Sam Walder is Building the Violin Teacher of the Future

March 13, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Private violin lessons can range up to $75 — or more — an hour. And while there’s no denying the benefits of 1-on-1 instruction, it can still be a hefty price to pay. But what if there was a more convenient way to learn the violin? One that not only cost less, but also allowed students to learn from the comfort of their own homes? That’s what Sam Walder’s building with Trala, an app that teaches users how to play the violin. In this post, Walder talks about technology as therapy, the importance of a strong support system, and why feedback should be one of the first things on every entrepreneur’s to-do list.

March 12, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

JOBS! Every week, we highlight a number of open jobs for our member companies. If you’re looking for an exciting career in the tech industry or an opportunity to work alongside Chicago’s best and brightest, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are the job openings for the week of March 11, 2019.

March 7, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

For most of us, rooting for the home team is a given; after all, it’s easier to identify and support the city, town, or region that we’re most familiar with. That support extends to what we eat as well — and though everyone loves a good local farmers market — that doesn’t always help local food distributors. However, Christina Wing and Sam Eder of Big Wheelbarrow are hard at work ensuring that local farm vendors are reclaiming their place as hometown heroes.

March 5, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

March 1, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

We’re excited to partner with Truss, a leading online marketplace, to help connect entrepreneurs, founders, and startups with best-in-class office space.

February 28, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Since running a startup is a constant balancing act, assessing just when to invest in hiring more employees can be tricky. As you work on scaling your business and reaching profitability, it’s best to run as lean as possible. With labor accounting for 50 to 60 percent of business costs, hiring more people isn’t exactly “lean.” In this guest post, Bob Cerone, CEO of Cognos HR, shares his insights on when its best to start expanding your team.

February 27, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

If you have a spare moment today, make sure to stop by your Human Resources department — and just say ‘thank you.’ You may not always see it, but these professionals are integral to your productivity and employee experience. But what happens if the HR department isn’t providing an amazing employee experience? It may be because they have never felt an amazing work experience. That’s the issue Daniel Vallejos, Founder of 360HRE, is working to solve. In this interview, Vallejos takes us into the HR revolution and talks about why curiosity — though dangerous to cats — is an entrepreneur’s best resource.

February 21, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

In this day and age, we rely heavily on technology to get a new business up and running. However, if not done right, utilizing digital tools increases your potential to be targeted by hackers and cybercriminals. In this guest blog post, Katie Perkins of 8×8, a provider of cloud communications and customer engagement solutions, shares a number of tips for startups who want to enhance their security measures.

February 20, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

We’re excited to join Charles Schwab, one of the nation’s most prestigious brokerage firms, to celebrate women in the workforce with this year’s International Women’s Day event. Featuring this year’s theme of ‘Balance for Better,’ we’ll celebrate the day with a maker’s fair, free workshops, a panel discussion, a feature presentation, and a fireside chat.

February 20, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

“Where do I even start? How do I research charities? Who’s actually doing great work? Once I do give, where’s the money really going? If I’m not rich, can I even make an impact?” These are a just a few of the questions that pop when young professionals think about giving. To answer these, Joel Pollick, Founder and CEO of Percent Pledge, has made it his mission to empower every young professional to become a philanthropist and easily make giving a habit. In this post, Pollick discusses the importance of simplicity, transparency, and even fear.

February 14, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Most entrepreneurs begin with the idea that their startup is bound to create ripples in the market. They may have a strong investor and an empowered team. They are focused on the big picture. They have all the ingredients that could lead to a successful startup. Despite being well prepared, there are only a few businesses that manage to see another year of existence. Some businesses fail while some don’t. In this article, Taylor Ryan, CMO at Valuer.ai, takes a look at why execution — and not ideas — can make all the difference.

February 12, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

February 7, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

If you are building a youth-centric company, engaging the youth into the work process is an all-around solid move. Montana Butsch, Founder and CEO of Spotivity has put together a guest post on how companies can build a better product by strategically engaging the very audience they look to serve.
[Read more…] about For Youth Focused Start-ups, Embedding Youth Into Your Culture is a Win/Win.

February 6, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

The current taxi and rideshare market is competitive to say the least. That’s why brothers Joe and Jeff Talamantez built Cab Dash, an app that helps rideshare and taxi drivers locate their next fare quicker. In this post, they’ll talk about why cab and rideshare drivers always feel the need for speed, conviction, and the importance of good mentorship.

January 30, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Most families don’t see themselves as caregivers. They’re just a son or daughter doing their duty as a child or grandchild. The caregiving journey is often just as life-changing as having a new baby, but they don’t get 9 months to prepare. It happens in an instant: with a fall, a hospitalization, or a new diagnosis. This leaves families scrambling and stressed, often for years. Fortunately, Carl Hirschman, Founder and CEO of CareTree, a caregiving software, is bringing peace of mind to families and the caregiving industry into the 21st century.

January 29, 2019 by J Blaszczykiewicz

Subscribe

Questions?