' Fair
 
December 15
6:30 p.m.
1200 W. Broadway, Minneapolis
Free
 
Participants in Kindred Kitchen's food business incubator program have the opportunity to meet industry professionals, food retail buyers, and the general public as they showcase their delicious creations. 

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) recognized 14 companies that are contributing to innovation, development, and commercialization of technology in the state, handing out its annual Tekne Awards last week.
 
The awards included separate categories for small and growing businesses, with revenues under $50 million, and for established businesses. Winners range across a number of fields, from manufacturing to sustainable technologies to non-profit organizations.

"Minnesota’s technology community has responded enthusiastically to the Tekne Awards for the past twelve years," says MHTA President and CEO Margaret Anderson Kelliher. " Year after year the Teknes generate a tremendous amount of pride and help inspire a new generation of innovators."
 

Nova-Tech Engineering won for advanced manufacturing, Ecolab took home the cleantech and energy award, and Global Traffic Technologies won the computer hardware and electronic devices award.
 
For the most innovative collaboration of the year, MHTA chose Maverick Software Consulting, which paired with Digital River, Thompson Reuters, and MnSCU to bring together computer science students and corporations providing software development and testing. Students received real-world experience working in the technology field, and companies got talented candidates. 
 
Other winners included Sophia Learning, Minntech Corporation, Pursuit Vascular, GeaCom, Imation, and Calabrio.
 
The City of Minneapolis received an award for technology excellence in a non-profit organization, with MHTA noting the city's work toward bringing technology and information together to make Minneapolis safer. The city's new emergency operations training facility and strategic information center blend digital data, streaming video and interactive interfaces to create a communications center for the city.
 
The Tekne Awards also featured more inductees to the Minnesota Science and Technology Hall of Fame, which was created four years ago to acknowledge the work of entrepreneurs, engineers, professors, inventors, researchers, and scientists.
 
Source: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota High Tech Association
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Sometimes, one simple decision can shake a company's entire foundation.
 
For Eagan-based JumpTech, that moment came about a year ago, when the company decided to move its applications to a mobile platform.
 
The firm's software for inventory management and proof of delivery was turned into JumpPOD, an app for iPhone and Android that allows anyone with those devices to track deliveries, accept signatures, and do performance reporting.
 
Since its release about four months ago, the company gets several phone calls per day for orders, says JumpTech CEO John Freund: "This caught us a little off guard, the popularity of JumpPOD. We've had to accommodate for such sudden growth."
 
The 11-member firm is likely to double its employee size over the next few months, he adds, and is moving soon to new, larger office space down the street from its existing offices.
 
Fortunately, Freund has been on the fast-growth track before, when a company he co-founded zoomed upward before it was sold. Now, he uses that experience to make sure that he keeps JumpTech on the right path.
 
"It's a balancing act, because you fight so hard to get customers excited and buy the app, but you have to make sure that you can deliver when they come to order," says Freund. "That's why we're making sure that we're hiring resources now."
 
Technology companies in particular can be challenged by such a turn in fortunes, he adds, and many overreact to growth by staffing up quickly. Then, if sales don't come through as projected, they need to downsize. Freund says, "The way to prevent that is to focus on what you're delivering, as opposed to what you're selling. Here, we're doing that, and growing organically as a result."
 
Source: John Freund, JumpTech
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Drawn to the online advertising spending power and retail strength of the Twin Cities, California-based digital marketing company ValueClick recently opened an office here in order to expand its Midwestern presence.
 
ValueClick combines data, technology, and services to increase brand awareness for advertisers, and focuses on boosting revenue for online and mobile publishers. Some of the brands under its umbrella include Greystripe, Mediaplex, Smarter.com, and PriceRunner.
 
The Minneapolis office is helmed by Jeff Zoss, who's worked in digital advertising for nearly a dozen years, including stints at CoolSavings and MyPoints. He runs the outpost as a one-person operation now, with another representative in the office for Greystripe, but he anticipates that business will build enough to warrant hiring a team.
 
"Minneapolis/St. Paul is seen as a very valuable market for ValueClick and for advertising in general," says Zoss. "If you look at what's here, from Target and Best Buy to ad agencies, there's a strong focus for the interactive market."
 
ValueClick, like other digital marketing companies, had been relying on a Chicago location for its Midwestern presence, but Zoss notes that an office here will allow the company to become a larger part of the community.
 
"It's nice to be local, to meet someone for coffee instead of flying in," he says. "Sometimes, the best business deals happen because you ran into someone in the skyway."
 
Source: Jeff Zoss, ValueClick
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

First Tuesday
 
November 8
University of Minnesota
Carlson School of Management
McNamara Alumni Center
$28, includes lunch
 
Held for nearly 20 years on the first Tuesday of every month at the McNamara Alumni Center, the First Tuesday Speaker Series has showcased top executives and their insights about business and leadership. This month's round features John Stumpf, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Wells Fargo.
 
 
Best Practices in Leadership Effectiveness & Employee Engagement
 
November 10
Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport
Bloomington
Main conference: $200 members, $300 for members of partners, $400 non-members
 
Put on by the Minnesota Council for Quality, this two-day event features a main conference on Nov. 10 and post-conference workshops the following day. Organizations such as Toro, US Bank, and Allina Hospitals & Clinics will share best practices in succession planning, communication, employee engagement, and other topics.
 
CityCamp Minnesota
 
November 12
University of Minnesota
Humphrey Center
free
 
Touting itself as an "unconference," CityCamp Minnesota aims to bring together community organizations, technology startups, social media experts, software developers, open government advocates and "everyday citizens" for a discussion about how to strengthen local communities. Although there will be breakout sessions and at least 25 different interactive discussions, the conference organizers note that the "coffee break becomes the conference."
 

Robotics Alley
 
November 17
University of Minnesota
Carlson School of Management
$145
 
ReconRobotics (see our previous coverage here) teams up with the Minnesota High Tech Association to host a gathering of 250 leaders in the global robotics industry. Featuring a keynote address by renowned robotics expert Peter Singer, the program also includes a series of open-format talks on the business of robotics from experts in the financial, legal, policy, and academic sectors.

Although common wisdom claims that there are only two constants (death and taxes), there's actually one more for the list: weather.
 
Updates on temperature, storms, humidity, and other weather factors have become crucial for many types of businesses, from farmers to data center managers. "Weather impacts 43 percent of America's GDP," says meteorologist Paul Douglas. "It's rare to find a company that doesn't have some type of weather exposure."
 
Douglas and his team at WeatherNation are working to meet demand for meteorological insight with a multi-level approach. Launched in 2008, the company is now poised for growth, after a few years of developing a unique strategy for outsourcing.
 
WeatherNation provides data and info to cable stations--recently, it launched a 24/7 weather channel for the state of Kentucky--and has a national channel of its own. The firm has expanded from one studio to three, and continues to add meteorologists to its team of 12, Douglas says.
 
"We're looking beyond broadcast and cable into opportunities like mobile and new apps," he notes. "We want to make sure that people can get personalized weather information on any device, anywhere."
 
Catering to business clients is another major part of WeatherNation's approach, he adds. Clients like Wells Fargo, Polaris, and Home Depot depend on the company to help with energy efficiency efforts. Next up for the company is partnership with wind turbine manufacturers, to pair wind forecasts with technology.
 
"Weather is becoming more extreme," says Douglas. "That's the bad news. But with technological breakthroughs, mobility, and improvements in severe storm alerts, we have more tools that will help companies stay ahead of the weather."

Source: Paul Douglas, WeatherNation
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Social media is big business these days, and John Marino aims to be at the forefront of the trend.
 
In 2003, Marino co-founded BRIOprint, an online printing company that reported double-digit growth every year since its founding. Marino sold it to his partner in 2010, wanting to take on new challenges.
 
While building the multi-million dollar company, he leveraged social media like Twitter and Facebook, and so when the time came to move on from BRIOprint, he knew just where to go.
 
"I realized that a lot of small- and medium-sized businesses could use some social media management, so I headed in that direction," he says. "RSP Marketing was created to meet that demand."
 
The company began ramping up through strategic hires, including a sales team, designers, and programmers. In all, RSP has 10 employees, and Marino notes that there are plans to keep hiring, particularly for the sales department. He just brought on three people from the firm's summer internship program, and expects to hire a new employee every few months.
 
A growing client roster drives the steady pace, he says. Companies come to RSP for video services, websites, a strategic social media plan, and details on how to leverage popular online tools. Usually, they're happy to have RSP do the management while they watch the results.
 
Marino compares the arrangement to hiring a fitness trainer who can shed pounds for a client by getting on the treadmill himself (if only that possibility existed!).
 
"By and large, most people just don't have the time to tap into social media, and that's understandable," says Marino. "They don't have time to add one more responsibility to their mix."
 
He expects that as more companies want social media clout, but don't have the luxury to spend hours on sites, RSP will keep on clicking.
 
Source: John Marino, RSP Marketing
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Sorting through resumes can help human resources professionals see who's qualified for a position, and to really get a sense of the candidate, in-person interviews are crucial.
 
But what if there was another step in between, so HR could see and hear the candidate without the time and effort required for a standard interview process?
 
That's where the video interview comes in, and local startup Hyier is hoping to be that go-to resource for hiring. The company provides a platform where clients can list a job in Hyier's system, and receive video responses from candidates. Hyier's software allows people to record video in a systematic way, and for client companies to rate and comment on videos for their own files.
 
Founded by entrepreneur Derek Buschow in July 2010, Hyier sprouted from Buschow's experience in looking for a job while attending the University of St. Thomas. He'd gotten frustrated with the lack of calls after sending out his resume, and wished that he could use video to help him in his search.
 
He says, "I'm the kind of person who likes to meet face-to-face, and I thought that if I could just get in front of someone, I could get the job. I began to work with that idea and thought it might be like Monster.com, but with video."
 
Instead of a job board, Hyier ended up being a service that helps clients qualify candidates. Buschow believes that using video helps companies to see the personality and communication skills of a potential employee, and the Hyier system allows clients to ask specific questions to be addressed in the video presentations.
 
"This provides another dimension to screening," Buschow says. "It's another tool for HR to increase the chances of doing effective searches and hiring."
 
The software just came out of private beta, and Buschow is now moving forward with marketing. He's already seeing quite a bit of traction, he says, so look for video interviews to be the next big wave.
 
Source: Derek Buschow, Hyier
Writer: Elizabeth Millard