emerging technology : Innovation + Job News

Nonprofit site CaringBridge continues on its relentless growth track with the launch of user-generated video that lets site users share their stories with friends and family.
 
The project, facilitated by Minneapolis-based web design and development firm Nighthawk Marketing, features a pre-designed video template that asks users to create an orange or white heart (the colors of the heart in the CaringBridge logo) with an inspiring word or a loved one's name on it. Users can then upload a photo, and it is added to the video.
 
CaringBridge debuted in 1997, as a way for seriously ill people to create one central, online page that could keep friends and relatives updated about their health changes. Since then, the site has recorded nearly two billion visits, and founder Sona Mehring says the group is continually looking for ways to expand services and deepen the connections made through the site.
 
"There's still tremendous potential for how CaringBridge can be used," she says. "All of our development supports the idea that people are now used to sharing online, and that we just need to find ways to harness those networks."
 
She noted that in addition to the introduction of the video, other service offerings are being refined, such as a calendar program that allows visitors to volunteer for making meals or coming along on a doctor visit.
 
"People who are using CaringBridge are going through a journey," says Mehring. "They appreciate that they can reach out to others through the site. It lets them know that they don't have to be on this journey alone."
 
Source: Sona Mehring, CaringBridge
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Want to report a particularly nasty pothole, or let the city know about a traffic light issue? Now there's an app for that.
 
The City of Minneapolis recently launched the new Minneapolis 311 smartphone app, which allows users to report service requests, including complaints about road wear, signal problems, and graffiti.
 
The app uses GPS technology to pinpoint the location of the problem, and sends that information to the appropriate city department.
 
Minneapolis 311 originated in August 2004 as part of the Minneapolis One Call Project; the number (311 in the city, 612-673-3000 from outside) is staffed between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. According to the program director Don Stickney, about 70 percent of all calls are for information, and the remaining calls are for transfers or requests for service. Stickney notes most of the highest-used service requests can be processed online, which makes the new mobile app a strong addition to the program.
 
"The City answers between 1,000 to 2,400 calls per day on average," says Stickney. "Not only does the new Minneapolis 311 Mobile App give Minneapolis citizens a convenient and efficient way to report issues, the Open311 integration enables the City to automatically and seamlessly respond to those issues outside of traditional contact center business hours."
 
Another advantage for residents is the ability to check in on requests that have already been submitted. The app also generates an email when the request has been completed by the relevant agency.
 
The app was built by Connecticut-based SeeClickFix, a software developer specializing in these type of apps for government and community group clients.  
 
Free to download, the app is available for iPhone and Android, and those with Blackberry or Windows phones can submit reports to 311 through SeeClickFix.com.
 
Source: Don Stickney, City of Minneapolis
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

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

Major fuel sources for any university or college program are donations, leading every institute of higher education to refine its fundraising programs as much as possible. That's leading St. Paul-based Reeher, a technology firm that helps institutions fine-tune their fundraising strategies, toward robust growth as a result.
 
The company recently noted that Fordham University adopted the platform in order to reach a $500 million campaign goal. Before that, the University of Toledo joined Reeher for its own campaign. Saint John's University selected Reeher in April as a way to improve its donor identification and management.
 
Founded in 2002 by Andy Reeher, the firm has developed a technology platform that helps institutions find up to 40 percent more donors, resulting in more fundraising dollars and less time spent chasing leads. Reeher discovered that most universities and colleges were investing significantly in fundraising relationships, only to find that most of the donations came from a handful of large donors.
 
Using predictive technology, Reeher is able to make fundraising more cost-effective for institutions, and the company's growing reputation is opening more doors all the time.
 
Reeher says, "These institutions see a lot of fundraising management technologies come and go, and they tend to wait to see what's working for someone else before they make a choice on what they'll use. So, one of our big drivers is that with this growing list of customers, we anticipate more inquiries and momentum going forward."
 
Source: Andy Reeher, Reeher
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

Sometimes, it pays to specialize. For Golden Valley-based DelaGet, customers come from only one industry segment, and it's that focus that's causing the company to attract investment and keep growing.
 
Spun out of restaurant franchisee Border Foods in 2000, the firm creates financial reporting software for restaurants, which can use the applications to track information like server performance and food inventory. A franchise restaurant owner can glance at sales results for all restaurants, for example, or look at the transaction-level activity of one cashier.
 
Over the past five years, DelaGet has expanded its services to include brand programs, notes CEO Bruce Clark: "We go in and create solutions for a brand, and that program becomes a best practice." The company works with some of the most visible restaurant chains in the country, including Taco Bell, KFC, and IHOP.
 
Another unique aspect comes with creating different platforms that can be customized to a restaurant's needs, Clark adds. DelaGet's software-as-a-service offering is on 40 different platforms, representing a significant part of its intellectual property, he says.
 
DelaGet's strength in the industry is getting the company noticed: in December, the firm attracted $400,000 from angel investors.
 
The company currently employs about 80 people, and has strong plans for growth. Although it boasts an impressive customer list, there are still numerous restaurant brands that fall within DelaGet's core market, notes Rick Berglund, VP of Business Development.
 
He says, "One stage of our growth will be to build brand relationships, and from there, we can expand services. We're seeing success on several levels so we're anticipating that we'll be accelerating our growth in the near future."
 
Sources: Bruce Clark and Rick Berglund, DelaGet
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Although there are now plenty of tech experts at Apple stores, Martin Thomas was a lone Mac guru when he and his wife, Kate, started Lotus + Lama in 1995.
 
"At that point, you didn't see everyone with Apple products like you do now," he says. "There was just a smaller, dedicated group of people who loved the technology."
 
Thomas had been a recording engineer earlier in his career, in an industry where Apple found early adoption. When he showed an aptitude for fixing the computers, people began to find him and ask for help. He says, "At some point, it became obvious that I'd have more work if I focused on computers instead, and since I was only using Macs, that's the direction I went."
 
The consulting firm has gotten more robust over the past 17 years, particularly with remote log-in ability, freeing Thomas from doing extensive on-site work. Kate provides project management services, and the firm does website design as well. Clients range from advertising agencies to recording studios, non-profits, and graphic designers.
 
Even with the Apple store Genius Bars offering technical assistance, Lotus + Lama continues to establish a larger client base, mainly due to Thomas' ability to give technology advice with a long-term vision, not just a quick tech tweak.
 
"With clients, I get to know their frustrations, and how they organize their files," he says. "Every client has a different approach as to how they use their computers and networks. If they go to an Apple store or other tech, they have to tell their story again and again. With me, I already know their story because I've been part of it."
 
Source: Martin Thomas, Lotus + Lama
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

A few years ago, 3rd grade teacher Matt Hardy became interested in using blogs to help students express themselves. But there was one problem: he couldn't find a software solution or website that met his needs.
 
Because his students were so young, the blogs had to be simple to use, as well as secure so that he could moderate comments and block potential creeps. When he couldn't find what he needed, he developed a version himself, and his efforts had an immediate impact on students, who loved their new blogging abilities.
 
After sharing the application with other teachers, he decided to join forces with entrepreneur Dan Flies and start Kidblog, which now boasts over 1.6 million users, in 80 countries.
 
"This technology is at the intersection of programming and pedagogy," says Flies. "Matt understood how tools could be effective for students because he'd been a teacher, but he also has an intuitive understanding of web development and business startups."
 
Although the company is still just the two business leaders, Flies anticipates growth in the near future, as more and more schools adopt the technology. After only a few years, there's been significant expansion, without any marketing.
 
"Right now, we're the largest educational blogging service in the world," he says, adding that technology access is exploding in the United States and other parts of the world.
 
"The opportunity to grow this will only get bigger," says Flies. "It's really fun to see how much this is catching on."
 
Source: Dan Flies, Kidblog
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

For building owners and property managers, staying on top of energy costs can be challenging, especially since statistics can be tough to find. But a St. Paul-based firm is removing the roadblocks.
 
EnergyPrint provides an online energy management dashboard that helps users understand how a building is doing in terms of energy and water usage. The firm gathers utility data and inputs the information into its proprietary tool, which can track usage over time. That type of historical data lets an owner or manager know if they're making the best use of those environmental resources.
 
"This kind of monitoring has the benefit of helping to improve the planet, but the main reason for tracking this data is to increase net asset value and improve energy savings," says EnergyPrint's Chief Operations Officer Mike Williams. "Without a doubt, getting these kinds of stats is crucial for property owners."
 
Collecting this type of information can be tricky for owners to do on their own, however. Every utility company has different measurements in terms of energy usage, Williams says. Comparing a building in Minneapolis to one in St. Paul is difficult, for example, because separate utilities do the usage monitoring. EnergyPrint is determined to smooth out those differences so that building owners have the ability to implement more effective energy management programs.
 
The program has been so well received that the company is gearing up for growth in the near future, including expansion into Canada and hiring to beef up its staff.
 
"We're stable and strong and we intend to stay that way," says Williams.
 
Source: Mike Williams, EnergyPrint
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

Exporting 101
 
July 11
 
St. Michael City Center
11800 Town Center Dr. NE, St. Michael
11:30am - 4:30pm
free
 
Exporting isn't just for big companies; more than 97 percent of exporters are small- to medium-sized businesses. This seminar focuses on strategies that can increase sales and profits, minimize seasonal sales fluctuations, and connect businesses to the many trade resources available through the federal and state governments.
 
Software Quality Forum: Buyer Beware
 
July 12
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington
7800 Normandale Blvd.
5:00pm - 7:00pm
free
 
Put on by the Software Quality Forum, this seminar looks at third-party software, and issues tips on how to purchase without getting burned. By applying due diligence upfront during the vendor and selection process, companies can defend against quality problems during implementation.
 
Crowdfunding: Using Digital Media to Directly Access Capital
 
July 17
CoCo Minneapolis
400 South 4th Street
3:00pm - 4:30pm
$75
 
Thanks to sites like Kickstarter.com, crowdfunding is fast becoming a viable way for many startup companies to gain funding from a range of sources. Speaker Patrick Donohue provides an interactive presentation on why digital media is changing the world of finance, and offers some tactics for achieving business goals and raising capital.
 
TopCoder Roadshow
 
July 25
Humphrey Institute
301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis
1:00pm - 5:00pm
free
 
TopCoder is a community of developers, algorithmists, and digital designers, coming together from private enterprise, academia, and government agencies. On its spin through the Twin Cities, the group will offer an afternoon of sessions focused on open innovation for enterprises, education, and government.
 

Forget the image of the lonely gamer in the basement rec room, spending hours playing an elaborate game alone. With the huge boom in multiplayer options, gaming is more like a college campus these days, where everyone is rushing around together and having conversations along the way.
 
But that environment can feel fragmented, believes local technology company Echobit. CEO Adam Sellke says, "Believe it or not, the act of gaming can represent a fair amount of work. It's like downhill skiing without a chairlift; the skiing is fun, but getting to the top of the mountain is tough."
 
Gamers need to be able to manage their game profiles, find other players, do online chat as they're playing, and coordinate other tasks to streamline their play. Echobit makes it all easy with their product, Evolve, which acts as an online matchmaking engine for gamers in the same way that Facebook aggregates content under single profiles and allows people to "meet" others who share their interests.
 
The company got kicked off in 2008, but has only been in open beta since the beginning of 2012. Word is spreading fast, though: since January, they've doubled membership for Evolve, and hope to have 100,000 members by the end of the year.
 
In addition to Sellke are two other co-founders, Soren Dreijer and Michael Amundson, and it's likely that they'll  garner more seed capital and look toward hiring in the near future.
 
"As gaming becomes more and more popular, we all need for it to become simpler," says Sellke. "This is a way of connecting people, making gaming more social, and taking the management out of it so people can enjoy their games more."
 
Source: Adam Sellke, Echobit
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Paper is so yesterday. The steady march toward digital information is changing the publishing industry, making photo labs increasingly obsolete, and even prompting emailed receipts instead of physical ones.
 
At Burnsville-based CoraCove, that evolution is taking shape for forms processing, giving professionals the opportunity to replace paper forms with digital ones on tablet computers.
 
The uses are broad, notes CEO Chris Zweber. An insurance agent might use CoraCove to process a claim instead of pulling out a stack of forms, or a repair person could tap into customer history instead of sorting through a paper-filled file.
 
In addition to saving time during initial input, the application can create efficiency because it significantly reduces data entry later. Analytics in the software can show field reps important information, such as time spent on service calls.
 
"In many ways, we're like a combination of Oracle and Salesforce.com," says Zweber. "But we're also unique, since we can customize applications for clients. Basically, we're taking what people already do and making them 10 times faster."
 
The company got its start in 2011, and Zweber sees plenty of growth ahead as the application gains traction. He says, "We're fine-tuning our ability to scale out already."
 
Source: Chris Zweber, CoraCove
Writer: Elizabeth Millard