To borrow a phrase from Ferris Bueller, life moves pretty fast. If you’re a business that doesn’t value data and analytics, you’re flying without instruments. That’s the core idea behind Civis Analytics, the six-year-old Chicago-based startup that’s using a data-driven approach to helping organizations optimize their outreach and engagement. It’s never…
When consumers can’t pay a bill or are living paycheck to paycheck, SpringFour believes they need direction to local resources that can help. Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey joins Scott in-studio at TechNexus to give us an exclusive look inside her company and her story. She set out to build the proper technology that would easily…
TruePublic Offers an Alternative That Won’t Make You Feel Bad There’s no shortage of controversy around social media companies. From damning revelations about online privacy on Facebook to rampant harassment on Twitter, user skepticism has increased. There’s growing recognition that these platforms — supposedly designed to bring us closer together — actually make…
Transit planners call it the “first mile/last mile” problem. There’s usually a gap between one mode of transportation and your ultimate destination. It’s a headache, but it’s a fact of life in most urban areas, particularly Chicago. Chances are, you already know this. The El is a 20-minute walk from your apartment. Your…
Financial services companies are interesting. At scale, success or failure depends on how willing you are to push the boundaries. That can be through technology or hiring better people or building a culture –– or all three. American Family Insurance does that. It’s one of the coolest insurance companies. That sounds weird, I…
In-home gyms are having a moment right now. Having a safe, convenient space for fitness is a game changer. And for entrepreneurs who work 24/7, the flexibility to work out on your own time is invaluable. Piggybacking off the home fitness trend is Tonal, which is a tech-enabled solution for strength training. It…
I’ve been thinking about content creation for as long as I can remember. I spent most of my childhood walking around manufacturing plants with my dad. Even then, I couldn’t believe they weren’t capitalizing on the coolness factor of the machines. Everyone has this misconception of manufacturing as a murky, dirty, undesirable environment.…
How does a big corporation with a 160-year-old brand invest in the future? Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual spends a lot of time and resources building its entire brand around people. At the same time, we’re in a world where tech is central to just about everything. How do they innovate while still putting people…
Our listeners can get $10 off at Trust & Will by entering TECHNORI at checkout. Before his wedding, Trust & Will co-founder Cody Barbo sat down for an “adulting conversation” with his then-fiancee. Setting up joint checking and life insurance was fairly straightforward. But he quickly noticed there was something missing. “Being…
First rule of apartment hunting: ask around. Like a great job, an awesome apartment is often a word-of-mouth find. And for property managers, one of the best ways to attract new tenants is to encourage current ones to reach out to their network. Offering them bonuses is often cheaper than hiring an agent or…