Creative Leadership : Innovation + Job News

Cyber Security Summit
 
October 9 & 10
Minneapolis Convention Center
Fees range from $319 to $779, depending on registration type
 
Focused on how we look at digital space and security, this event brings together leaders from government, business, and nonprofit organizations to talk about digital infrastructure security issues. Now in its second year, the summit features talks about topics like cyber threat identification, privacy, and cloud computing, and boasts speakers from Medtronic, the FBI, Best Buy, and the Department of Homeland Security.
 
Minnesota Venture and Finance Conference
 
October 11
Minneapolis Convention Center
7:00am - 5:00pm
Fees range from $295 to $645, depending on registration type
 
Hosted by The Collaborative and the Minnesota Venture Capital Association, this one-day conference focuses on the future of innovation in a number of fields, including cloud computing, cleantech, healthcare, and mobile devices. Attendees can choose from a wealth of workshops, many of which are geared toward entrepreneurs who are trying to position a company for financing.
 
She's Geeky
 
October 19 & 20
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
 
Now in its third year, She's Geeky is a conference designed to connect women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The event is an "unconference," which means that instead of a pre-planned agenda, topics and discussions are generated by attendees. Organizers note that women attending the events (which are held in multiple cities) find inspiration and gain self-confidence because they build peer networks for support and discuss critical issues.
 
Yancey Strickler talk
 
October 25
Walker Art Center
7:00pm - 9:00pm
free
 
Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler will speak about the website's inspiration and evolution, and its increasing impact on artists and creative entrepreneurs. In addition to talking about how Kickstarter's success could affect the wider world of arts funding, Strickler will also speculates about what the future might hold for the technology platform itself.

There are numerous advertising, public relations, digital, and design firms in the Twin Cities, but in combining all those skills, Pocket Hercules is confident that it'll continue to stand out.
 
The Minneapolis-based agency, founded in 2005, has been growing steadily this year since expanding their offices in the Warehouse District. In addition to representing high-profile brands like Pearl Izumi, Rapala, and Mortenson Construction, the firm is finding strength through brands they've launched on their own: Lakemaid Beer and Tiny Footprint Coffee.
 
Given the interest in fair-trade coffee, Tiny Footprint in particular is really taking off, and will be sold at the Minnesota State Fair this year, notes agency principal Jack Supple. The coffee is also in the American Swedish Institute and Wilde Roast Cafe, and expectations are high that the eco-conscious brand will become better known in the near future.
 
Lakemaid is also enjoying some longevity. Launched in 2008, the brand was created for fishermen and cabin owners, and is offered every year at the opening of fishing season. Supple says, "We're humbled by the success we've experienced so far [with Lakemaid]. We owe it all to our dedicated fans who look forward to the beer with great anticipation every year."
 
The firm is also seeing growth through PH Digital Labs, a new digital marketing agency that the company launched in February. Dedicated to focusing on a client's online presence, the offshoot of Pocket Hercules utilizes search engine marketing, social media marketing, digital content creation, and intelligent web design.
 
"What we're seeing is organic growth," says Supple. "We're growing our brands and bringing in new business, and as a result we're adding people and seeing a really good year."
 
Source: Jack Supple, Pocket Hercules
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Minnesota Cup Final Awards Event
 
September 6
University of Minnesota, McNamara Center
5:00pm - 7:30pm
free
 
One of the liveliest entrepreneurial competitions, the Minnesota Cup has been a source of innovation and fresh ideas since its founding. (Read about this year's finalists here.) In its final awards event, attendees will get to hear elevator pitches from the division winners and hear the announcement of the grand prize winner. The event promises to be an ideal networking opportunity for the state's entrepreneurial community.
 
Work/Life & Flexibility Expo
 
September 13
Minneapolis Marriott Southwest
8:30am - 4:30pm
$50 - $150, depending on registration type
 
As the economy recovers, engaging highly skilled talent will be crucial for all organizations, and employee retention will be vital. This conference offers insight and strategies for building a work environment that attracts the best talent and positions a company for future growth.
 
Minnesota Blogger Conference
 
September 22
Allina Health
Midtown Exchange Building, Minneapolis
9:00am - 5:00pm
free
 
The first Minnesota Blogger Conference, in 2010, was such a success that organizers decided to keep it rolling. The highly popular conference--tickets are released at strategic times, as for a rock concert--will feature speakers who've taken blogging to new levels, including turning their blogs into business opportunities. Last year's sessions also included insights on legal issues, writing topics, and video blogging.
 
Food + Justice = Democracy
 
September 24 - 26
Radisson Plaza Hotel
35 S. 7th St., Minneapolis
Ranges from $85 - $195 depending on registration type
 
A distinctive national meeting, this event brings together food-justice activists with the aim of pushing political leaders to prioritize a fair, just, and healthy food system. Instead of traditional breakout sessions, the meeting features "People's Assembly sessions," connecting attendees with fellow participants in order to craft elements of a national food-justice platform.

Started in late 2011, Minneapolis-based KeyedIn Solutions has been on the fast track ever since.
 
The company provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) and consulting for small to midsize businesses, specializing in areas like enterprise resource planning and project management. The past year has been a whirlwind of acquisition and hiring and CEO Lauri Klaus notes that they see more opportunity ahead.
 
"We're working to establish ourselves in the marketplace, and we're aggressive in reaching that goal," she says. "We've made more progress in a shorter amount of time than I would have anticipated, and that's exciting. We're looking toward long-term growth, definitely."
 
To keep up the momentum, KeyedIn is thinking globally. Recently, the company announced that it would be opening a new office in Monterrey, Mexico, and it is likely to expand in South Africa within the next year. Already, the firm has a presence in nine U.S. cities as well as the United Kingdom and Australia.
 
The Mexico office will be led by Christian Orellana, a software industry veteran with experience in channel and project management, Klaus notes. He'll be responsible for all channel sales in the region as well as strategic partnerships, and Klaus believes that growth in the country will be rapid as a result.
 
"Technically, I think we're still considered a startup, but we don't feel like that," she says. "With this expansion and other global opportunities, we feel like we're really finding our place and creating new opportunities as we go."
 
Source: Lauri Klaus, KeyedIn Solutions
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Some creative agencies can provide stunning strategies and vision, while others are stronger in delivering the technology that turns a promise into a workable project. At Modern Climate, they don't feel the need to choose.
 
"We can deliver top to bottom, including all the technology" says Geoff Bremner, the agency's president. "We're capable of very strong creative ideas, but also have the ability to deliver the code."
 
The agency got its start in 2009, with roots in a different interactive agency, Wolfmotell. The founders from that firm joined with Bremner to capitalize on their experience in product development and other services and broaden their approach. The result has been a full range of services for clients, and more national accounts, Bremner says.
 
The other result has been a nice amount of growth. The agency employs 45 people, and will see about 35 percent growth this year. Bremner predicts that Modern Climate will stay robust, likely sailing along at about 20 percent growth year to year in the near future.
 
The agency's ability to provide full services is one driver, but Modern Climate also stands out for its expertise in delivering powerful brand experiences for clients.
 
Recent projects have included the development of the Health4Me mobile app for UnitedHealthcare, the creation of a communications platform for Northern Brewer's recent store opening, and improvement of Geek Squad's consumer site.
 
"We see so many opportunities for fun consumer engagement," says Bremner. "When people enjoy a brand experience, they want to interact more with that brand. So, our focus is to create a great experience through the whole journey."

For Julie Mackenzie, growing up around actors and other theatrical people created a strong sense that life should be lived creatively, and with plenty of improvisation. When she stepped into the business world, she was surprised to discover that not everyone held that belief.
 
"I was shocked at what some people considered creativity," she recalls. "Right away, I could see the need for more transformation and innovation through a creative approach."
 
She hatched the idea for a firm focusing on those goals, but then got sidetracked by building a marketing company with her husband. After establishing that firm, she decided to take the leap and open Mindsailing to realize her vision.
 
The timing has been perfect, she notes: "We have this community of great collaborators right now. They're pursuing their interests, and trying to find a way to be valuable and relevant, while using the momentum of change to pull their businesses forward."
 
Mackenzie provides some wind for their sails, by bringing together a group that can deliver strategic planning and creative development, while helping clients to connect to a company's value proposition.
 
Mindsailing tends to work with clients in industries that are experiencing rapid change, such as healthcare, and uses social innovation to boost transformation.
 
"There are so many well-founded and well-researched strategic plans that simply fail," she says. "It's because those companies aren't responding to changing dynamics through creativity, or they're not finding ways to communicate in a new way."
 
Source: Julie Mackenzie, Mindsailing
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The Twin Cities are rich in creative agencies, and have drawn attention for the breadth of options from spunky startups to established major players. Recently, industry magazine Advertising Age showcased the local area, noting that it's little wonder that so many agencies get their start here since Minneapolis is a "smart and artsy town."
 
One of the prime examples, the article noted, is Zeus Jones, a Minneapolis-based firm that focuses on building brands and providing customer experiences and messaging that stand out in the marketplace.
 
Founded by advertising executives who'd worked together at large local agency Fallon, the company was started in 2007 as a way to deliver marketing instead of advertising, states Zeus Jones co-founder Adrian Ho.
 
"We had a simple idea: that the reason people like companies has to do with what they do, not what they say in ads," he says. "We have an idealistic view of what that means, and for the last five years, we've been figuring out what that means."
 
In general, he adds, Zeus Jones assists companies in thinking about how they define their brand, and helping to rebuild that brand around a purpose. Ho says, "This goes above and beyond products. We figure out the best ways to bring their purpose to life." That could mean product design, retail design, strategy, or other creative services. Clients have included Thymes, Nordstrom, and Purina ONE.
 
The agency has 32 employees, and is currently hiring and growing. Ho notes that the business plan didn't center around growth, but as the firm has drawn more clients, it's been a natural evolution.
 
"We think there are better ways to communicate a company's message than running ads, and we're seeing that proved on a bigger scale here," says Ho. "Clients respond to that."  
 
Source: Adrian Ho, Zeus Jones
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The Collaborative Innovation Series
 
August 2
University of St. Thomas College of Business, Minneapolis Campus
46 Eleventh St. South, Minneapolis
7:10am - 11:20am
$45 for members, $105 for non-members
 
The Collaborative, a membership organization focused on growing companies and investors, frequently provides education opportunities, and this upcoming morning seminar is part of its "innovation series." Speakers will focus on larger topics like choosing angel or VC investors, leveraging advisors, and growing through new hires. 
 
Datavenu
 
August 7 & 8
University of Minnesota
Carlson School of Management
Fee ranges from $25 - $125, depending on type of pass
 
Organized by local entrepreneur Barbara Bowen, Datavenu focuses on personal data, economic development, and the information economy. The first day of the event brings together leading speakers to talk about IT developments and data policies, while the second day is an "unconference" that features an agenda created in real time by participants.
 
Exporting in 2012: The Practices of Profitable Companies
 
August 22
Mortenson Construction
700 Meadow Lane North, Golden Valley
8:00am - 11:00am
$79 before Aug. 14, $119 afterward
 
Hosted by Enterprise Minnesota, this seminar brings together experts and business leaders who will discuss the export process and how attendees can better navigate this particular strategy. There will be several examples of how local companies are selling internationally, and connecting with global business experts who can streamline the process.
 
The Engaged Philanthropy Conference
 
August 23
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
4:00pm - 8:00pm
$70
 
Also known as EPCON, this conference focuses on social innovation in Minnesota, and is hosted by Social Venture Partners Minnesota, an organization made up of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who are attempting to address the state's social issues. Now in its fourth year, the conference features a competition for identifying top social entrepreneurs, and keynote speaker Tim Knowles from the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute.

When Minneapolis-based marketing technology firm Spyder Trap decided to expand, company CEO Mike Rynchek didn't look toward an outer ring suburb or a hop just across the river: instead, the company is headed to the mountains.
 
Recently, it announced plans to open an office in Denver this fall, with a small staff initially. However, the company anticipates expanding both offices in the near future, and is currently hiring to broaden its local presence.
 
Spyder Trap offers an array of marketing technology services, such as website and mobile site development, social media expertise, search analytics, and email marketing (see previous coverage in The Line here). In its four-year history, the firm has grown its revenues by 200 percent per year.
 
The move to Denver makes sense strategically, Rynchek says: "Similar to Minneapolis, Denver is quickly becoming one of the nation's leading marketing technology cities. We view our new location as a gateway to attracting West Coast talent, along with better servicing that clientele."
 
Another important factor was lifestyle, he adds. Much like the Twin Cities, Denver tends to top lists when it comes to healthy eating and outdoor activities. Spyder Trap wanted a location that would be a great place for employees, with the wellness levels they enjoy here.
 
Rynchek says, "We continue to look for ways to make Spyder Trap a great place to be for our employees."
 
Source: Mike Rynchek, Spyder Trap
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

For some creative agencies, staying small and nimble means creating strong areas of specialization like logo creation or social media management. But for Deephaven-based DW Creative, sticking with full service sets them apart.
 
"There aren't many boundaries for what we can do creatively," says Ryan Benson, the firm's director of business development. "We're multi-channel focused, with expertise in all different types of areas." The firm does videos, catalogs, web, print, retail, direct mail, and other materials.
 
The agency started almost 16 years ago by three former NordicTrack executives, he adds, which kicked off the business with a healthy amount of media savvy. NordicTrack was a pioneer in the direct marketing space--sometimes selling thousands of units every day--and that knowledge of creative approaches became a bedrock for DW (short for "Design Write").
 
The firm employs six people, and Benson feels that the size and the cohesion of the staff kept the clients coming in even during the tough economic climate of the past few years.
 
"We've not only survived what went on with the economy, but we're poised to grow, and not too many small agencies can say that," he says. "We take quite a bit of pride in that."
 
In the past couple years, marketing and ad dollars were significantly reduced in the general business community, and many creative agencies felt the pinch, but DW Creative was able to stay afloat through its breadth of services.
 
"Our clients see the value in our work, and that will only help us grow," Benson says.
 
Source: Ryan Benson, DW Creative
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Searching for the right realtor can sometimes feel like dating--everyone is hunting for that special someone who's trustworthy, friendly, and compatible. Where are the sites that give you a strong realtor match the way dating sites pair you up with romantic candidates?
 
HomeVisor comes awfully close. Started by real estate agent Brett Doshan, the service aims to bring buyers and sellers together with realtors who understand their needs.
 
Doshan says, "A first-time, 22 year-old buyer usually wants a younger agent, whereas a retiree likes to work with someone their own age. That's just one example of preferences that people have. Buying and selling real estate is a big part of someone's life, so they want to make sure they feel comfortable with the agent."
 
In order to find just the right agent for each client, Doshan and his team spend hours on the phone, talking with agents around the country to get a sense of personality types, reputations, experience, and other factors that go into a recommendation.
 
There are some competitors that try to do a similar match-up, but Doshan says that they usually have a pool of agents that pay to be part of the service. When a buyer goes to one of their sites, they simply put in his or her zip code, and get a list of agents. "The focus of those sites is to get agents to sign up, to expand their databases," he notes. "Our focus is on buyers and sellers, to find out what they really need."
 
Doshan's comprehensive matchmaking skills have allowed HomeVisor to go national, within only a few years since it started. The company employs five people, and the founder expects strong growth for the future. "We just want to constantly get better at our service."
 
Source: Brett Doshan, HomeVisor
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Most college students are focused on class schedules and grades; but Kyle Jordahl and his business partner John Ziemann used the time to buy apartment buildings and then become real estate brokers. Before they graduated, they started their own property management company. So, it's no surprise that only a few years later, they'd be thriving with their own startup, VanquishAP.
 
The company is unique, Jordahl notes, because it runs on distinctive technology. The pair designed a software tool to make the property management process easier, and they now extend that capability to clients.
 
"We're able to do tasks more accurately with this technology," says Jordahl. "We can make use of our resources more effectively, and that gives us an advantage."
 
VanquishAP has seven employees, with offices in downtown Minneapolis and St. Cloud, and expects to keep growing in those areas and eventually extend into other markets. The company is a full-service real estate firm that does everything from automated rent collection to property analysis. The app lets the company take on more properties without adding employees right away, Jordahl says.
 
"We're still a young company, and we experience the kind of challenges that any young company does," he notes. "But we feel that there are many factors driving our growth and that makes us excited about what's ahead for us."
 
Source: Kyle Jordahl, VanquishAP
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

The craft beer scene in the Twin Cities is going strong, to the point where it feels like a new brewery or taproom is opening every week. Distinguishing them from each other can sometimes be a challenging (if delicious) task for craft beer drinkers.
 
To introduce some rigor into all the efforts, the Better Beer Society (BBS) offers some expertise. The agency focuses on promoting craft beer and every aspect of its service, including staff training for bar servers so they can chat about beers with confidence.
 
One major focus is certification; the organization awards a "BBS Certified" label to establishments that prove they have a high level of beer service, selection, storage, and server knowledge. So far, only three bars--Bryant Lake Bowl, The Happy Gnome, and Republic--have gotten the BBS stamp of approval, but founder Rob Shellman is working with others to get them to that point.
 
"We've been pretty hard at work these past few months auditing and meeting with bar and restaurant owners about the certification program," he says. "Most of the response has been very encouraging, with owners and management wanting to get involved and improve on their practices."
 
Certification isn't an easy task, he notes, but it's not impossible. The BBS works with each establishment closely to track areas of improvement, so that every pour is a clean, predictable one.
 
A certified Cicerone (the beer world's equivalent of a sommelier), Shellman started the BBS last year after moving back to Minneapolis from Los Angeles. He's seen the strong beer scene in places like Portland and San Diego, and believes that the craft beer movement in the Twin Cities could be just as robust.
 
"We could really be a major beer destination here," he says. "Our mission is to help make that happen."
 
Source: Rob Shellman, Better Beer Society
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Loyalty and reward programs have always relied on tried-and-true products that appeal to a wide variety of people: vacations, large TVs, and swanky home goods. But the popularity of digital media like e-books and games points to a new direction for these programs, and PointTunes is leading the way.
 
Started in 2010, the company takes digital assets and prices them in a way that's customized for a specific reward program. For example, an airline might assign a penny-and-a-half value to each of its miles. PointTunes works with that point value amount and determines how assets like online games can be awarded to customers with an appropriate level of points.
 
The company works with rewards administrators, and even handles the shopping experience, notes Bill Cunningham, PointTunes founder and CEO. His deep roots and experience in the rewards industry go all the way back to age 16, when he started working for Carlson Marketing Group.
 
"In 20 years in the business, I was seeing that not much had changed," he says. "Rewards administrators were still tied to physical rewards, while the rest of the world had gone digital. That pushed me toward founding PointTunes."
 
The rewards and loyalty industry is poised to explode in the next year or so, he notes, and the Millenials who are now getting jobs and starting families are expecting more digital options when they sign up for these types of programs.
 
"They want to be able to download immediately, and be engaged with those brands," says Cunningham. "At the same time, retiring Boomers are downloading more books and movies, and they have those same expectations of being able to take advantage of their reward points immediately."
 
That shift should bring more robust growth to Minneapolis-based PointTunes, Cunningham notes.
 
Source: Bill Cunningham, PointTunes
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