Spotivity founder Montana Butsch is what Malcolm Gladwell would call a “connector” –– someone who’s a natural hub between people of different worlds and affects change by bringing his network together. Chicago-born Montana calls himself a “chameleon,” because he has been blending in for most of his life. He grew up in a loft…
White Sox fans have an especially close connection to Guaranteed Rate — the company that purchased the naming rights to the team’s stadium in 2016. The company’s founder, Victor Ciardelli, is happy to keep it that way. Victor grew up in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. Back then, classmates wouldn’t have predicted Victor would…
Retail is struggling. So a tool that can help stores build stronger relationships with customers is not just helpful — it’s a potential lifeboat. Enter Chicago-based Hatch, which offers a software solution for retailers to customize their loyalty programs. Retailers can monitor program performance in real-time and change it based on customer behavior. Hatch…
Building the world’s first peer-to-peer wireless network takes more than just brilliant engineering. It takes the confidence to know that people will think you’re crazy at first. Then if you’re lucky, they’ll take your innovations for granted. “Even after Airbnb started to get some success, I was still dumbfounded that people would rent out…
Data collection used to be the kind of thing you’d only hear specialists discuss in a technical meeting. These days, it’s so mainstream — even your parents know a little about it. The question facing businesses is what to do with all of that information once it is collected. That’s where Solstice comes in. One…
You might not have heard of the Chamberlain Group, but odds are you’ve definitely used their products — you might even have them in your own home. For more than 40 years, the company has been a global leader in access control solutions with its LiftMaster garage door opener brands and myQ-connected technology. They’re also…
At any moment, my wife Jen could text me and tell me she’s in labor. I’m a bit anxious, to say the least. Fortunately, Monica Royer, Co-Founder and CEO of Monica + Andy, understands. She’s in the newborn-baby business. When she delivered her daughter in 2010, like many new parents, she didn’t know…
When Jay Klauminzer was 14 years old, he got his first job selling magazines over the phone. He says his main takeaway from those early days is that to be successful, you have to be a good listener. “A lot of sales is about listening to what the consumer needs and crafting a story…
Cambridge Analytica, privacy concerns, housing discrimination, misinformation, the list goes on for Facebook’s problems over the past few years. These issues have scared off users and even some marketers, and have limited the platform’s data capabilities. But $5 billion in possible fines or being dragged in front of Congress doesn’t mean Facebook should be…
Now week six of the #ChiWellnessChallenge, the crew is closing in on their wellness goals. TastyTrade’s Co-CEO Kristi Ross and TeaSquares founder Jordan Buckner join Scott and challenge creator Pete Wilkins to discus what they are doing to better themselves, whether it’s focus, eating, exercise, weight loss or sleep. Pete Wilkins, Managing Director of Hyde Park…