Emerging Technology : Innovation + Job News

Imagine being on a business trip and talking to your dog at home before the next meeting, and even giving him a treat for good behavior. Welcome to PetChatz.
 
Developed by Minneapolis-based Anser Innovation, the web-based "pet phone" is a unique product that's poised to tap into the enormous pet accessory market. CEO Lisa Lavin notes that even though the product isn't on the market yet--look for it this fall--the reaction has already been strong.
 
"We did national consumer research, and the response was amazing," she says. "About 76 percent of people we polled said they'd have high interest in PetChatz. We thought the product would be popular, but that number blew us away."
 
The idea for PetChatz comes from Mark Kroll, a medical device inventor who holds hundreds of patents. During lunch with him, Lavin asked if he had any patents that he wasn't using, and he talked about the "greet and treat videophone" that he'd envisioned for pet owners. The pair worked together, along with others on the Anser team, to make his vision into a working prototype.
 
The applications for the technology are broad, Lavin believes. For example, a pet boarding facility might install it in suites so that owners can check in on their pets and reduce separation anxiety (on both sides). Anser has teamed with KLN Enterprises' Tuffy's Pet Foods to design treats that can be given via the device.
 
The company anticipates hiring leading up to the launch in a few months, and growth after the product hits the market. In the future, this type of technology could be used for other markets, like communicating with seniors for elder care, or checking in with children in daycare, Lavin notes.
 
"We're building a platform for products that enhance remote communication," she says. "We're starting with the retail pet market, but there are so many directions we can go from there."
 
Source: Lisa Lavin, Anser Innovation
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Although most people think of search results when they think of Google, the company is a powerhouse when it comes to business applications.
 
With its web-based email, calendars, document sharing, data storage, and other services, Google is fast becoming a necessary part of business operations for many companies, and that's giving Minneapolis-based Agosto a major boost.
 
The firm specializes in Google Apps, and was one of the first to partner with Google for application development. CEO Aric Bandy notes that Agosto's Google Apps team grew 400 percent last year, leading to the opening of a Toronto office and more work than the company can handle.
 
Google is distinctive in the marketplace for offering a platform that's scalable, he says, as well as deeply collaborative. Anyone who's ever worked on a document in Google Docs, for example, knows that the app is user-friendly, efficient, and reliable.
 
"Google offers a radical way to interact with other people," says Bandy. "Other solutions aren't as flexible in the same way. Because of that, these apps fit well with agile, lean companies and that's driving consumption."
 
For the near future, Bandy expects Agosto to continue on its strong growth track, with app development leading the way, especially as more people get mobile. Creating workflow technology that synchs well with iPads and tablets, for instance, will be a boon to more growth.
 
"This is a very exciting time for this field, and we're happy to be part of it," Bandy says.  
 
Source: Aric Bandy, Agosto
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

When Amanda Axvig and her "rockstar team of developers" decided to establish a company for creating social media applications, they ran into just one hitch: many of their potential clients weren't even on Facebook or Twitter yet.
 
So, their company, SocialBundle, was forced to switch tactics. She says, "We decided to take a step back and get people on social media in the first place, and then we could go back to the app development."
 
The firm specializes in helping clients work out an overall social media strategy, including content development, scheduling, and site monitoring. For those who don't have time to craft multiple Tweets, put them up regularly, and watch how people are responding, SocialBundle is a boon.
 
Recently, the company has been seeing an uptick in interest from creative agencies that want to add social media to a broad client strategy.
 
Axvig notes that SocialBundle's growing reputation for social media insight comes from an ability to work with clients, rather than simply post and Tweet for them. She says, "We can handle everything if that's what someone wants, but we also enjoy working with people to help them learn how social media works, and how they can add to various conversations."
 
Now that so many businesses are flocking to social media, it's likely that SocialBundle will get back to its original purpose, and start focusing on app building again. But it'll never abandon its larger intent to make social media simple and effective for every client.
 
Source: Amanda Axvig, SocialBundle
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Can you make the world a better place by building software for companies that do great things? Casey Helbling and his team at Software for Good are willing to give it a shot.
 
Helbling started his own software consulting firm in 2003, and found success over the next handful of years, but as he brought on more clients, he felt like something was missing.
 
"I realized that I wanted to create alignment between my need to do good in the world and my day job," he says. "Then, everything would be perfect."
 
He came up with a model that became Software for Good, a startup firm he runs in addition to his regular consulting work. The new company builds software for progressive companies, nonprofits, and companies that focus on world-changing work.
 
Recent projects have included revamping the website of the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, creating software for a diabetes prevention program, and doing bug fixes on the registration site for the National Down Syndrome Congress annual conference.
 
"We're still too young as a company to pick and choose our projects, so we do some clients that aren't part of the model," Helbling says. "But we hope to get to that point soon."
 
The company employs five full-time software engineers, but expects to bring on more in the near future. Helbling notes, "I think people are getting the message about what we do, and they like the idea of doing something more with their time than the usual 9 to 5 tasks."
 
As Software for Good increases its pace over the next couple years, Helbling is hopeful that he'll find the alignment he seeks, and do good while doing well.
 
Source: Casey Helbling, Software for Good
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

Although mobile devices like the iPad are wildly attractive to children, local app developer Christopher Black found that the tools don't have many apps that are geared toward that audience.
 
"You can find some storybooks from major brands like Disney, but there didn't seem to be many options for kids' books, especially from small local publishers," he says. "We wanted to create something people hadn't seen before."
 
About two years ago, Black founded his own contract work and app development firm, Blacktop Interactive. When his girlfriend had an idea for a children's book, the pair realized it could lend itself well to an online storybook, and "Turtle's Day at the Beach" was born. The interactive storybook, designed for ages 3 and older, is available as an app for Nook, Blackberry, and Apple devices.
 
That app has been followed by "Rainbows are Colorful," an app to help children learn about colors, and coming soon is a painting app that allows kids to digitally color illustrations of animals.
 
"Now that we have the platform, we wanted to continue reusing that and going down that path," says Black. "It just makes sense in terms of our strategy and our interests."
 
Black hopes to have at least eight apps on the market by the end of the year, and to keep going strong after that. So the next time kids reach for a coloring book, they'll want to make sure it's got a full battery charge first.
 
Source: Chris Black, Blacktop Interactive
Writer: Elizabeth Millard 

The Role of Diversity in a World of Opportunity
 
May 31
Walker Art Center, Skyline Room
5:30pm - 8pm
$35 (rsvp required)
 
What does diversity in business really mean? It goes beyond race and culture, and extends into creating meaningful messages that resonate with consumers. In this presentation by Chris Roberts, president of Cargill Kitchen Solutions, attendees will hear about how we can check our own biases in order to do good work. All proceeds go to benefit The BrandLab, a non-profit that brings students from diverse backgrounds together with people in the marketing industry.
 
Eyeo Festival
 
June 5 - 8
Walker Art Center
9am - 2pm
Pre-conference workshops: $125; festival ticket price: $549
 
Artists, designers, and coders come together for a series of workshops and mixers to transform digital culture. The festival attracts a wide range of talented individuals, including those interested in creative code, data visualization, design, experience design, 3D printing, architecture, and gestural computing.
 
d.school Crash Course
 
June 5
CoCo Minneapolis
6pm - 8pm
$50
 
A quick introduction to "design thinking" methods and mindsets. In this session, students will take a common experience and redesign it completely. This crash course is based on the original Stanford Design Program d.school curriculum. See The Line's coverage of CoCo's d.school here.
 
TechMasters
 
June 5
Benchmark Learning training facility
4510 W. 77th St., Suite 210, Edina
7:40am - 9am
free
 
TechMasters is a new Toastmasters chapter in the Twin Cities, dedicated to helping technology professionals improve their skills in public speaking and presentations, impromptu speaking, critical thinking, and communicating with non-technical people. Every week, the group rotates roles to practice speaking in a friendly and supportive environment.
 
Womens Excelerator Workshop
 
June 16
St. Catherine University
CDC401 Board room, 4th floor
8am - 12pm
$89
 
In this workshop, attendees will develop a level of comfort with pitching their business, and will learn to create a value proposition statement. Each entrepreneur will have 10 minutes to present her business to her peers and facilitators, followed by a feedback session to identify which parts of the elevator pitches need work.

Imagine being out with your real estate agent and expressing interest in a certain neighborhood. The agent holds up a smartphone, taps a few buttons, and voila! You have for-sale property listings for a multi-block radius, complete with the ability to arrange a viewing.
 
That future is now, with a mobile app called HomeSpotter, created by MobileRealtyApps.com and recently integrated into the technology mix at NorthstarMLS. The organization serves more than 13,500 realtors in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
 
"Using this app really increases the 'wow factor' for local agents," says Tom Flaherty, director of marketing and communications for NorthstarMLS.
 
HomeSpotter uses a technology called augmented reality, which can overlay property info on a device's live camera feed. Using an iPhone or iPad (with Android soon to come), an agent can get data on surrounding properties for sale, including photos of the interior, property specifics, and other relevant details.
 
"These days, everyone expects a realtor to have information at their fingertips, and with this app, we can meet that expectation," notes Flaherty. "We're finding it to be very beneficial."
 
The developer is working on a consumer version, but it would only be available if the user is working with a licensed real estate agent.
 
Since its introduction at NorthstarMLS earlier this year, Flaherty is seeing robust interest and numerous downloads. He says, "Agents tell us that it makes them look good to clients, because it shows that they have the latest technology tools available."
 
Maybe in the not-too-distant future, people will be be able actually buy a house with a few clicks of a smartphone...
 
Source: Tom Flaherty, NorthstarMLS
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Founded in 1991 by entrepreneur Tom Salonek, Intertech has grown from a one-person operation to the largest combined software-developer training company in the state.
 
The firm's consulting services and software development give the company an even greater edge and now with more facility space, Intertech is making a splash nationally as well as locally.
 
Recently, the company moved to a new building, and although it stayed in its hometown of Eagan, it nearly doubled the amount of square footage of its offices and training rooms.
 
In addition to expanding geographically, the company took the opportunity to boost its virtual technology as well, giving its training spaces a high-tech flair that's increased its client base as a result.
 
"People have greater ability to attend classes virtually, and that's significantly increased enrollment for us," says Salonek. "Also, it's driven our consulting to a higher level as well." For example, the company just signed a consulting contract with a firm in South Korea, and will conduct business via the virtual technology at the new facility.
 
Salonek believes that the growth will remain robust, and he predicts that the company should bring in about $12.5 million this year. Several new employees have been added just in the past month, and hiring should continue at a steady pace, Salonek notes, especially in the sales and technology departments.
 
"We're looking forward to building out additional offerings and bringing on more clients, in addition to serving existing clients," he says. "It's an exciting time for us."
 
Source: Tom Salonek, Intertech
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

For most business owners, having a website is essential, but they can be tricky to manage for those who aren't IT-savvy.
 
Local web technology firm Origin Eight believes that it doesn't have to be that way. The company, which brands itself as a consulting group rather than an agency, specializes in a core set of technologies based on Drupal, an open source framework.
 
(Quick primer for non-techies: "open source software" involves freely available source code that anyone can use for building applications, and Drupal is an open-source content management system that's used specifically for developing websites.)
 
Because of the use of Drupal, Origin Eight's clients have more power to tweak their own sites, notes company founder Seth Viebrock.
 
"A lot of existing sites are built on solutions that make it difficult for users to edit their own content," he says. "Redoing these sites in Drupal is worth the effort, because it allows the end user to embrace this new way of doing things. Basically, our growth comes from people looking to make their lives easier."
 
Founded in early 2010, the firm has built some high-profile sites, including ones for Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna, as well as Boston entrepreneur hub Greenhorn Connect and social networking site swapbeats.com.
 
For the future, Viebrock notes that the company wants to grow in a sustainable and consistent way, and expand into other sectors like education. "We're always looking at other ways to differentiate ourselves, in addition to building awesome websites," he says. "But of course, we'll keep doing that, too."
 
Source: Seth Viebrock, Origin Eight
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Sometimes, the decision about whether to "build or buy" can lead to even greater things than a more efficient software system.
 
At least, that's what happened when convention and visitors association Meet Minneapolis began looking for a better database system in 2003. The organization found that a solution didn't exist that was specific to the destination marketing industry. After deciding to build their own, the phones started ringing.
 
"We heard from other convention bureau leaders who told us that if we built a solution, they were interested in buying it," says Mark Lynch, vice president of sales and marketing at iDSS (Internet Destination Sales System), the company that was formed to market the subsequent system.
 
Recently, iDSS noted a significant new enhancement that will provide destination marketing organizations with the ability to measure the economic value of an event, and calculate the return on investment to the local community. In other words, if a city wants to know how much sales tax and lodging tax a certain convention would generate, iDSS could give the answer. Other factors can also be reported, like the anticipated number of jobs created as a result of an event.
 
The advancement comes as part of a technology partnership with Destination Marketing Association International, the trade association for Meet Minneapolis and other convention bureaus. Lynch notes that it should help iDSS get even more traction as it continues to expand.
 
"We're adding new clients every day," he says. "Many organizations have been waiting for the capability that we have to offer. So, we're looking forward to what's ahead."
 
Source: Mark Lynch, iDSS
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

Most people don't think about the light bulbs that illuminate their homes and offices, but Jennifer Sethre isn't like most people.
 
One of the partners in the new Minnetonka-based venture Lumena, Sethre has been deeply involved with the lighting industry during her career, and is eager to drive more attention and sales to this fresh venture.
 
Started about a year ago, Lumena is an LED lighting manufacturer that already has operations in Miami and Denver, as well as a 700,000-square-foot factory in China. Going up against major competitors, the company is working to replace the traditional lighting used at large facilities like hospitals and factories with eco-friendly LED alternatives.
 
"When starting Lumena, we didn't want to be average," says Sethre. "We didn't want to be one more lighting manufacturer. We want to be great, and we think that takes just a little extra effort."
 
Although the company has barely had its first anniversary, business is already booming, thanks to strategic partnerships, sales and marketing efforts, and a market eager for new products. Sethre believes that the timing is crucial--before now, the LED lighting market wasn't quite ready, she thinks. But now, with the increasing push for environmentally friendly alternatives and a lower price point for products, the time is right.
 
"Our success is due to our innovation, I believe," says Sethre. "It may sound cheesy, but we really do pride ourselves on our products. We're excited to see where we can take this, and we believe that we'll just keep expanding from here."
 
Source: Jennifer Sethre, Lumena
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.

Assessing tornado damage, mapping Minnesota's water quality, creating new views of the Frogtown neighborhood, measuring the performance of a fire department's response: these tasks might seem unrelated, but they fall under the umbrella of geographics research, and a new startup is ready to take on even more.
 
Flat Rock Geographics, based in St. Paul, is the blend of two previous startup companies, mixing the skills and talents of their founders.
 
Paul Wickman started Northstar Geographics in 2007, growing it into a sizeable organization with international clients. GIS Rangers, started by Blaine Hackett in 2002, provided on-site GIS services to numerous municipalities, watershed districts, and private clients.
 
The two met while sharing coworking office space at CoCo, and Hackett notes that they complemented each other nicely. "Paul is more into web application development, and I'm in the geographic information systems realm," he says. "In this field, you get many people from a geography background, but they don't know much about computer science. Now, we have the best of both worlds."
 
They kicked off 2012 with the formation of the new company, and already they have a robust list of services that they offer, including GIS consulting, web applications, mobile apps, and geospatial business intelligence. Clients include municipalities like Fridley and Columbia Heights, as well as the Science Museum of Minnesota, 3M, and Second Harvest Heartland.
 
Projects can vary--the Frogtown effort, for example, had Flat Rock look at map data collected by interns over the past few years. There wasn't any consistency to the mapping, so Flat Rock created a tool that allowed users to do mobile data collection about the neighborhood.
 
For the future, Hackett believes that Flat Rock is off to a strong start, thanks to the business and market experience of its founders. "This is a very exciting time for us," he says. "We're looking forward to seeing where we can go." 
 
Source: Blaine Hackett, Flat Rock Geographics
Writer: Elizabeth Millard

As more companies focus on providing preventive health services to employees, RedBrick Health is finding itself in constant hiring mode.
 
"As we expand our ability to innovate, we're seeing growth in client numbers and in employees," says Eric Zimmerman, the company's chief marketing officer.
 
Founded six years ago, the Minneapolis-based firm offers health improvement platforms designed to increase employee engagement and provide reporting and analytics to clients.
 
"There's a rising tide of interest in these types of platforms right now," Zimmerman says. "If you look at health care costs and insurance costs, you can see that it's imperative to create high-performing work forces, particularly in a rapid timeframe."
 
As a way to get employees more involved in health initiatives, RedBrick recently launched a mobile version of its platform. The app allows people to check in with a health coach, track progress with a personalized plan, and play games related to health. For example, a company that's sponsoring a weight loss contest might create teams, and an employee can use a mobile device to see how the team is doing on the leaderboard.
 
"The market is very hungry for this type of approach," says Zimmerman. "Employers are frustrated with the slow-moving 'legacy' approaches."
 
RedBrick has seen triple-digit growth for the past three years, and the strong emphasis on innovation means that it's hiring most within its technology departments.
 
"We'll continue on this trajectory," Zimmerman notes. "We're seeing robust growth, and we're looking forward to keeping that going."
 
Source: Eric Zimmerman, RedBrick Health
Writer: Elizabeth Millard