Technori

From Mechanical Engineering to Studio Head: Jeff Annison's Legion M Story Nov 25, 2023

In this episode of the Technori podcast, host Scott Kitun interviews Jeff Annison, the co-founder and president of Legion M. They discuss Annison's journey from mechanical engineering to entrepreneurship, highlighting his experiences in various startups, including a streaming mobile television venture and a music-related startup. Annison shares insights into his career transitions, the challenges he faced, and the evolution of his ventures.

Key Highlights:

Quibi chat: despite failures, a quick look at its innovative content creation and distribution model. (5:52)
Legion M proposition as a fan-owned movie studio. (9:09)
Hollywood strikes and the future of entertainment. (15:11)
Hollywood's shift to streaming and Legion M's fan-owned model. (24:12)
Using fan funding for Hollywood movies. (28:09)
Investing in fan-funded content. (37:59)

Taylor Lorenz on Being Extremely Online in an Internet World Oct 05, 2023

Scott Kitun sits down with acclaimed journalist and author Taylor Lorenz to set the record straight regarding internet history, the premise of her book, "Extremely Online," (available now). She discusses the evolving landscape of the tech world, the importance of strong social safety nets, the impact of AI on content creation, and Lorenz's thoughts on various social platforms.

Key Highlights:

The impact of social media on fame and celebrity. (2:51)
The fundamental issues creators face including the challenges of accessing healthcare and unions' potential role (and over-reliance) in addressing these concerns. (3:12)
The evolution of influencer culture and the impact of social media platforms. (7:50)
Creator unions and collective bargaining in the digital media industry. (15:19)
The discussion shifts to the influence of AI, with Scott highlighting how it might disrupt the middle class and alter traditional career paths. (20:41)
Taylor provides a balanced view on AI's potential, noting that while there are concerns, AI also offers various creative tools. She also mentions using ChatGPT and its current limitations are not scary. (22:18)
Scott dives into the human element in content creation, emphasizing that human-driven competition and creativity remain irreplaceable. (24:14)
The conversation concludes with Lorenz's thoughts on the best platforms to follow her work, her move away from Twitter (X) for tech commentary. (27:54)

The Crowdfunding Revolution: A Conversation with StartEngine's Howard Marks Jul 16, 2023

Scott Kitun talks to StartEngine co-founder Howard Marks. The conversation starts with Kitun's curiosity about Marks' early involvement in crowdfunding, despite having been an entrepreneur (founder of Activision) for a long time. Marks recounts his journey from investing in entrepreneurs in Los Angeles to eventually building StartEngine. He reflects on entrepreneurs' difficulties when raising capital, especially those who don't fit the traditional "Stanford-educated, white male" profile. Marks shares his experience with the initial skepticism and resistance faced, emphasizing the potential opportunity when the general consensus is against a new idea. He also highlights the success of StartEngine so far, its future prospects, and the company's recent launch of a secondary marketplace for trading alternative assets.
Highlights include:

Howard Marks reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, the origin of StartEngine, and the difficulty entrepreneurs face in raising follow-on investments, particularly those from diverse backgrounds (1:58).

Marks expresses his frustration with the traditional investment model and discusses how the Jobs Act of 2012 sparked his interest in crowdfunding as a potentially revolutionary opportunity (12:39).

Marks discusses the growth and success of StartEngine, the launch of its marketplace for trading, and the future prospects of the platform (14:02).

Alts, investing and the promise of fine art with Masterworks CEO Scott Lynn Apr 06, 2023

Scott Lynn, founder and CEO of Masterworks, joins Scott Kitun on the show. As a long time art collector and enthusiast, Lynn saw a massive space in the market for fine art - which includes many pieces that are valued in the millions of dollars - to be invested in fractionally but art lovers and investors worldwide. In this episode, Scott Lynn shares his foray into entrepreneurship, developing the Masterworks platform and the promise of the art + internet to make incredible opportunities. The two Scotts digs into the markets, expressing confidence the markets will swing back for alts. Lynn also dives into the Masterworks platform and how to think about artwork as a part of a diverse portfolio and how to build your own portfolio. Check out Masterworks here.

Bored Elon Musk on Elon, startups, crypto and pseudonym life Jan 05, 2023

Bored Elon Musk, a pseudonymous influencer, joins Scott Kitun on the pod. Bored has built his following over most of the past decade on Twitter. What started out as a joke account gradually - alongside the growing notoriety of Elon Musk - into an influencer account with over a million followers. Bored shares how he built his following and monetized his account, including his Bored Box. Scott and Bored talk about the idea of playing a character as a business, performing in good faith and best use cases for crypto and NFTs. Bored also talks about distancing his brand separate from Elon and shares a few thoughts on the latest Twitter company news.

Harper Reed on making tech more accessible Dec 08, 2022

Harper Reed, founder and CEO of Galactic, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Reed, the former Head of Commerce at Braintree and President Obama's CTO during his re-election campaign, is a longtime tech entrepreneur (and Technori supporter) working to make technology work better for everyone. Like many founders experienced early on in the pandemic, Reed had to make a major pivot. He shares his latest entrepreneurial journey moving Galactic from health/medtech-centered company into one focused on building fintech products native to Web3. Scott and Harper dig into the utter lack of accessibility for regular people to use crypto in their everyday lives, and how to build products with the user in mind. Reed makes an actionable use case for Bitcoin, and ways of thinking about crypto and blockchain in a way that touch people's lives. They also touch on their Chicago roots, finding funding amidst the pandemic for veteran and rookie entrepreneurs.

Getting more out of your education minus the debt sentence Nov 22, 2022

Milan Kordestani, founder and CEO of Audo, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Audo is a career building platform that combines e-learning and job opportunities that fit the skills you learn. Scott and Milan dig into the changes coming to education, the value of college and avoiding debt. They also touch on just how gamification could and should play into the ways we learn, and building curriculum around engagement. Milan dives into his own college experience and not finding value in curriculum options given to him in college, which ultimately was the first kernel of his idea for Audo.

Changing the culture around investing with StartupStarter co-founder Lorel Scott Nov 03, 2022

Lorel Scott, co-founder and COO of StartupStarter, joins the show with Scott Kitun. StartupStarter is launching the first ever in-person Equity Crowdfunding Week (ECW), a showcase and awards show for equity crowdfunding startups and investors to come together for a 3 day celebration of a growing crowdfunding community. Lorel shares how he and his co-founder came up with StartupStarter in the height of the pandemic and have been working the past two years to put together a showcase that shines a bright light on the equity crowdfunding sector. They talk about the faults of the industry, how to grow awareness for crowdfunding and why the lack of volatility in private markets is such a heavy factor. They also dive into ECW (which Scott will be keynoting the awards show), the focus on music and inclusivity and special events happening in LA from 11/9-11/11.
You can register here for the conference.

Backstage Capital GPs on the present/future of VC and new partnership with KingsCrowd Oct 27, 2022

Brittany Davis and Christie Pitts, general partners at Backstage Capital, join the show with Scott Kitun. Brittany and Christie talk about the present day investing landscape and why the future of VC will trend towards inclusiveness (or lose). The group shares their thoughts and experiences with the top VC firms, why so many are resistant to change and where the next generation of founders and investors is primed to shape who and what gets funded differently from their predecessors. We also talk about Backstage's new Flex Fund II, which KingsCrowd (Technori's parent company) will provide data and ratings on promising online deals that have underrepresented founders. You can learn more here.

Creating futuristic vehicle concepts with VonMercier Oct 19, 2022

Mike Mercier, founder and CEO of VonMercier, joins the show with Scott Kitun. They talk about how changing what we can do with vehicles, starting with the idea of VonMercier's electric hovercraft Arosa. Mike dives into his 10-year founding journey with late nights and weekends dedicated to coming up with the concept, finding the right materials and creating something from just an idea to a full-fledged company. Scott and Mike also dig into the building a business model for small-scale vs mass market. VonMercier is currently raising a CF round on Republic.

Showplace is your one-stop shop for outfitting short-term rentals Sep 21, 2022

Justin Miller, founder and CEO of Showplace, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Showplace aims to be a one-stop shop for people looking to rent out their properties with the supplies, design, furnishings and everything else you need to set up a short-term rental. Justin shares the company's hefty aim to be the modern infrastructure for short-term rentals, and filling a space opened up by the past decade's surge of companies like AirBnB and VRBO. As a three-time founder, Justin also dives into his decades long journey as an entrepreneur, including his first company Notehall which was the first company on Shark Tank to receive an offer from the Sharks. Scott and Justin talk about becoming repeat founders, working with longtime colleagues and capitalizing on the startup mindset. For any founders listening to this, it's a must listen for turning ideas into businesses and how to move your company forward.

Improving shift work everywhere with Deputy CEO Ashik Ahmed Aug 31, 2022

Ashik Ahmed, co-founder and CEO of Deputy, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Deputy is a company focused around simplifying work life for the shift worker. As an employee management platform, Deputy specializes in timesheets, scheduling, tasks and workplace communication. Ashik shares the founding story starting with his own childhood growing up around shift workers in the family to working on the initial concept with his cofounder who ran an aviation ground handling business at the time. Seeing how many people airlines didn't employ themselves, but were in fact shift workers, sparked the idea of creating a platform that better serves the tens of millions of gig workers across the globe. Scott and Ashik dissect the concept of the gig economy, its pros and cons, and how to empower shift workers besides lip service.

S.I. Container Builds: Building ADUs with affordability and conservation in mind Aug 03, 2022

Rory Rubin, co-founder and CEO of S.I. Container Builds, joins Scott Kitun on the show. S.I. Container Builds offer customizable ADUs (accessory dwelling units) using shipping containers that are affordable, simple and environmentally conscious. Rory shares with Scott the origin story for starting S.I. Container Builds. According to Rory, there are more than 23 million shipping containers that can be recycled as potential ADUs that are low-cost to build and be built quickly. Rory talks mission to address the housing crisis, why this opportunity left her switching careers and entering the construction space she grew up around with her family. They share stories about the various use-cases for ADUs, getting seed investment from Hyde Park Angels (and from previous guest Pete Wilkins) and starting a company from scratch.

Providing next-gen online safety through your router with Gryphon CEO John Wu Jul 28, 2022

John Wu, CEO of Gryphon, joins the pod with Scott Kitun. Gryphon is a wireless router built around online safety, privacy and protecting the central point of your digital life at home. John first starting thinking about the idea for the router after watching his young daughter access the internet and come across NSFW (or children) content. Scott and John catch up about the essential role of data in our lives, why we should care where it goes and treating children's digital lives with equivalent protections and safeguards we use in the physical world. John also shares new features coming to Gryphon including password manager functionalities, VPN and other privacy protections using blockchain technology that transfer control away from third parties and into the hands of the user.

Gryphon is currently raising a CF round on Republic.

Digital estate plans and catching up with Trust & Will CEO Cody Barbo Jul 20, 2022

Cody Barbo, founder and CEO of Trust & Will, comes back on the show with Scott Kitun. Cody catches up with Scott after three years of growing the Trust & Will business from a seed round CF raise on Republic to a $15 million Series B and recent venture round led by UBS. They talk about the journey Trust & Will has been on, how Cody first got the idea after trying to work through finances with his wife and identifying a very clear need for simple, easy to set up estate plans and wills. Scott and Cody lament on the state of fundraising and its challenges. They dig into the different type of rounds Trust & Will has endured, the highs and lows of their equity crowdfunding campaign, why venture is still best suited for later rounds and touching on the evolving mindset of the retail investor.

Ivee: Improving the car passenger experience Jun 29, 2022

Alex Giannikoulis, founder of Ivee, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Ivee is a "mobility as a service (MaaS)" platform that adds a suite of apps and experiences that elevate your time as a passenger in commute. The Ivee dashboard connects your phone to a 10" tablet in the backseat to access services like Netflix, Spotify, Calm as well as physical experiences like surround sound and in-chair massage functionality. Alex and Scott go into the state of the auto industry, improving the in-car experience and why Tesla - despite its flaws - raised the bar by changing customer expectations. Ivee is currently raising on a CF round on Republic.

Bringing back at-home care with Tomorrow Health Jun 22, 2022

Vijay Kedar, co-founder and CEO of Tomorrow Health, joins Scott Kitun on the show. Tomorrow Health is a health tech company that aims to restore at-home care as the primary & preferred destination for patients of all ages. Vijay dives into how Tomorrow Health streamlines healthcare processes and at-home service to enable patients to go home and spend less time at the hospital. He shares his founding story of taking time off from his job at Oscar Health to help his mom through her cancer treatments and noticing all the deficiencies from insurance to point of care. Scott and Vijay also talk about the problems of health care, how patients fall through the cracks, and creating businesses that serve providers, patients and companies equally well.

Addition Wealth CEO Ana Mahony creating tangible financial wellness Jun 01, 2022

Ana Mahony, founder and CEO of Addition Wealth, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Addition Wealth is a fintech platform that offers a suite of tools, resources and financial advisors to help employees make better financial decisions. Ana shares how she decided to jump into entrepreneurship after struggling to help her mom figure out her finances and the complications she faced. Scott and Ana go back and forth over the lack of financial literacy employees have with their own contracts, how to understand their equity compensation and why that understanding doesn't exist across the wealth gap. They also talk about the inherent risks of joining a startup and why early employees carry the of that risk burden. They touch on Addition's B2B2C business model, how to offer personalized financial advice at scale and why learning about your money early makes many decisions down the road that much easier.

Navigating the early fundraising stages with Foundersuite CEO Nathan Beckord May 19, 2022

Nathan Beckord, founder and CEO of Foundersuite, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Foundersuite offers a suite of software tools, templates and education to help founders and CEOs execute more efficiently. Nathan comes back on the pod to talk about the Foundersuite journey, lessons he's learned from working with thousands of founders and learning strategies to successfully get early stage projects off the ground. Scott and Nathan share investor stories, teaching founders the volume game when it comes to getting investments and why it's critical for founders up to Series A to lead the charge on fundraising rounds.

Building affordable tiny homes with Boxabl founder Galiano Tiramani May 09, 2022

Galiano Tiramani, CEO and founder of Boxabl, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Boxabl makes ADUs (accessory dwelling units) that can ship anywhere as a giant box that unfolds onto your plot of land. Galiano dives into his entrepreneurial journey with startups in the trendy spaces such as Bitcoin and cannabis, as well as his years long pursuit of getting Boxabl up and running. Scott and Galiano talk about the the logistics behind mass production and Galiano's plan to get several manufacturing warehouses - essentially auto plants but houses - to meet demand and ship Boxabls around the country. Besides being famous for Elon Musk's rumor of living in a Boxabl, they are also taking investments on Start Engine with over $12 million raised to date.

Disclaimer: Anyone can buy shares in Boxabl for $0.80 at invest.boxabl.com and read the offering circular contract at boxabl.com/circular

Hadley Harris and the new era of VC Apr 27, 2022

Hadley Harris, cofounder of Eniac Ventures, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Hadley humors Scott on one of his favorite topics - dealing with venture capitalists. Scott and Hadley dig into the rise of VC competition and why VCs can't afford to be as dismissive or authoritative in the new environment with a growing list of funding options for founders. They also talk about the power of Twitter in the start up world, VC trends, ideal companies and finding the right fit between founders and the problem they set out to solve.

Invisible College: The making of a Web3 academy Mar 31, 2022

Nick deWilde, co-founder of Invisible College, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Nick comes on to talk about the colorful but often opaque world of Web3. Everyone seems to be talking about it but what is Web3 and how do you become a participant? These are just some of questions Nick set out to answer when he created Invisible College, an education platform to understand the basics of Web3 that includes purchasing a reasonably priced NFT you'll use to understand ownership and participate in the digital community. Scott and Nick talk about how everything moving online has accelerated the development of Web3 products, why cryptocurrencies and the flow of digital assets are worth your attention and how Twitter became a "serendipity engine". They also talk about the importance of timing, following trends and getting to a proficiency where you can separate the noise in our increasingly blockchained world.

Behind Genius with Paige Finn Doherty Mar 09, 2022

Paige Finn Doherty joins the show with Scott Kitun. Paige is a founding partner of Behind Genius Ventures and author of a children's book - for adults! - about investing called Seed to Harvest. Paige talks about her journey into venture and her realization that you don't need to come from generational wealth to invest as her founding thesis. Scott and Paige talk about how much the pandemic has shifted identities and made it easier to form investing communities. They talk about how the story of investing is a story of the internet, how digital hoarding has becoming a growing trend and the ability to make any asset liquid.

Going BigTime with CEO Brian Saunders Mar 04, 2022

Brian Saunders, founder and CEO of BigTime Software, joins the show with Scott Kitun. BigTime provides turnkey billing software solutions for professional service firms and consulting services that makes it easy to capture billable hours, allocate and manage project resources and consolidate key metrics. Earlier this year, BigTime took a $100 million strategic investment from Vista Equity Partners for new product development and expanding customer-facing teams. Brian shares his journey in IT consulting and 20-year ride with BigTime. He talks about pattern matching as a foundation for driving success and helping people get paid faster. Scott and Brian geek out over the plight of founders, fair and unfair criticisms and why founders tend to be four steps ahead.

Meet Pincho: The Athleisure of Restaurants Feb 25, 2022

Otto Othman, founder and CEO of Pincho, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Pincho is a street-food inspired burger and kebab shop based in Miami, Florida. Otto, a former UX designer, talks about the origin story of how he and his cousin originally came up with a plan to sell his mom's pincho kebab recipe by opening up Pincho (formerly called Pincho Factory). Born and raised in Brazil, Otto says Pincho is basically a Latin twist on American classics like burgers, kebabs, chicken sandwiches (salads too) and hot dogs...getting hungry yet? In this fun foodie conversation, Scott and Otto get into the food industry and how to scale a business like Pincho similar to Chicago's iconic Portillo's food chain. Otto talks about how his background in tech helped fuel Pincho's growth during the pandemic - a time when many restaurants are struggling - and growing the fast-casual concept, or as Scott likes to call it, "the athleisure of restaurants". Pincho recently raised $20 million from Savory Fund to rapidly expand its presence across multiple states in Florida and Texas.

Saving startups cash with MainStreet's Doug Ludlow Feb 10, 2022

Doug Ludlow, co-founder and CEO of MainStreet, joins the show with Scott Kitun. The greatest need for any startup is almost always a combination of time and money, often more money to buy more time. MainStreet aims to help solve the problem by working with startups to save on operating costs across the board. From tax credits to specialized discounts, MainStreet gathers all the opportunities a startup can take advantage of that can save possibly several hundred thousand dollars (or more) per year. Doug talks to Scott about supporting founders and why something like MainStreet is a no-brainer for companies at the early stage. Doug walks through how his years as an entrepreneur and time at Google -where he met his cofounders- set him on the trail to helping more startups get off the ground. Scott and Doug chat about increasing runway, freeing up money to make key hires and make more startups that fail become successful businesses.

Selling in the "Age of the Hustle" with Stable.work's Clarence de Silva Feb 02, 2022

Clarence de Silva, CSO at Stable.work, joins the pod with host Scott Kitun. Sales is often considered one of the most crucial components of a business, but also the first to go when times are tough. In the era of the gig economy, remote, seasonal sales professionals are an increasingly appealing plug in for companies. Marketplaces like Stable.work exist to do just that: provide on-demand sales professionals to companies in times of need, and give sales people the ability to pick and choose their assignments that best fit their attributes. Clarence and Scott talk about the importance of sales, how attitudes towards the sales role have changed, and finding the right place for sales in your company. They also talk about differences sales processes, referrals and how sales pros have never had better opportunities to make a side hustle become their main thing.

The truth about the return to office with Deskpass CEO Sammy Rosen Jan 26, 2022

Sam Rosen, co-founder and CEO of Deskpass, joins the pod with Scott Kitun. Every year, even every few months we start seeing the "when are we going back to the office?" trend on the timelines and wonder if this will be the time the legions of white collar workers return to an office-centered lifestyle. Do people want to be back in office full time or not? Turns out as the statistics, cultural desire and the Great Resignation have shown, the future is hybrid models. Sam and Scott have an excellent conversation cutting through the fog of return to office myths, and why employers are best suited meeting their teams where they live. They dig into how hub and spoke leasing models work and where commercial real estate continues to play a role in the new normal. Sammy also shares how companies like Moderna are using his company Deskpass as a remote solution. Deskpass provides on-demand leasing, which allows employees to reserve office space when and as they need it.

Facet Wealth secures $100 million to make financial planning more accessible Jan 19, 2022

Anders Jones, co-founder and CEO of Facet Wealth, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Facet Wealth is a fintech company offering personalized financial advice and wealth management services. Today, Facet announced a $100 million Series C round led by Durable Capital Partners LP to fuel its growth with users, team and tech suite. Through a combination of proprietary tech and access to CFP (Certified Financial Planner) professionals, Facet wants to serve an underserved market of 40 million American households with an affordable subscription model (as opposed to AUM-based fees). Anders talks to Scott about securing the Series C and how he and his cofounders came up with the idea helping their mothers he likes to call "The Tale of the Three Mothers". Scott and Anders talk about changing the standards of financial literacy in the US, changing public perceptions around debt (it CAN be a tool) and offering more sophisticated financial advice than retail investors are privy to through apps like Acorns. They also touch on the rise of meme stocks, the future of retail investing and why fintech companies like Facet have the opportunity to serve underserved populations differently.

How to recruit top talent with Hirewell CEO Matt Massucci Jan 13, 2022

Matt Massucci, co-founder and CEO of Hirewell, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Hirewell is a recruiting platform that connects employers with prospective talent nationwide. The company just received a $21 million strategic investment from global investment firm Pyrtek. Matt shares some of the details and how Hirewell is focusing on tech, growth, and acquiring an Israeli software startup ICV. Scott and Matt talk about the state of recruiting two years into the pandemic, the hot, Hot HOT job market (for tech professionals especially) and how companies can find a better way to stand out to prospects in a candidate's market. Matt also talks about about the 20-year journey he's been on since founding Hirewell, how tech went from a small niche in recruiting to the mainstream, and why he feels the company is in the spot he always envisioned.

Automate your financial planning with FitBUX Jan 06, 2022

Joe Reinke, founder and CEO of FitBUX, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Joe gives the the pitch on FitBUX, an automated software solution to financial planning. From student loans to stocks, FitBUX measures your financial data and provides easy-to -understand analysis for you to make money decisions. Scott and Joe talk about the future of investing, the growth of retail investing and why financial planning is due for sizable disruption. Joe shares how FitBUX combines automation with a human connection, providing coaching to users to best use the software and harness results from the data. FitBUX is currently raising a round in the crowd on Republic.

Harlem Capital's Gabby Cazeau Dec 30, 2021

Gabby Cazeau, Principal at Harlem Capital, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Harlem Capital is a venture capital firm with a core mission to invest in a thousand diverse founders (including Chicago's very own CASHDROP) over 20 years and change the faces of entrepreneurship. Gabby shares her journey from intern to Principal at Harlem Capital and how she's been supported to follow her interests finding solutions to inequalities and strengthening communities. Scott and Gabby dig into the state of venture capital today, helping founders pass by bad investors, and creating a broader understanding for what a diverse tech ecosystem looks like. Gabby is currently interested in companies dealing in ecommerce, fintech and software.

Defining the future of alternative assets with Alt founder Leore Avidar Dec 21, 2021

Leore Avidar, founder and CEO of Alt, joins the show with Scott Kitun. As cryptocurrencies have exploded in popularity so has the rise of other forms of alternative assets like NFTs, wine and sports cards. Alt is one of the platforms leading the charge in making trading cards an investable commodity, with the idea of making everything investable a liquid asset. Leore talks about the origin story for Alt when he tried to get a bank loan against his cards (spoiler: the bank didn't accept) and set him on a course to legitimize cards as currency for longtime fans and retail investors alike. Scott and Leore get into the future of cards, liquid auctions, how to make banks fun and thinking through the customer experience from beginning to end.

Pek Pongpaet on technology + design Dec 08, 2021

Pek Pongpaet, founder of impekable and longtime Technori alum, joins the show with Scott Kitun. impekable provides UX design services to tech companies, including work with Adobe and Twilio among many others. Pek talks about his journey from Chicago to the Bay Area (and back again), how design has been mainstreamed into tech, comparing the talent landscapes between Chicago and Silicon Valley and how much the vibe in Chicago is changing.

Pandora to Grabango - Will Glaser's blueprint to business success Dec 02, 2021

Will Glaser, founder and CEO of Grabango, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Prior to founding Grabango, a check-out free technology for grocery stores and convenience stores, was the co-founder of Pandora, one of the pioneers in digital music streaming. As the son of a college professor and a psychoanalyst, Will has had a lifelong tug of war between the left and right side of his brain. He attributes this tug of war to his main interest starting companies at the intersection of technology, consumer impact and business. Will talks about how focusing on this trifecta gives him a business model blueprint for developing startups, how it links Pandora and Grabango and solving consumer pain points. Scott and Will share their thoughts on best hiring practices and why founders should be prepared to step aside (eventually) from their companies in order to sustain its development. Will also dives into Grabango's shopping experience, how it compares to Amazon Go and why checkout-free technology is poised to take over mainstream brick and mortar shopping experiences.

Turn your purpose into elite business performance with Pete Wilkins Nov 23, 2021

Pete Wilkins, Managing Director at Hyde Park Angels and author of Purpose + First Entrepreneur, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Over the course of his career, Pete has worked with all kinds of business leaders, young founders and everyone in between. One of the main drivers of success (and failures) he's observed in his own life and others is working each day with the idea of purpose. The goal for Pete is simple: help more people love who they are and what they do. With the framework of purpose laid out in the book (and accompanying workbook), Pete creates a path for others to find clarity in their work objectives, personal wellness and unlock your highest performance. On the show, Scott and Pete talk about their their own trials and tribulations, how to take care of yourself and how Pete put together the Purpose First structure over the last decade. You can find the Purpose First book here.

Make wine a part of your portfolio with Vinovest Nov 18, 2021

Anthony Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Vinovest, a wine investing platform, joins the show with Scott Kitun. The age of retail investing and collecting is upon us and never before have so many people been able to invest in everything from baseball cards to NFTs. Why not fine wines? Anthony answers resoundingly how a long-time collector's item - wine - is a natural fit as an alternate asset in anyone's portfolio. In a thoughtful conversation, Anthony and Scott walk through the appeal for wine as an asset class and how Vinovest acts as your marketplace, portfolio, education center and wine cellar. Anthony also shares his journey as a repeat founder and how he googled "what do rich people invest in" when he first started to personally invest and eventually that started spurred the idea for Vinovest. Anthony and Scott also talk about the similarities to buying/storing cards like Alt. Anthony recommends what wines anyone should start with and how to on the platform based on when you want the best ROI. You can follow Anthony on his Twitter for wine info and advice.

Defining the role of the investor with DCM's David Cheng Nov 12, 2021

David Cheng, Principal at DCM Ventures, joins the pod with Scott Kitun. The role of VC isn't the same as your father's, or even your grandfather's VC anymore. No longer is venture capital only about getting a check once and being hands off otherwise. As we've started to see with a16z and rolling funds, DCM's methodology is to play a hands on role with founders in clear, specific niches to grow an idea into a full grown business. David and Scott talk about the changes in VC and why there is an increased expectation on a firm and its associates to earn a board seat by playing an active role in the company, providing resources, strategy almost like a fellow co-founder. David shares his experiences working with companies (primarily in fintech and health tech), how the future of investing is starting to turn into full incubation, "pre-idea" stage by essentially recruiting entrepreneurs to start companies and build businesses from the ground up. Scott and David also dive into emerging tech, role of crypto, where to start with web3 and more.

Card talk and employee retention strategies with HappyWork founder Tony Sheffler Nov 03, 2021

Tony Sheffler known for his trading expertise and founder of employee happiness and retention company HappyWork, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Tony and Scott kick off the pod with an all-encompassing conversation on #thehobby, what the differences are between PSA, SGC and why SGC is in such a good position to really shine in the market. They talk about Fanatics entry into the world of trading cards, why they aren't going anywhere and seeing what they have to do to get Alt or Fanatics to sponsor the show. In the second half, Tony dives into employee retention and how he and his cofounder evolved the idea of the company over time to reach workers better with a messaging program. Scott and Tony go back and forth on why survey-based assessments of employee happiness only shows you what's happened in the past and usually doesn't show what employees are concerned about in real-time before they leave the company. HappyWork is a tool that can be used to increase employee reach and engagement, awareness of work benefits, and more.

Creator economy and entrepreneurship with Gumroad founder Sahil Lavingia Oct 27, 2021

Sahil Lavingia, founder and CEO of Gumroad and author of the new book "The Minimalist Entrepreneur" joins the show with Scott Kitun. Scott and Sahil share their passion for the changes coming to investing such as equity crowdfunding and retail investor movement. Sahil earlier this year raised $5 million in one of the fastest filled rounds ever on Republic, and plans to open up future crowdfunding rounds when needed. Gumroad is a digital marketplace where users can sell memberships, courses, books and other services and is built on the idea that creators can control their own business infrastructure by building an audience and using an internet connection. Sahil talks about the long journey for Gumroad, why investing is increasingly liquid, and how crowdfunding as a tool will need continued support and development from the private sector (entrepreneurs, platforms) and incremental modifications in policy from the government. Scott and Sahil also talk about his book (released Oct 26th) and how his experiences, beliefs and conviction that entrepreneurs need less than they think they do to get started and laying out simple steps for founders to build their businesses.

Brian Morrissey and the rebooting of media Oct 18, 2021

Brian Morrissey, former President/EIC of Digiday and current writer of the media business Substack The Rebooting, joins the show with Scott Kitun. They get into it all things media and the business of media, and how this period of upheaval with the pandemic is a chance to get things right and inspired The Rebooting name. Brian talks about changes that should happen - both in media companies and companies in general - and much of it has to do with accepting less control over employees (i.e. work from home and other benefits). They talk about how being so much more online helps people learn to identify scams, how different generations view work and how we can fix problems in the US that have broad agreement without falling into tribal arguments. Scott and Brian chat about how crypto could play an important role in addressing media business models and a litany of life topics: running, bachelor parties, looking back at the last three decades, serial killers in the 80s and more!

John Pompliano on personal finance and digital growth Oct 06, 2021

John Pompliano, co-host of the The Best Business Show on YouTube with his brothers Anthony and Joe, joins the pod with Scott Kitun. They dive into the new media landscape, finding the right balance between newsletters, video and social posting. John and Scott riff on the pros and cons of sponsorship, advertising and subscription models for digital media businesses, and how market appetites favor flexibility which smaller groups like the Pompliano brothers or individuals can muster better than bigger companies. John talks about his goals to advocate for personal finance and how to get the next generation deeper into philanthropy and helping people.

irrvrntVC General Partner Andrew Gluck Sep 23, 2021

Andrew Gluck, GP at irrvrntVC, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Andrew runs through his career from working with name brands, cofounding his own agency to getting into venture capital and how he fell in love with startups. Scott and Andrew trade stories and ideas about working with founders and other VCs, the pros/cons of rolling funds, why founders should know their numbers and be good at sales, how to come up with your investing thesis and more. irrvrntVC invests in startups from seed to seed+, providing hands on support including strategy, key hires, partnerships, office space, etc.

mmhmm app, distributed work and why timing is everything with founder Phil Libin Sep 09, 2021

Phil Libin, founder of video communications app mmhmm, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Previously the founder of Evernote, Phil shares his thoughts on how timing is everything in entrepreneurship - it certainly was the case with Evernote (the iPhone changed the game for digital note-taking) and has taken hold with mmhmm. After mmhmm's $5 million seed round led by Sequoia Capital early on in the pandemic, investors realized emphasis on video communications wasn't a short-term fad, but an evolution of the workplace, culminating in mmhmm's recent $100 million round led by Softbank Vision Fund. Phil and Scott talk about looking at remote work instead as "distributed work" and why we need to transform the idea of how we get work done. Finally, Phil shares his thoughts on being a "rigorous optimist" as an entrepreneur (focusing on progress you can make yourself) and how he landed on the mmhmm name instead of something more conventional and boring.

Featuring: Phil Libin (@plibin) founder at mmhmm

Host: Scott Kitun (@kitun) CEO at Technori

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About Technori: Technori helps you understand businesses with founder interviews, investing conversations and sussing out the good and bad from startup pitches.

Catching Up With TechCrunch Reporter Alex Wilhelm Sep 02, 2021

Alex Wilhelm, Senior Editor at TechCrunch and well-known as @alex on Twitter, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Scott and Alex share their feels being able to talk to so many founders and struggles keeping up on email. They run through Alex's Chicago roots and Technori nostalgia - Alex talks about how Technori events helped familiarize him with the tech scene during his college years and early professional years. Scott and Alex talk about the big changes in venture capital and the growing number of people joining the space, seeing niches like solopreneurs and equity crowdfunding shoot up in popularity. Scott finishes off the show with a little game of founder pantheon, who are some of the greatest founders of all time and why?

Skedulo CEO Matt Fairhurst on the digital transformation for the "deskless" workforce Aug 25, 2021

Matt Fairhurst, co-founder and CEO of Skedulo, joins the show with host Scott Kitun. Skedulo is a project management and productivity platform that is geared towards the majority of the workforce (up to 80% globally according to Skedulo) that doesn't work behind a desk. Matt talks about how they started with four clients in four different industries that needed better management on their core physical tasks, and how that bloomed into whole business offering productivity solutions for companies worldwide. Fresh off a $75 million Series C led by Softbank Vision Fund 2, Matt talks about their growth in Europe and the US, how they integrate with other platforms and what's next for Skedulo. They also banter about changes to the workforce since the start of the pandemic, the heightened appreciation for digital transformation across industries running on analog and how Skedulo played a role in scaling up COVID-19 testing.

Changes in the crowd with Indiegogo CEO Andy Yang Aug 11, 2021

Indiegogo CEO Andy Yang joins the show to talk crowdfunding shop with Scott. They kick off with some banter about all things Indiegogo (having just had former Indiegogo CEO David Mandelbrot on now at Reverb) and how much things have changed since it launched in 2008. Andy also shares how the platform has grown through the pandemic and general upward trends in the crowdfunding space as a result. Scott and Andy share the belief that crowdfunding is becoming increasingly the simplest way to raise capital for your project, company or idea. If you're interested in creating a campaign, email the team launch@indiegogo.com

Rivalry creates the sportsbook for esports Aug 04, 2021

Steven Salz, co-founder and CEO of Rivalry joins Scott to talk about the wide world of esports, video games and building the ability to bet on those games with the Rivalry platform (18:35). In the intro Scott talks about his experience at the National Sports Collector's Convention, how tech founders like Steven are finding ways to disrupt an old way of doing things in the collecting/betting business, how dealers look at cards and viewing cards and strategic bets is a trend that is here to stay. Steven digs into how Rivalry works, the rise of NFTs and how digital assets will become ubiquitous as Gen-Z ages up into the workforce. Scott and Steven share their passoin for games and how building a sportsbook for gamers (and attracting new demographics into the space) is some of the more exciting changes happening next to meme stocks and crypto, among other things.

Mike Doyle shares how to build a glamping business Jul 28, 2021

Mike Doyle, co-founder of new glamping resort Off Map, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Fresh off his previous business Rent Like A Champion, Mike took his expertise from the rental markets and got right to work on a new company focused on the outdoorsy, increasingly popular glamping experience. Mike shares his honest thoughts on what it takes to start a glamping business, why these glamping sights are more common abroad than in the US, finding the right locations and navigating permits. Mike and Scott talk about what Off Map is building right now (first location in South Haven, Michigan) and exploring how you would scale a a hospitality business from scratch.

Kim-Mai Cutler on the growth of venture capital and supporting great ideas Jul 21, 2021

Kim-Mai Cutler, a longtime tech journalist and currently a partner at Initialized Capital, joins the show with Scott Kitun. Kim-Mai has spent most of her life around Silicon Valley and knows from her experiences and studies just what the problems tech faces and its impact on California and the world as a whole. She dives into her journey, how she got interested in journalism, and how building those relationships in tech got her interested in the venture, how venture has grown and helping founders turn their great ideas into real businesses. She also talks about her interest in real estate and proptech companies, her work studying the ongoing California housing crisis and finding viable paths forward for better policy and innovation.

Tackling childcare with Winnie CEO Sara Mauskopf Jul 14, 2021

Sara Mauskopf, founder and CEO of Winnie, joins the show to talk with Scott about finding access to childcare and the challenges millennial parents face. Sara goes into her origin story how she never intended to be a founder, but after experiencing difficulties finding childcare solutions for her own child, she decided to create Winnie, a one-stop marketplace for childcare providers and parents to contact and transact. Parents can see vetted information on childcare options all across the US. Sara and Scott talk about the unique circumstances the pandemic brought on parents, especially working moms, and how it shined a glaring light on opportunities to address childcare through public policy and the private sector. They also talk tech and why Winnie is able to attract talent from some of the best tech companies around and make a impact on people's daily lives.

Reverb CEO David Mandelbrot on building a music marketplace and finding your competitive advantage Jul 07, 2021

David Mandelbrot, CEO of Reverb.com, joins the show to talk to Scott about how Reverb has grown since their acquisition from Etsy, taking over for founder David Kalt, and how they continue to differentiate from every other marketplace. David and Scott talk about their shared affinity to building strong digital infrastructure for musicians and music fans alike. David, formerly the CEO of Indiegogo, gets nerdy with Scott on the concept of equity crowdfunding and all of its potential to transform consumer participation and engagement. He also touches on how his thinking towards work in office/work remote has changed and what's next for the company.

Mike Gioseffi on trading sports cards, life and other other nonsense Jun 30, 2021

Mike Gioseffi, host of The Ringer's Sports Cards Nonsense podcast, joins the show to walk Scott through the business of trading cards. Mike isn't your typical sports-media jock, grew up in the construction industry before he started a sports card business in 2016. He talks to Scott about building the podcast off a experimental Facebook Live event, the story behind getting bought by The Ringer and jumping out of the shower to take a call from Bill Simmons. They also dive into looking at sports cards and collectibles as an underserved part of a portfolio as well as what you keep personally. If you're a sports nut, this is a show for you.

"Wolf of All Streets' Scott Melker on Bitcoin volatility and playing the long game Jun 23, 2021

Scott Melker isn't your conventional trader. With a decades long career as a musician/DJ, he isn't what you'd expect to be an investor, crypto enthusiast and "Influencer of the Year" according to Binance (a major crypto trading platform). Scott shares his story how he transitioned from music to finance, how he caught onto the crypto movement, becoming the 'Wolf of All Streets' and how to drive yourself forward with conviction in anything that you do.

'Robinhoodkid' Kayla Kilbride on retail investing, growing an audience and mainstreaming financial literacy Jun 17, 2021

Kayla Kilbride aka 'Robinhoodkid' on Twitter and 'girlstalkstocks' on Tik Tok is part of the new wave of influencers talking about investing and making finance a mainstream conversation for regular people. Kayla shares her story quitting her job to focus on her influencing career, why increasing financial literacy can address the wealth gap, joining the Fintwit community, why she'll never be 'Robinhoodmom' and how the retail investor has the opportunity to change how money is made in this country for the better.

Why Iris Finance is empowering the retail investor movement Jun 09, 2021

Stonks, Davey Day Trader, Roaring Kitty, Wall Street Bets - you've heard the names and the meme stock trades going to the moon. While the groundswell of retail investors piling into $GME may seem like a one-time deal, the rise of retail investor influencers is here to stay. Iris Finance sees this moment as pivotal for changing the narrative around investing, and its platform is geared towards empowering individuals to showcase their investments and have people follow their activity passively. Iris founder Chris Josephs talks to Scott about enabling the average consumer and easy way to immerse themselves in trades and participate in the financial system like we've never seen before.

Racket is pioneering the next great audio experience in 9 minutes or less May 26, 2021

If you live your life on Twitter or pay attention to any social media platform for long, you're bound to see more than a few people saying they're starting a podcast! A couple weeks go by, their episodes start out hot but immediately dwindle and within 60 days they are out of the podcast game altogether without saying a word to anyone. Podcasting is a lot of work, and Austin Petersmith's Racket is here to ease that war of attrition when it comes to audio content. Racket is an audio-only platform designed to cut the fat on pod conversations with a 9-minute timer and steer you to quick episodes that are fun and get done quickly. Scott compares Racket to audio what TikTok did for video. Austin shares how he got audiophile bug, his inspiration for creating Racket, how the content/media landscape is changing, its many usecases (anyone want shorter team meetings?) and how essential audio is to our lives. Still in beta, Technori followers can get early access by DMing us anywhere @technori.

Jimmy Odom on Bit Capital and lessons from a career learning the meaning of value May 20, 2021

Jimmy Odom, co-founder of Bit Capital Group, longtime friend of the program, entrepreneur, crypto-expert and business leader joins the show to catch up with Scott on everything from business to babies (and having the right mindset for adoption). They dive into tendencies of VC to play kingmaker on founders in the trenches, working inside and outside of the financial institutions, why he got out of the spotlight and doing what AWS did for cloud storage but for actual computing.

Beam Dental insurance wants to reward you for brushing your teeth May 12, 2021

Who said brushing your teeth doesn't come with benefits? Beam Dental CEO Alex Frommeyer joins the show to talk about how his company is taking a different approach to dental insurance by incorporating user behavior, AI-underwriting and using the Beam-connected electric toothbrush for consumer wellness. Alex talks about how they increased their user base with strong retention and why your hygiene is worth your time! Since this episode recording, Beam has raised an additional $80 million in a Series E as they have continued to grow.

C.J. Watson on entrepeneurship, investing and life after basketball May 05, 2021

Former NBA basketball player turned investor C.J. Watson joins the show to talk to Scott about his business pursuits after basketball. C.J. talks about how his parents were entrepreneurs and having the "entrepreneur gene" was always interested in things outside of sports and started getting into angel investing halfway through his playing career. C.J. shares insights on his first investment, a short trip down basketball memory lane, investing in people more than their ideas and why athletes have the mindset to assess and invest in teams from any industry.

Shayna Harris on investing in the future of food and supply Apr 29, 2021

Shayna Harris from Supply Change Capital, a fund focused on the future of food, culture and sustainability, joins the show. Shayna shares how by 2045 when the "minority" becomes the "majority", food choices will change and the founders that serve minority communities in the food industry today will be incredibly successful then. She also talks to Scott about her first experiences becoming interested in the board room, how diversity can transform venture capital, how her time at Farmer's Fridge and in the coffee industry instilled her passion for operations, forming her premise for launching Supply Change.

ActiveCampaign raises $240 million Series C to usher in the future of marketing Apr 21, 2021

ActiveCampaign CEO and founder Jason VandeBoom joins Scott back on the pod to talk about the latest news - announcing a whopper $240 million Series C round led by Tiger Global to scale up its operations and continued growth with customers (up to 145,000 active customers). As an 18-year old business, ActiveCampaign is hardly an overnight success story, but has gradually built up a strong user base that has skyrocketed in recent years fueling the strategic investment rounds after years of bootstrapping. On this episode you'll hear Jason talk about AC's journey, helping business make decisions closer to who they are and serving the customer a better experience and building towards the future of marketing.

What does returning to the office look like? Fireside chat with CBRE Apr 08, 2021

For many of us, it's been a long long time since we experienced the office setting. The pandemic has pushed large swaths of the labor force into work from home settings, some permanent and some companies promising flexible policies. So just what is the return to the office going to look like? We dive into that question with our longtime friends Brad Serot and Tony Coglianese from CBRE. The answers may surprise you, studies suggest a partial return to the office - a couple days a week - is a popular preference that gives workers a mix of in-person community building with the flexible, remote lives the other days. Brad and Tony share the insights they've learned about how tech companies are officing, investing in startups through LongJump, how they've managed their personal lives through the pandemic among other things on this fun catch up episode.

Bringing magazines digitally the right way with eMags Mar 30, 2021

Andrew Degenholtz joins the show to talk about his company eMags. eMags Newstand provides a seamless digital experience for magazine readers to consume their favorite subscriptions enjoyably from their phones. Scott catches up with Andrew to talk about the state of journalism, fixing broken media business models, how eMags can inject new life into the writer/creator economy and how they've built a legit subscriber base.

Initialized Capital General Partner Alda Leu Dennis Mar 25, 2021

Scott talks to Alda Leu Dennis, general partner at Initialized Capital. Started by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanion and Garry Tan, Initialized was borne out of their early Y Combinator days and has become the "honeybadger" of venture with an emphasis on changemaking ideas with over 200 companies in their portfolio. Alda shares her journey from Texas to Stanford, getting the venture bug after meeting Peter Thiel and becoming a GP at Initialized. Alda and Scott also dive into coastal vs midwest VC comparisons, the impact of COVID-19 and making funding more remote-and accessible- as ever, building your brand in public vs privately and what she looks for in a founder and company idea that can impact the world at scale.

Lisa Carmen Wang on becoming a confident investor Mar 16, 2021

Lisa Carmen Wang has learned a lot as an accomplished gymnast, founder and investor. And after getting her first company SheWorx acquired by our friends at equity crowdfunding platform Republic, she's on a mission to democratize investing and financial freedom to those typically kept outside of start up investing. Besides her current role as Head of Brand and Communications at Republic, she's the host of The Confident Investor podcast where she seeks to educate the next generation of female & diverse business leaders. Lisa joins Scott on the show to talk about financial confidence, empowerment and how to give people the tools to gain their financial freedom.

BOLD reimagines the big box gym model to hit your fitness goals on your terms Mar 15, 2021

When gyms big and small closed down over the past year, most people are confined to continuing their exercise routines with body weight workouts and name-your-stationary-bike routines. But finding a place to exercise with all the standard gear and weights you could rely on at your local gym are basically impossible to find or sold out. This sparked and an idea for Jake Goldstein, a Chicago-local entrepreneur saw an opportunity to get people back in the gym with modern equipment, privacy, cleanliness and even personal training - all within a shipping container. His company BOLD builds out shipping containers with all the gear, amenities like Wi-Fi and screens that you can hook up to have a personal trainer engage with you during your workout remotely. Based in Chicago for now, these containers are portable and can be placed in new locations as needed. Jake comes on the show to talk about how BOLD is working, making money without costly big box gym membership fees and condensing the gym experience to modern demands.

Coterie makes insurance simple and convenient for small business Mar 11, 2021

When David McFarland got a job as an actuary out of college, he was working at an insurance firm where he first saw how data wasn't being optimized. Later after working alongside Kyle Nakatsuji at auto insurtech company ClearCover, he saw how Kyle's model could apply to all of small businesses and more importantly, saw how small businesses were overlooked. David joins the show to talk to Scott about why big firms overlook small business owners and self-proprietors, how Coterie tailors to them, being a recovering actuary and tips on getting a firm response the right way.

CASHDROP powers small businesses at point of sale for every community Mar 04, 2021

It's said these days that the pandemic moved the world forward five years in five minutes, and companies like CASHDROP are the ones leading the charge by rapidly adapting to people's needs. CASHDROP helps you create custom, shareable store links that link to your store and can create "drops" by revealing new products, foods, courses etc without paying commission fees. Ruben wants to democratize small business and makes money by passing on a small convenience fee to the customer. Ruben and Scott get into critical conversations on the shortcomings of e-commerce, the problem with Midwest VCs, how to actually support minority founders, Ruben's dreams to rename Sears/Willis Tower "Immigrant Tower" and more.

Nick Hamburger talks Quevos growth and winning on Shark Tank Mar 02, 2021

Quevos co-founder Nick Hamburger has taken his company he started out of his college class and kitchen to the stage of Shark Tank in a few short years. And won! Nick comes back on the show to talk about what's changed with Quevos, leadership lessons that no one prepares you for, how he got a guest Shark to say yes and the challenges of running your own company.

Label Insight helps you pick the products best for your needs Mar 01, 2021

Label Insight co-founder Dagan Xavier joins the show to talk with Scott about the how his company is providing better, clearer information to consumers to find products that match what they need (or eliminate what they can't have) while also empowering brands with better data on their customers. Dagan shares how he initially came up with the idea helping his dad sort through different foods and pastas to figure out what he could eat with dietary restrictions from his doctor. Made a spreadsheet and realized there was some real insights that other people should have and be able to use for similar needs and general transparency.

Darren Rovell: Collector's Edition Feb 24, 2021

Darren Rovell was always pushing into business when sports coverage was focused the other way. Now after a career working the sports business beat, he runs a passion project of his own: acquiring and selling collectibles. Game tickets, space ship parts, the largest Warren Buffet signature - anything goes for Darren as long as it has an interesting story. Darren joins the show to talk with Scott about his process for collecting, how he measures value and lessons he's learned over the years. He also talks about things he won't buy, why he's not into crypto or NFTs (yet) and why the next generation might have high demand for physical memorabilia.

What is a NFT? It makes a piece of the internet ownable Feb 22, 2021

Emergency podcast with CoinDesk's managing editor Zack Seward back on the show to dig in on just what the heck a NFT is, why is it so popular all of a sudden and what's the broader use case for them? These non-fungible tokens are a special token that is what Zack says makes a piece of the internet ownable. Protected by blockchain, a lot of NFTs that have gone popular like the Nyan cat and Zion Williamson's highlight clip are considered digital art being sold for the equivalent of tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of US dollars. Zack also chats what's good at CoinDesk, the explosion of laser eyes in profile pics and pining for the day transacting with cryptocurrencies becomes far more accessible for the average person.

There’s a reason WHOOP is the trusted fitness tracker for pro athletes (hint: it’s not the watch face) Feb 18, 2021

WHOOP is not like any wearable you've had before, in fact on its face it doesn't tell you anything. But the technology behind it collects some of the most accurate health monitoring data on the market, including daily personalized fitness, sleep, and recovery data delivered to you in real timet's what differentiates from any other watch (Apple anyone?) and why real athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps were some of the first adopters without ever taking a sponsorship deal. WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed joins the show to talk about how from the onset, WHOOP was laser focused on actionable data, built its tech from the ground up based on that data, and has built a loyal following and outlasted the competition.

The Business of Boss: Achieving the Entrepreneur's Mindset Feb 16, 2021

Ron "Boss" Everline is best known for his intensive workout style training celebrities such as Kevin Hart. But he wants you to know he's so much more than a coach. That training is the thing that gets him to the thing - a process we like to call entrepreneurship. Boss, the CEO and founder of Just Train and a partner with Nutra Bolt's C4, has built his brand around authenticity and showing people he's the same person with his same truth whether he's in the gym or the board room. Boss joins the show to talk with Scott about differentiating himself as 1 of 9 kids growing up, pursuing financial freedom, the path he saw for himself after his first client meeting and becoming a truly self-made entrepreneur.

M1 founder Brian Barnes on GameStop, longterm investing and crypto Feb 10, 2021

Robinhood may have taken center stage in the GameStop/WallStreetBets bonanza, but plenty of finance apps like M1 Finance were impacted by the freeze on certain stocks because of clearing firms. M1's founder and CEO Brian Barnes comes back on the show to discuss the the $GME fall out, why the situation was handled so poorly, why Apex Clearing prevented stock buys on M1's platform and how the fast-paced exchange of wealth reinforces M1's mission for long-term investing. Brian also shares with Scott what will have to happen to get cryptocurrencies as the next asset class onto the platform.

Anthony Scaramucci: The Mooch talks Trump, atonement, investing and Bitcoin Feb 04, 2021

Anthony Scaramucci is name that rings a lot of different bells to a lot of different people. But a lot has changed for The Mooch since his brief stint in Trump's White House back in 2017, and he's quick to admit letting his ego get in the way of his life, marriage and business. Today, he's on a mission to right the wrongs of the Republican Party and getting back to his bread and butter: investing and creating value for his clients. Anthony talks to Scott about his experiences with Donald Trump, how he almost lost his marriage and what it took to put his life back together, the state of cryptocurrency and how his firm SkyBridge focuses on alternative assets and his thoughts on the $GME mania.

CoinDesk Managing Editor on latest crypto surge, is it here to stay? Jan 28, 2021

Zack Seward, Managing Editor of Coindesk joins the show to talk about covering cryptocurrencies over the long haul and what the latest Bitcoin surge in the $30-40k range means for valuing the currency as an asset and what that means for the other cryptocurrencies. They also talk about cutting through the noise, what's fake and what's real in the crypto world and running Coindesk.

Toucan lets you learn languages by simply browsing the web Jan 26, 2021

Language learning doesn't have to be intensive or cumbersome! What if you could learn by simply browsing the web? Toucan does this with a browser extension that lets you read whatever site you're and pick up words in another language - using context clues - to learn over time. Taylor Nieman, founder and CEO of Toucan joins the show to talk with Scott about the lessons she learned from Headspace to overlay Toucan on top of user experience as opposed to a standalone app, what they've learned from user behavior before and during the pandemic, why Baron Davis wanted to be on the cap table and using apps like Twitter to get constructive criticism for your ideas.

Saving money and time with Audios wireless event speakers Jan 25, 2021

Erik Young, founder and CEO of Audios joins the show to talk with Scott about transforming live events with cable-less speakers that speak to each other reliably over their own network instead of Bluetooth. Audios speakers save 80% set up time and thousands a year in costs for DJs and event companies. Saving time, money, a series of patents and with backing from the likes of the co-creator of Guitar Hero and the founder of Benchmark, Erik dives into his plans to put Audios as a main player in pro audio space, vision for jumping into the consumer market and netting big returns for its investors.

Eric Newcomer talks a16z, "pro-tech" editorials and the changing tech-journalism relationship Jan 21, 2021

Longtime tech journo Eric Newcomer, formerly of The Information and Bloomberg and now writes his own Substack newsletter (aptly named Newcomer) joins the show. Eric and Scott talk about the a16z's (VC firm Andreesson Horowitz) foray into growing its media presence by hiring a large editorial staff to cover stories about crypto, fintech, etc with a "pro-tech" angle, why it matters and how it matches up with the tech sectors testy relationsihp with journalism. Eric dives into his own experiences covering venture firms and founders, what news orgs miss on tech and what to make of audio app Clubhouse.

Roundtable: Entertainment conversation on future of media with FanUp and FutureStream Jan 19, 2021

Life's gone full digital, and the race is on to capture the world's attention in new and exciting ways. On this special episode of the Technori podcast, we catch up with a couple media-forward founders that placed first and second in the recent Sava360 & NAMIC "Startup Pitch" competition that showcases disruptive companies in tech, sports and entertainment. First place: FutureStream - a streaming performance that allows you to pay to watch live concerts, giving 90% revenue to the artist. Second place: FanUp (app is live) - an interactive interactive platform for fantasy contests with no salary caps, real-money, and brand prizes that you can play with friends and influencers. Tejas Bodiwala (FanUp) and Javier Laval (FutureStream) join the show to talk with Scott about competing in the Startup Pitch, what seeded their company ideas, how they'll monetize and respective visions and plans going forward.

Morning Brew co-founder on the newsletter renaissance Jan 13, 2021

Newsletters have taken on new life in recent years, with incredible growth particularly in the tech and business sectors. Chief among them is Morning Brew, an all-encompassing business newsletter (among other things) that was recently acquired by Business Insider at a reported valuation of $75 million. Co-founder Austin Rief joins the show to talk about the their development, seamless transition with BI, smarts+ niche as the future of digital and how to consume the internet.

How Emmet Peppers became a successful self-made hedge fund manager Jan 07, 2021

Scott Kitun talks to self-made hedge fun manager, Emmet Peppers. The founder of the firm Good Soil Investment, Emmet grew his money from investing $30,000 including a massive bet on Tesla - into $70 million. Emmet talks about jumping from the mail room into investing without day trading experience, how buying a Tesla got him down the hedge fund path and why he believes anyone can build wealth with the right investing strategy.

Hologram provides the next-gen of telecommunication Jan 04, 2021

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is often trotted out without much explanation much like "AI" or "machine learning". But if you take IoT as the the ability for your devices or your company's devices to communicate with each other - Hologram is the SIM card that allows that connectivity to occur efficiently. Hologram.io uses cellular connectivity to power up almost any kind of hardware with the ability to scale globally with carrier-switching. Founder and CEO Ben Forgan joins the show to catch up with Scott from when he presented on the Technori stage back in 2017, how the company has changed, evolved and growing in an increaasingly IoT-driven world.

Acorns for kids? EarlyBird is the gift of financial literacy Dec 23, 2020

Ever grappled with the lack of financial literacy in this country? Or are tired of wasting money on toys that your kid or someone else's kid will use for 5 minutes? EarlyBird lets you accomplish it all by essentially being the Acorns for kids. You start an account, put in a set amount of money to invest (others can contribute gifts of money to the portfolio as well) and can grow that money for years and years until the child turns 18 and gains control of their account. Co-founder and CEO Jordan Wexler talks about how these investing on EarlyBird - with relatively small amounts of money - can help children understand the world of money gradually through exposure, and become readied participants in the financial system faster than any generation before now.

Havoc Shield gives SMBs the cybersecurity boost for the modern business climate Dec 22, 2020

When we think cybersecurity, we tend to think big data breaches like Target or your parents setting their passwords as "password". We skip over the the prime target for many attacks - small businesses. Attacks against SMBs make up almost half of all cyber crime, and has seen gigantic spikes with the pandemic in 2020. These attacks, successful or not, can lead to exorbitant costs on small companies in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. CEO Brian Fritton co-founded Havoc Shield with these climbing cyber crime rates in mind as a vulnerability small businesses have to plan and budget for and not just react to. Brian joins the show to talk about how Havoc Shield protects businesses, raising a recent round of funding, working on security for political campaigns and taking our digital lives as seriously as attackers do.

How TapRm could become the Shopify of beer Dec 17, 2020

Beer delivery is its infancy, which is to say it's often expensive and lacks selection. Enter TapRm, an ecommerce platform and marketplace to find and purchase your favorite brews delivered right to your door. By cutting out the costs of middlemen, TapRm is able to save money that doesn't get passed onto the customer while also taking bigger margins than some competitors. CEO Jason Sherman joins the show to talk about their the incredible growth they've experienced during the pandemic, why they believe the momentum won't level off, why Prohibition's impact still lingers in the market and how beer/seltzer is the new celebrity tequila.

Bra-less designed clothing company Frankly delivers comfort, style and confidence Dec 16, 2020

Frankly Apparel's appeal is as straightforward as it gets: stylish, comfortable clothing for women to wear without the need for a bra. CEO Heather Eaton and her co-founder Jane Dong bonded over discussing their very different body types (Heather large-chested, Jane- tall, small-chested) and lack of clothing options that truly fit them. The idea of Frankly was born and after a successful Kickstarter, they are on their way to redefining bra-less clothing to fit all cup sizes and become the new standard. Heather joins the show to talk with Scott about changing the fashion industry, building a company in the pandemic, serving an underserved niche in the market and what it's like to use TikTok as a viral marketing tool.

Reimagining thoughtful digital advertising with 1World Online Dec 14, 2020

1World Online founder and CEO Alex Fedosseev joins Scott on the show to talk about the state of digital advertising, why no one wants to see old practices like pop-up ads and auto-play videos, and how to do digital ads, smarter and natively.

Investing in human capital with Candor Ventures Dec 11, 2020

When Noah Berkson and Raul Henriquez started their business together helping young companies with tech development and resources, they quickly realized how many issues founders were commonly facing, particularly prioritizing decisions on what aspects of the core product to focus on and building the core team. They launched Candor Ventures to invest in companies with their own capital and tech assets to power young businesses to operate like mature, Series B companies but at the pre-seed stage of development. Noah and Raul join the show to talk with Scott about the importance of human capital, location-based serendipity and helping startups get out of their own way to have a better chance at success.

Edible Garden's sustainable produce points to the future of the food economy Dec 10, 2020

The popularity of organic produce is matched by question marks around its sustainability. Edible Garden's blend of emerging tech, locally grown food and state-of-the-art greenhouses across the country have positioned it well to meet demand and create less waste for grocery stores losing money on expired products. CEO Jim Kras joins the show to talk with Scott how he "refounded' Edible Garden, the organic agriculture economy and how they are making produce last longer in store with the same quality of taste.

Funimation CEO on the business of anime Dec 08, 2020

Whether you are a rabid anime fan or never seen a show (you should!), the art form has indisputably risen in popularity globally and in the US. Netflix, Hulu and HBO have all pumped up their animation offerings (exclusives and syndication) the past few years, elevating top-tier anime shows like Evangelion: Neon Genesis, Avatar and Funimation's Attack on Titan to the mainstream. Colin Decker, CEO of Sony-owned Funimation, known for mega-hit series Attack on Titan (airing 4th and final season starting this week), joins the show to talk about the business of anime, what makes anime different from every other genre and the personal connection that drives a relationship between the creator and the consumer that's more relatable to music movements than other types of film.

Megan Blu shows how to buy and flip a home with crowdfunding Dec 03, 2020

Megan Blu joins the podcast to talk with Scott about her American Dreamhouse property, Boeing Ave, that's an investable property that has already sold out on Republic Real Estate. Originally a designer, Megan began fixing up and selling homes in California 6 years ago and has made a career out of flipping. She talks about how flipping homes is nothing like what you see on HGTV, but lots of negotiations and competition to get properties in the first place. When she was introduced to Republic Real Estate, she saw a way to crowdfund money she needed for a buy, renovate and flip a house. Ideally, this allows Megan to get the money quicker to fund her projects and the investors get a return on the property once it's sold. Her Boeing Ave property's investment page sold out within 48 hours.

Quim founder on the importance of vaginal wellness, thoughtful sextech and plant-based solutions Dec 01, 2020

When you look around the wellness industry, there are a lot of well-intentioned and thought out products covering physical and mental needs. However, when it comes vaginal health and feminine sexuality, many products lacked this thoughtfulness and usefulness, sorely underserving a $181 billion addressable market. Quim provides a line of proactive, plant-based, and sustainable products for the full-spectrum of intimate needs. Cyo joins the show to talk with Scott about switching from B2B to retail, purposeful use of CBD for sexual health and pioneering changes in sextech.

Own a piece of a car for when you need it with Upshift Nov 28, 2020

Scott talks with the Co-Founder and CEO of Upshift, Ezra Goldman. Upshift is a fractional car subscription service that is a smart alternative to owning a car for people who don’t drive every day. In short, They have eliminated all the hassles of owning a car. With Upshift, whenever you need a car, just send them a text and they’ll deliver you a new, clean Toyota Prius or RAV4 hybrid SUV in under 1 hour. And when you come back, they’ll valet park and refuel it for you. Upshift saves you time and money so you can focus on things that matter.

Mac the VC on success, entrepreneurship and giving founders a chance pre-seed Nov 24, 2020

VC firms are known for catapulting some of the most iconic tech companies into unicorn status and their founders into stardom. They're not known for looking at founders outside the tech bubbles, much less founders that don't come from money. That's where Mac Conwell wanted to step in. A founder in his own right (one success, one flop) Mac has seen the how hard it is to start a business and get the proper support to make it run the way it should. His firm, RareBreed Ventures, works as a pre-seed fund for founders solving unique problems in across all industries from overlooked areas of the country. Mac joins the show to talk with Scott about his entrepreneurial journey, a healthy look at the founder-VC relationship and how he wants to help people with their ideas through investment.

Intellivision makes a comeback with couch co-op console Amico for the whole family Nov 18, 2020

Intellivision is one of those OG gamer console brands that had its initial run through the 70s, 80s and 90s. Now in 2020, the brand is revived and humming with the upcoming launch of their new console, Amico. Led by CEO Tommy Tellarco, the Intellivision Amico is a simplistic and largely offline gaming experience geared towards playing with the whole family at home. With a basic controller scheme, Amico games are intended for children and grandparents alike to easily understand how to play games together, reflecting the success of Nintendo's Wii console from the 2000s. Tommy joins the show to talk with Scott about leading Intellivision through their crowdfunding campaign on Republic, bringing back retro-gaming for the modern family and creating the "Disneyland of consoles".

Jellyvision's Brynn Michelich shares methods to grow team culture Nov 17, 2020

Brynn Michelich, Chief of Staff at Chicago-based Jellyvision, joins Scott to talk about the panic surrounding COVID-19's impact on businesses everywhere, what Jellyvision has had to change and what they haven't, how to maintain and improve team culture and keeping the team productive in our new normal.

Buy and sell your home without fees with Nada Nov 11, 2020

John Green and the team at Nada wants to make you CEO of your largest asset: your home. Nada simplifies the home ownership buying and selling process by handling mortgage, title and insurance services while eliminating realtor fees. John joins Scott on the show to talk about how his background as punk rock musician helped shape his career as a strategist, understanding the problems in the real estate market, how to test product-market-fit and putting more equity in homeowners pockets.

HEY founder Jason Fried shares how to take back control of your email Nov 10, 2020

Jason Fried, founder and CEO of Basecamp and HEY Email, joins the show to talk with Scott about the future of email, why it's gotten mucked up and why bringing privacy back into our lives is a correction long overdue.

Blended Sense empowers SMBs with the content marketing needed to drive revenue Nov 05, 2020

Albert Baez, co-founder of Blended Sense, joins the show to talk with Scott about the missing infrastructure small businesses need to succeed digitally and drive revenue. Blended Sense is a platform and content management system for production communication, project management, and delivery of high quality assets. Using a subscription model, Albert and his cofounder, Abigail, provide a centralized marketplace for business owners to fulfill needs and source creative talent locally, who are matched on projects automatically based on project needs and receive steady work.

Bleacher Report for Esports? Juked has all the bases covered Oct 28, 2020

Gaming has been a part of Ben Goldhaber's life since he started as a competitive player in his teens. He's stayed in the industry ever since, and after his experience as part of the founding team at Twitch through the Amazon acquisition, he saw firsthand the broad market opportunity, exponential growth in the gaming industry and most importantly saw what was missing: a centralized platform to get the best information on all things Esports. That's the engine behind his startup Juked, which Scott likes to compare to the Bleacher Report-for sports. Ben joins the the show to talk about how he came up with the idea, how the model works, monetization strategies, the rapid esports transition into the mainstream, gambling, and how you can invest in the company today through their crowdfunding campaign on Republic.

The story behind WeWork and Adam Neumann in "Billion Dollar Loser" Oct 23, 2020

You've heard the stories about WeWork. The private jet parties, the billions of investment and unfathomable $47 billion valuation. What you don't hear is the the back story behind the man that started it all, Adam Neumann. Reeves Wiedeman, NY Mag writer who penned their feature article detailing the behind the scenes work of Adam, goes into full detail in his biography "Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Fall of WeWork". Reeves joins Scott on the show to discuss the business fallout from the failed IPO, who Adam really is, lessons in entrepreneurship and why the best intentions can still mask a graver reality.

Why you should be creating your IRA for alternative assets Oct 21, 2020

Securities aren't as dependable as they used to be, and with alternative assets like crypto, crowdfunding, PE, etc growing in popularity, future retirees aren't reaping the benefits like previous generations could from stocks. Eric Satz, founder and CEO of AltoIRA, joins the show to talk about retirement investing, why it's changing and what individuals need to do to diversify their investments and be actually able to retire comfortably.

Pillar Booth gives you peace and quiet in your office Oct 15, 2020

Pillar Booth creates ventilated, soundproof desk spaces that give you a safe space to avoid distraction. Ryan Leavitt, a repeat founder previously of LearnCore (acquired by Showpad) and Catapult Chicago, shares his long entrepreneurial journey and how the shift towards open office spaces leaves employees with no place to take a phone call in private and generally diminishes productivity. The booth allows workers to focus better on specific tasks, make calls and with the slow return to the office, a safe place to get things done.

TrueNxus provides a straightforward way to collaborate across teams for project-based work Oct 13, 2020

Whether you work remotely or in an office, you're no stranger to the overload of project management apps your company has you use in the name of productivity. Slack, Asana, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Notion- all have their pros and cons, but how do they all work togethers across different company departments? That's the question Jonathan Friedman set out to solve when he founded TrueNxus, a platform that shows how work is being done against the greater project plan, and tracks results with visual predictive analytics. Jonathan talks to Scott about taking an overview look at a business and how teams work together, his background and how to stay out of Google Sheets and Powerpoint hell.

Cohesion puts your office back together, smarter Oct 08, 2020

When COVID-19 put the office workers at home indefinitely, Thru Shivakumar thought her company would be dead in the water. However as the dust began to clear (working professionals and parents struggling to work from home),it's evident offices have a place in the current work environment. Cohesion empowers real estate owners to maximize asset and portfolio value with all building systems, workflows and people seamlessly connected in one intelligent building platform. Thru joins the show to talk about the future of the workplace environment, how Cohesion uses IoT to make office systems more efficient, employees safer and more comfortable.

AnyCurb gets you the most value out of your home listing Oct 07, 2020

Buying a home is one of the most symbolic ways we have to establishing the "American Dream". However, the process by which we do by and sell via listings, real estate agents and brokers, is too often a struggle and leaving you with less money than you deserve. Danyal Ali has found a way to make real estate transacting equitable for all with his platform AnyCurb. AnyCurb helps home buyers find homes that are both on and off the market, while helping home sellers appraise their homes, list them online (for free), identify the right time to sell and get at least market rate for their homes. Danyal initially came up with the idea while watching his father struggle to sell their family home over the course of four years with no luck. Danyal joins the show to share how he identified the hole in the market, how his data-heavy background set him on his current path and why AnyCurb isn't aiming so much to disrupt the real estate industry as much as bring it together.

John Roa takes the mask off entrepreneurship Oct 01, 2020

The last time we had John Roa on the show, he was dressed for success and brimming with confidence. He had recently sold Akta to Saleforce, was launching his VC firm Roa Ventures and appeared living what universally could only be considered "the good life." Turns out, the reality was far from the perception. John catches up with Scott to talk about his new book "A Practical Way to Get Rich … and Die Trying" which he dives into a lot of personal struggles, specifically his physical and mental health that were sharply deteriorating the more "success" he achieved. The book and the podcast conversation are a referendum on entrepreneurial culture in all its toxicity, why John is dedicated to changing that stigma, who is cut out to be an entrepreneur and his next steps beyond his book and podcast "The John Roa Show" he launched this year.

Fast promises you'll never have to remember a password at checkout again Sep 29, 2020

Fast has swept through the tech ecosystem at a speed befitting its name. And thus far it has been able to do so effectively because of a few factors, addresses an obvious need -no need to type in your address, payment info, log in info into a million different sites- and because the company needs lots and lots of consumers to use the product to net Fast sustainability. Fast co-founder and CEO Domm holland joins the show to talk with Scott about the launch, how he met his cofounder Allison Barr Allen, jumping from Australia to NYC and what's the next step to becoming a mainstay fast-tracking e-commerce sales.

Gearflow brings the construction industry together with its online marketplace full of equipment and parts Sep 24, 2020

It's 2020, everything is supposed to be online..and you'll still be surprised how many functions of our society are still on the outside looking in at E-commerce. Construction, an essential business these days, is no exception and Ben Preston and his cofounder Luke Powers saw a huge opportunity to address a major problem for contractors all over. His company, Gearflow, is an online marketplace for constructions equipment and parts. Typically contractors have to go to all different suppliers and sites to what Ben Preston calls "an information blackhole". When they realized that about 80% of the equipment suppliers were independently-owned businesses, the foundation for Gearflow - bringing all these suppliers under one umbrella - was set. Ben joins Scott to talk about the state of construction, injecting E-commerce into a fragmented industry and how the effects can impact real estate.

Podia helps you decouple from corporate and build your own career Sep 22, 2020

Lockdowns, shrinking economy, closed gyms and offices have left people to get creative on maintaining their core business or building a new one altogether. It's part of the reason individuals, small businesses and "solopreneurs" are flocking to Podia, a platform provides a digital storefront to maintain memberships, online courses and transactions. In its own way, Podia is stabilizing the idea of the gig worker by removing barriers to entry to build your own revenue stream without the help of a larger company. Founder and CEO Spencer Fry joins the show to talk about how Podia's growth has exploded - up from 5% month over month to 20% - since the pandemic started, how its subscription model differentiates itself from Patreon and how he wants to create a space for entrepreneurs to have sustainable careers, not just one-time gigs.

Obie streamlines insurance and risk management for the real estate investor Sep 17, 2020

Insurance tech has been an industry ripe for disruption with a slew of companies like ClearCover, CoverWallet, Kin and Vouch making waves recently. Obie, a combo insurance brokerage and risk management platform is geared to join the fray by focusing on serving real estate investors from multiunit to single family residences (SFRs). Aaron Letzeiser, founder and CEO of Obie, joins the show to share with Scott how he identified the pain point, the emergence of millenials rapidly joining the real estate investment market, why tech is expected to solve problems and how they are making management clean.

Proxfinity pivots to provide contact tracing to keep the workplace safe Sep 15, 2020

Proxfinity, like almost all companies in the event space, got slammed by the consequences of the COVID-19 spread. However unlike most other event companies, Proxfinity had an existing product, their wearable tech badge that lights up when around people with like-minded interests at networking events, that they could reimagine to help achieve contact tracing and warnings for social distancing. As companies slowly get back into offices, Proxfinity badges called resCUE can help protect employees as they return to the workplace and provides data on movement to make informed decisions. Founder and CEO Lisa Carrel joins Scott on the podcast to run through the pivot, how she came up with the idea for the switch and what the pandemic means long-term for events businesses.

Entrepreneurs and the "unemployables" Sep 10, 2020

Bryce Conlan and Scott share something of a kindred spirit, cleverly termed the "unemployable". That's not to say anyone is actually unemployable, but there's a certain type of a person that naturally gravitates towards new ideas, better ways to perform a service and work independently to do so that doesn't always jive with a corporate structures. Namely, this is their definition of an entrepreneur. Listen to Scott and Bryce talk about the lifelong pursuit of true entrepreneurship that allows you to building something from nothing with others in the service of others.

Pear Chef gives you the room service experience without the hotel Sep 08, 2020

Founder Danielle Drabkin and COO Jennifer Wei join the show to catch up with Scott about the growth of Pear Chef, a private-chef service amenity serving fresh meals and spirits. The service is geared towards modern luxury apartment buildings, and already in 25 buildings in the Chicago area.

WMNFintech program by BMO Harris & 1871 evolves the accelerator concept for female founders Sep 03, 2020

Ben Shack of BMO Harris and Shayna Atkins of ExpandHR join the podcast with Scott to talk about what founders truly need from a program, how the 1871 Innovation Program evolved into the female-founder driven program it is today. Shayna elaborates on her experience with the program and expectations going in, and how her company ExpandHR works with its unique approach to onboarding, compliance, health tracking and easy to access regulatory information.

Sports BLX lets sports fans invest in their favorite players Sep 01, 2020

Ever wanted to benefit monetarily from watching your favorite sports teams and players? Sport BLX is pioneering a way for you to do that by investing in the teams and players themselves. Sport BLX CEO Joe De Perio joins the show to talk to Scott about how their platform lets you share in the profits of the athlete or team, how it's equitable for all parties and creating generational wealth.

Industrious shows what real office solutions will look like Aug 27, 2020

Jamie Hodari, co-founder and CEO of Industrious, joins the show to talk with Scott about the rapid change in office space and why momentum was already turning towards increased remote work pre-COVID. Industrious provides premium flexible workspaces with a unique model that allows month-to-month terms and fully furnished, customizable spaces for your company needs.

Workbox provides the accelerator experience designed for our times Aug 25, 2020

There's been a reckoning coming for the tech incubator space, and the pandemic has only accelerated that. Without the ability to host events or provide workspace, the value for founders to join these programs has declined. Workbox CEO John Wallace shares how they are providing more than a coworking space with services geared to help connect founders with other founders, investors and industry experts to put their best foot forward.

Purchasing Platform provides a one stop stop for property management needs with savings Aug 20, 2020

Purchasing Platform CEO Dave Bowen joins the show to talk about their marketplace of vendors makes it easy for clients to get what they need for their communities and save money at the same time. Dave also dives into how he joined Purchasing Platform and Scott coins the term "refounder": someone that doesn't found companies, but finds existing companies and gives them a reboot.

Paylocity helps you hire and keep the best people Aug 18, 2020

As a young founder it's easy to overlook how important HR, payroll benefits, compliance etc are what really make you standout to hire - and keep- top tier talent in your company. Paylocity CEO Steve Beauchamp joins the show to talk about how the company serves these needs for companies and the journey and moving from a small startup with a modest $6 million raise in 2014 to a publicly traded company today.

Meet M1 Finance: the all-in-one finance super app Aug 13, 2020

Brian Barnes, CEO of M1 Finance, joins the show to talk about his journey into building M1 to solve a problem he was having himself - managing his investments. M1 essentially combines a lot of the aspects of managing your personal finances or your money into "personal finance super app" that lets you invest, borrow and store your funds in a separate checking account.

Beaxy makes crypto trading easier Aug 11, 2020

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are no longer a small trend or fad, but increasingly accepted currency growing into the mainstream. Beaxy takes the next step in the legitimization process: a platform for retail investors to quickly and easily trade cryptocurrencies. Bay Abbott joins the show to talk with Scott about how Beaxy works to ease the crypto barrier-to-entry, appealing to general consumers and making trading available to everyone. "We wanted to take all of the complicated parts of trading and make it easy," said Abbott.

BlackCart lets you try before you buy for online shoppers Aug 07, 2020

2020, everything is indoors, which means we are constantly online even more than before (if that's possible) and shop online now more than ever. BlackCart lets you pick out clothes from your favorite stores, get it shipped to try on at home for free, and only pay for what you keep. Chief Business officer and friend of the show Jason Komosa hops on to share what BlackCart is faring in the 2020 and practicing wellness is proving its worth in the pandemic world.

Why your digital privacy matters more than ever with Keeper Security Aug 05, 2020

With our lives so dramatically increased remote and online due to the pandemic, cyber security has never been more tested. Our friend Darren Guccione from Keeper Security joins the show to tell Scott how they have seen huge spikes in cyber attacks, including ransomware and phishing attacks since we've all moved indoors.

Understanding the job market and how to weigh your options with Marie Lynch Jul 31, 2020

Marie Trzupek Lynch knows job placement - or just getting a job in general - is tougher than it it should be for employers and prospective employees. The pandemic has only further put a spotlight on glaring holes in the job market - namely: there isn't much of one. As the founding President and CEO of Skills for Chicagoland's Future and previously lead Chicago Career Tech, Marie has made aligning the underemployed and unemployed with jobs that fit their skill level. She joins the show to talk about working with the state and city governments, the overwhelming disparity between job openings and job applicants, what companies can do to better fill their openings and the critical importance of education for the jobs of the future.

Amount makes online banking as easy as it should be Jul 28, 2020

Amount founder and CEO Adam Hughes joins the show to talk with Scott about sense of urgency surrounding banking in a COVID-19 world to get services online and keeping them safe. Amount works with institutional banks and financial services with improved digital interfaces that meet customer expectations and keep pace with latest trends.

Capsule delivers prescriptions right to your door Jul 23, 2020

Eric Kinariwala founded Capsule after a particularly heinous experience trying to fill a common prescription. Eric joins the pod to talk to Scott about how he devised a model to rid patients the headache of getting their scripts, refills and medications by having them delivered to their door same-day, without ever having to step foot in a pharmacy.

Paro simplifies your need for financial services Jul 21, 2020

Michael Burdick, CEO and founder of Paro, joins the show to talk to Scott about all things finance. Paro provides remote professional financial services including use of CFOs, accountants, bookkeepers among other roles through their online marketplace for businesses of all sizes.

Publicist is the online marketplace to find premium marketing talent Jul 16, 2020

Lara Vandenberg noticed how so many ad agencies portray themselves as being a PR and marketing company, when they often are just one of those things. Now, companies can find people for certain work on their won with Publicist. Lara founded Publicist to be the 2020 answer to getting the quality marketing talent when needed, an online marketplace where top shelf marketing professionals are available for freelance work on specific projects for any number of industries, including Facebook, Amazon and Shopify expertise.

BetSperts brings sports experts together for online gambling Jul 15, 2020

Reid Rooney, CEO and cofounder of BetSperts joins the show with Scott Kitun to talk about how online gambling is primed for a big launch when sports make their way back into action, and how his company builds the social network for sports betters and experts to become influencers to assist users as needed.

Stackin' sets you on the path to financial freedom Jul 10, 2020

Scott Grimes, CEO and founder of Stackin', joins the show to dish to Scott how young adults (and older) should be saving and investing their money. He also sheds light on how Stackin's text message system offers easy personalized advice, why finance newbies should avoid the day trading and how his previous company he founded, Uproxx, helped him put the pieces together for Stackin'.

Stringr brings the long overdue video footage marketplace to the gig economy Jul 09, 2020

Stringr co-founder and CEO Lindsay Stewart joins the show to talk with Scott about disrupting the freelance video footage marketplace by refining the workflow and making it more affordable for different organizations and producers to get quality video for news or projects.

Rheaply maximizes the value of your assets so you don't have to Jul 02, 2020

Garry Cooper, founder and CEO of Rheaply, joins the show to talk about how his company has pivoted its business to organize and make use of existing PPE resources for healthcare providers.

Optimizing education for work with Thinkful Jun 30, 2020

Darrell Silver, CEO of Thinkful and acquired by Chegg, joins Scott to talk about the state of the education system and how he views remote-based learning as an incredible tool to gainful employment without taking away from the enrichment of the college experience.

Coyote Logistics brings technological efficiency that prevents data paralysis Jun 25, 2020

Christina Bottis, CMO of Coyote Logistics joins the show to talk to Scott about the significance of data in today's logistics industry, how Coyote manages vast amounts of data and uses their process to deliver better service for their customers.

Swan Bitcoin helps you save for the future Jun 23, 2020

Yan Pritzker, CTO of Swan Bitcoin joins the show to talk about his journey into the world of cryptocurrency, why Bitcoin will always be the standard, and why he's focusing his career on educating people about its potential through savings and investment.

Erik Severinghaus digs into the truth of entrepreneurship Jun 18, 2020

Entrepreneurship is a lot of things and could use a reset. It's a culture that deserves to have more honesty about its value, and repeat founder Erik Severinghaus talks to Scott about how to separate the good from the bad. The promise of entrepreneurship relies not on celebrating becoming an entrepreneur, but doing the necessary work for your business without sacrificing other facets of your life that will make you a better business owner in the long run. Author of SCALING YOUR EVEREST

Black Buffalo delivers the chewing tobacco ritual without the leaf or stem Jun 16, 2020

Jeffrey David (JD) joins Scott in-studio to talk about Black Buffalo which raised $9.75 million for their smokeless tobacco products. It gives users the same chewing experience without the leaf or stem, and an alternative to Big Tobacco. Most importantly, the ritual of dipping is preserved without the need for tobacco.

Sienna Sauce lets you indulge guilt-free Jun 11, 2020

Tyla-Simone Crayton, the 16-year-old founder of Sienna Sauce came up with her delicious formula while her mom was hosting Wine and Wings. After the initial taste test stunned the room, Tyla-Simone recreated the sauce with better ingredients that cut out the excessive sugar and sodium than your regular bottle of ketchup or other condiment, and launched the company. Now, Sienna Sauce is in 60+ stores and is actively crowdfunding on Republic. Tyla-Simone joins the show to talk with Scott about building the company from the ground up. Then, Tyla-Simone talks about her experience as a black founder, the anxieties that come with funding and her powerful response to how the business world needs to come together in this moment to support black lives and give equal opportunity to minority founders. It's important to believe in the movement and if investors feels differently, they need to get out of the way.

Avionos co-founder on the future of the buying experience Jun 09, 2020

Dan Neiweem, cofounder of Avionos, joins the show to talk how the pandemic has changed business and tech needs, the future of the buying experience for consumers, and how to think outside the traditional "events" box in a time of social distancing.

Uberflip shows you how to make your content a better experience for your customers May 29, 2020

Uberflip CEO Yoav Schwartz joins Scott to talk about Scott's favorite topic, all things content! Especially content experience and how Uberflip's platform allows customers to create personalized content at scale.

ShipBob's success points to the future of e-commerce delivery May 27, 2020

ShipBob has come a long way since 2014 and presenting on Technori's stage in 2015. Today, ShipBob operates with its network of warehouses and fulfilment centers across the country providing logistics speed for a growing number of companies coming online. Divey Gulati, co-founder and Technori alum presenter, joins Scott to talk about how the company has changed since their pitch and the momentum online shopping is having on its business.

CuriosityStream puts facts and science wonders front and center with documentary streaming service May 21, 2020

Clint Stinchcomb, CEO of CuriosityStream joins the show to talk about how the company differentiates itself in the streaming universe with its factual, science-backed documentaries and stories collected from around the world. Created by the founder of Discovery, CuriosityStream corners the educational market with docs on everything from deep space to what we know about the coronavirus.

Michelle Wucker breaks down the Gray Rhino May 19, 2020

Michele Wucker, author of "The Gray Rhino" talks about how the current pandemic is mistakenly called a black swan event when it wasn't as inevitable as some make it seem.

Revaluating risk with rtrs May 15, 2020

Armand Fernadez, President and CEO of Real-Time Risk Solutions, talks with Scott about assessing risk in this time of the pandemic and how his company helps construction sites identify risks before they cause harm.

Greenfly opens the door for the future of content collaboration May 13, 2020

Daniel Kirschner, President and CEO of Greenfly, joins the show to talk about how their platform excels at content collaboration through organizing your community into groups to distribute and disseminate content from and increase engagement.

Ohi brings Amazon speed for small businesses May 07, 2020

Ben Jones, founder and CEO of Ohi, joins the show to talk about the important role of shipping and deliveries, long dominated by Amazon and others, is squeezing out small businesses from being able to compete with their size and speed. Ohi mitigates this problem by using "dead space" in cities like New York and LA that small businesses and stock with inventory for rapid delivery to nearby customers.

Centro CMO Katie Risch May 05, 2020

Centro CMO Katie Risch joins the show to talk about the state of the digital advertising industry and what marketing techniques have risen and fallen due to the impact of the coronavirus.

Theron Technology Solutions talks China and path forward for companies Apr 30, 2020

Alex Rothman, founder and CEO of Theron Technology Solutions, talks about how technology companies push through the current crisis and how China in a post-covid19 world fits for companies and how companies use offshore resources.

OCV's Steph Janson talks investing for the long haul and finding sustainable value Apr 29, 2020

Steph Janson from Los Angeles-based OCV Partners joined the show to talk all things investing pre and post-impact of the coronavirus on businesses, their shared background in the crowdfunding space and Steph's roots in the Israeli startup venture community including OurCrowd.

This fundraising tool stack helps startups raise VC efficiently Apr 23, 2020

Nathan Beckord of Foundersuite describes how the platform helps startups streamline corporate housekeeping, finance, hiring, planning and investor tasks.

Fig democratizes gaming by making fans the investors Apr 20, 2020

Justin Bailey, founder and CEO of Fig, joins Scott on the podcast to talk about transforming the evolving landscape of gaming and how to bring investments straight from the consumer to the creator. Justin also announces the news of Fig joining Republic, an equity crowdfunding platform for promising startups.

PartySlate jumps into virtual events Apr 16, 2020

Julie Novack, co-founder and CEO of PartySlate, joins Scott on the show to talk about how her company has shifted from being a digital platform for physical events to virtual events amid the pandemic, talks Chicago tech and more.

Get in the game, says Roundhill Investments: Esports is projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2022 Apr 09, 2020

Roundhill Investments introduces investors to emerging financial opportunities in esports, a booming industry projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2022. Roundhill founder and CEO Will Hershey joins the show with Scott to talk all things gaming.

Stay in but ‘dine out’ while social distancing, thanks to Tock To Go Apr 08, 2020

Restaurant reservation service Tock’s new platform is helping dine-in restaurants pivot to pickup and delivery during the coronavirus crisis. Tock founder and Alinea Group co-owner Nick Kokonas joins Scott to talk about how the restaurant is coping with the pressure and the novel methods his restaurants are using to ramp up business while dine-in is closed.

Sendoso's platform helps salespeople send personalized gifts — and close deals Apr 02, 2020

Kris Rudeegraap, co-founder and CEO of Sendoso, describes how the company is making it easier than ever for salespeople to send thoughtful, personalized gifts.

Managing buildings takes a lot of energy: Energy CX helps companies conserve and save Mar 31, 2020

The brother-duo, Nathan and Miles Rice, leading family-run business Energy CX explains how the company helps property managers become more sustainable, intelligent and profitable through technology.

This is how you innovate the most boring department with the biggest budget Mar 27, 2020

Procurement, the neglected stepchild of business, is having a Cinderella moment — and Mike Anguiano from SupplyHive is its Fairy Godmother. Mike joins Scott for a fantastic conversation on the oft-overlooked procurement industry and how he's making his clients lives easier and having some fun while he's at it.

Technori Update w/ Scott Kitun and the founders of Pour My Beer and Digital Adventure Mar 25, 2020

Scott gives an update on Technori happenings amid the coronavirus outbreak and other content musings. Digital Adventures founder Omowale Casselle joins the show to tell how they are moving their coding camps and technology classes fully online (24:26) . Scott also catches up with friend of the program Josh Goodman founder of Pourmybeer, who was due to announce a big raise that's been put on hold and shines a big spotlight on what in-person businesses are dealing with, without the people (32:20) .

With Draftbit, imagination — not budget — is the limit Mar 24, 2020

App-building platform Draftbit makes niche app ideas a reality by giving individuals and businesses the power to make apps without a big budget or team of engineers. Listen to founder Brian Luerssen hop on to discuss with Scott at WGN Radio.

Ride bikes and make new friends through Twisted Road, the Airbnb for motorcycles Mar 12, 2020

Forget the Hell’s Angels: Twisted Road is heaven for bikers who want to take their dream motorcycle for a ride without having to buy it. Founder Austin Rothbard hops back on the show with Scott to give a special update on the company

In pursuit of ‘purer’ content: How Patreon empowers artists and creators worldwide Mar 11, 2020

Sam Yam, co-founder and CTO of Patreon, describes how the company fosters healthier online communities by better connecting artists and fans.

How Arturo is using AI to improve underwriting Mar 10, 2020

Looking at famous people's houses is not the most productive use for the tech in Google Maps. Insurance company Arturo is using it to determine quotes. Founder and CEO John-Isaac Clark joins the podcast with Scott Kitun.

Meet Wonolo, the company connecting local workers with on-demand jobs Mar 05, 2020

Yong Kim, the founder of Wonolo (stands for “Work Now Locally”), set out to create a platform to bring power back to today’s workers. After closing a Series C funding round of $32 million in November 2018, his company is set to lead the wave, empowering freelance and project workers. Yong joined the podcast to share his inspiration for Wonolo, his predictions for the future of the employment economy and how to find the intersection of technology, business and human nature.

Skip the concession line: Get your snacks and beer faster at sporting events with FanFood Mar 03, 2020

The only thing more delicious than watching your team win live is watching them win live while you eat a hot dog. FanFood will bring it right to your seat. Five years since he came up with the idea in a college bar, FanFood has become what founder Carson Goodale describes as “a real business.” It’s so real he’s even fundraising right now. Carson joined the podcast to talk about how bad bar service inspired his app, how military training translated to entrepreneurial life and what it’s like to see your scrappy idea become a functional business.

LogicGate: the drag and drop software will make you feel like a governance, risk & compliance wizard Feb 27, 2020

Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) software is deeply unsexy, extremely important and mostly unexplored — until now, thanks to LogicGate. Matt Kunkel, co-founder and CEO of LogicGate, understands GRC has a dreary reputation — and he’s happy to be part of the team working to make it easy. He and his co-founders designed a platform enabling companies to put together their own GRC program using drag and drop.

CMT Digital believes cryptocurrency can revolutionize how we handle money — if we let it Feb 26, 2020

Cryptocurrency is poised to change the way we use money — and CMT Digital CEO Colleen Sullivan says it’s time for U.S. regulators to join the party. CMT Digital One branch of proprietary trading and financial services firm Capital Markets Trading (CMT), it focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. At first CMT Digital only worked on the regulatory side. A few years later, in 2016, the firm invested in Bitcoin, and in 2017 it launched a trading desk for crypto assets. These days, the company also invests in crypto-related technologies.

Groupon’s new CTO on why his job is more about people than tech Feb 24, 2020

Groupon’s new CTO, John Higginson, explains why his job is less about coding and more about people, plus how to be the kind of leader your team respects. Becoming CTO has meant putting people before machines. “This is more a people role than a technology role,” John says. “Figuring out how to get the right people is hands down the most important thing I need to spend my time on.”

Your vitamin habit might be hurting your health: these doctors from Vous Vitamin created a better option Feb 19, 2020

Not all vitamin products are created equal — and some aren’t vitamins at all. Meet the doctors setting their own high standards in an unregulated industry. If you’re now wondering what the bleep you should be taking or not, Dr. Levitan and Vous Vitamin co-founder Dr. Romy Block get it. They founded Vous Vitamin to help people buy safe, high quality vitamins in levels they actually need.

Slow and steady wins the race: The story behind ActiveCampaign’s success Feb 13, 2020

Some businesses immediately chase investors, looking to monetize as quickly as possible. Others, however, bootstrap for as long as possible, investing all their energy into building the best product. Jason VandeBoom, CEO and Founder of ActiveCampaign, spent 17 years building his product. He and his team created the category of customer experience automation and continue to be industry leaders in the space. After bootstrapping and focusing on building a powerful platform, ActiveCampaign finally decided it was ready to take on investors. They’ve just closed Series B funding of $100 million, investing most of it back into their product. Jason joined the podcast to share his tips for building a scalable business, how to stay focused on growth and ignore the competition and how to stay patient in a turbulent industry.

How golf’s most unpredictable spokesman became the sport’s favorite interviewer Feb 12, 2020

The laser focus required of a professional athlete doesn’t leave room for a plan B. But when golfer David Feherty retired in 1997, he found success in multiple new careers. After David put down his clubs, he picked up a microphone and returned to the green as an on-course reporter for CBS. His professional experience, sharp humor and Irish charm made him a hit with golf fans. Off camera, he’s written five non-fiction books and a column for Golf magazine called Sidespin. In 2011, David launched the post-golf project he’s probably best known for: his self-titled interview show “Feherty” on the Golf Channel. The show debuted as the most-watched original series in the channel’s history and David was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality in 2014. He’s interviewed players and famous fans including Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy and Matthew McConaughey. But he’s still modest about his abilities

You can’t force teenagers to become safer drivers — so KarChing pays them to do it instead Feb 11, 2020

Teens, parents and car insurers don’t agree on much. But they do agree that dangerous and expensive car accidents are bad. KarChing CEO Ramsey Gouda figured that insurers and parents would be willing to pay some money upfront to reduce the risk of teen car accidents. The KarChing app uses telematics (or a combination of monitoring technologies) to measure factors like acceleration, hard braking and screen usage. Parents and insurance companies deposit money via the app. When the teenager is driving well, the cash is funnelled into their PayPal or Venmo accounts. “You see it going up as you go,” Ramsey explains. “If you're driving safely, it goes up. If you start messing around, it stops.”

This former CFO knows you hate financial planning — and he built Clockwork to help Feb 06, 2020

No one starts a business because they love grappling with the financial side of it. But understanding your money is key if you want to keep the lights on. Clockwork CEO Fady Hawatmeh understands this better than anyone. He used to run a CFO consultancy firm where he saw firsthand how small companies struggled to plan for the future. Clockwork’s accounting software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to build a financial forecasting model unique to each of their clients. They also help CPAs offer more advanced financial forecasting services.

Attention parents: MeTime wants to give you a (guilt-free) hour to yourselves Feb 05, 2020

Childcare has been an issue for ages — possibly since caveman days, but we’re still getting it wrong.Daycares tend to offer only multi-hour stretches, so parents are out of luck if you only need supervision for Junior for an hour or two here and there. Nannies and babysitters don’t want to travel for one hour’s pay. And then there are stay-at-home parents who are happy to watch other people's children as well as their own to make extra money. But unless you happen to know them already, you're unlikely to know where to find them. Toi Valentine and Kayla Carey explain how their company, MeTime, helps parents take short self-care breaks, thanks to a new approach to childcare.

Why crypto exchange Kraken wants everyone in on digital currencies Jan 30, 2020

Cryptocurrency is slowly going mainstream, and what it’s losing in mystique, it’s making up for in influence. Not long ago, cryptocurrency (better known as crypto) was the exclusive domain of internet nerds. Now it’s being held, invested and traded by people who recognize its potential to bring a healthy diversity to their investment portfolios. Kraken is being taken seriously too. In 2019, they raised $13.5 million based on a $4 billion valuation. Kraken CCO Robert Zagotta joined the podcast to talk about how the crypto market looks today, its value in every portfolio and how Kraken is helping more people join the game.

Meet Unispace, the company designing offices around how we work today Jan 29, 2020

Matt Xavier, a senior associate at Unispace, works on the Workplace Strategy Group. His team works with companies to assess their organizational goals and design physical office environments around those objectives. Matt joined the podcast to share his top tips to consider before moving offices, how to create the ultimate space for you and your team and how technology has played a crucial role in designing the modern office.

Bigger isn’t always better: Programmatic Mechanics CEO explains why small and niche works in advertising Jan 23, 2020

Unless you have a marketing degree, the more you read about advertising, the less comprehensible it becomes. And that’s exactly how ad execs like it. This small but mighty company aims to cut through the industry noise. Programmatic Mechanics is a breath of fresh air in the industry in more ways than one. First, they do exactly what their name suggests — help businesses and agencies with programmatic advertising (advertising that is managed by computers). It turns out machines are far better than humans at churning through data points to figure out ideal targets. Second, as CEO and founder Keith Gooberman explains, they’re an independent company. “We didn’t take any funding,” he says. “We don't have some goal to hit to keep investors happy. We can be honest about how many people saw your ad and then booked your hotel room.”

Robert Blackwell shows how risk can make sense for your business Jan 22, 2020

You can become a billionaire with anything — from collecting garbage to selling Beanie Babies. The point is to figure out what makes you unique and valuable to the customer. “As long as you're solving an emotional or financial problem for somebody, you can make a lot of money,” says Robert Blackwell, Jr., CEO and founder of several companies including Killerspin and Quant16 (formerly EKI-Digital). Robert’s been building companies since he was eight years old, when he was selling gum in school. Although he was, as he describes, “a non-dangerous delinquent” who didn’t take well to school — a common thread we see among founders — he’s always been an uncanny problem solver.

Leaf Trade: Meet the Company Moving Cannabis Deals From Street Corners to Online Storefronts Jan 15, 2020

The cannabis industry is still emerging, dazed and confused, from the black market to the open market, presenting platforms like Leaf Trade the chance to make a big impression. Founder and CEO James Yi joined the podcast to talk about Leaf Trade’s role in shaping the emerging cannabis industry, why wholesale is a challenge of its own and why he welcomes local governments’ say over how cannabis works in their communities.

Airshare takes your office to the skies with accessible private aviation Jan 09, 2020

Private jets used to be reserved for tycoons, presidents and rock stars, but ordering a personalized flight today isn’t just a power move — it’s a productivity tool. Expanding your business often requires traveling, and the bigger you grow, the more often you and your team will be on the move. But travel can be stressful — wasting time on inconvenient commercial flights and long car rides isn’t just tedious, it can be a drain on your resources and cost you time. Airshare offers a more affordable way to benefit from the convenience of a private plane. Unlike competitors, you buy days rather than hours, which can be more economical. Plus, the pilot and jet stay with you the entire time, so last-minute schedule changes aren’t a problem and you’re never left stranded. The company also ensures the time you spend in the air can be as productive as possible. John Owen, who has been with Airshare since 2016, and recently became president and CEO came on the show to talk about the efficiency of private flight. “You're saving time, and then the time that you have on the airplane is also unbelievably productive.”

Vouch is the disruptive business insurance company for disruptive startups Jan 07, 2020

Insurance is one of the less sexy parts of running a company — and that’s especially true when working with the legacy companies that are far removed from the startup way. Newer business models often don't neatly fit into traditional insurers’ outdated categories. Sometimes plans need to be patch worked and even then — coverage can still be spotty — which could spell disaster down the road. That’s where Vouch saw an opportunity. The company offers business insurance designed for startups. Co-founder Travis Hedge joins Scott in-studio to talk about the insure-tech at WGN Radio.

Dante32: Why Podcasts Are the Best Way to Get Into Your Customers’ Heads (and Wallets) Dec 19, 2019

Beyond being a fun distraction at the gym or on your commute, podcasts are gaining recognition as an engaging and accessible business tool. While it’s easy to get started, it’s hard to make a podcast good, which is why professional podcast production agency Dante32 is flourishing. Founded in 2018 by CEO Griffin Caprio and CSO Jenn Dudley, Chicago-based Dante32 helps businesses create podcasts in a style and format that resonates with their specific audience.

Forget WeWork: Knotel's Business Model Works Dec 17, 2019

In the wake of the remarkable fall of WeWork, you’re forgiven if you feel more than a little skeptical about coworking as a business model. But Knotel is doing things differently. They may not have WeWork’s name recognition — yet — but the company is building a coworking empire based on stringent market analysis. Knotel is led by startup veteran Amol Sarva. He has a track record of growing great companies and was on the founding team of Virgin Mobile USA. Around 2015, Amol and his partner decided to evaluate coworking as a business opportunity — they wanted to understand the hype. “We did the analytical work that we normally do when we evaluate a company idea,” Amol says. They were pleasantly surprised to find that coworking is “actually a sensible business in a bunch of ways.” But they found that many businesses in the space were focused on attracting small teams and hadn’t yet tapped into the enterprise market. “They were focusing on really small businesses, and spending outsized amounts of money to get them into their properties,” he notes.

Just in Time for the Holidays — Packed with Purpose is Elevating Corporate Gifting Dec 12, 2019

Copping out on corporate gift-giving means missing a prime relationship-building opportunity.But sending a bland fruit basket or not-so-subtle branded junk is unlikely to be very memorable. Plus, giving gifts that people aren’t too excited about can be downright wasteful. That’s why Packed with Purpose is a gift. The specialty gifting company hand picks high-quality products from businesses that are positively shaping their communities. It’s corporate gifting with a social mission. Founder and CEO Leeatt Rothschild came up with the idea in her previous job helping companies use their social responsibility budgets.

Chuck Swoboda Grew Cree to Become a $1.6 Billion Market Leader. Now He’s Written a Book on the Anatomy of Innovation Dec 05, 2019

When Chuck Swoboda was hired at electronics manufacturer Cree in 1993, household light bulbs came mostly in two flavors: incandescent and fluorescent. The company had just gone public and generated just over $6 million in annual revenue. But the product that would grow the company into a $1.6 billion global market leader –– the LED light bulb –– were virtually light years away from becoming a popular, affordable option. Even when he took on the role of CEO of Durham, North Carolina-based Cree in 2001, LEDs were a hard sell. “Everyone told me that nobody would buy them,” Chuck says. “Lighting companies told me we’ll never need them because what they had was good enough.” But “good enough” isn’t in Chuck’s vocabulary. By the time he left Cree in 2016, Goldman Sachs reported that “the rapid adoption of LEDs in lighting marks one of the fastest technology shifts in human history.” Today, Chuck splits his time between Cary, North Carolina and Milwaukee, where he serves as the Innovator-in-Chief at his (and Scott’s) alma mater, Marquette University and hosts its “Innovators on Tap” podcast.

Ashling Partners: ‘There's More Than One Shade of Robotics’ Dec 03, 2019

The future of work, says Marshall Sied, co-founder of intelligent automation consulting firm Ashling Partners, will focus on “removing tasks that humans don't want to be doing anyway.” For him, “it's about taking robots out of human work, not having robots replace human work.” In fact, when clients introduce automation technology like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and machine learning to their organization’s people, processes and current technology landscape, they act “like an x-ray on everything that's inefficient,” Marshall says. “We re-engineer that process with automation and the customer experience in mind upfront. It’s a total shift.” The x-ray metaphor is apt, especially considering that “Ashling” is the phonetic pronunciation of the Gaelic word for “vision.” Marshall came on the podcast to share his views on the automation revolution, Ashling Partners’ place in it, and why we should cancel the concept of “failing fast.”

Here’s How and Why Uber Set Their Sights on Freight Nov 26, 2019

For consumers, Uber is known for changing the simple act of getting a taxi and ordering food. For the past two years, the company has been moving into the B-to-B market with Uber Freight. “We've built an app for independent owner-operators and small fleets, where they can log on and see the freight available to them,” explains Sagar Shah, Uber Freight’s Director of Carrier Operations. “They don't have to call in and negotiate over rates. It's full transparency.” In September, Uber Freight announced that it would establish its headquarters in Chicago and invest more than $200 million annually in the region. Sagar says that Uber Freight’s growing success comes down to a combination of Uber’s well-tested experience in logistics and input from freight experts. Listen to him discuss how Uber views the overlooked opportunities in freight, and how he feels about internal competition.

Solve Helps Companies Hire Overlooked Talent in Underserved Communities Nov 21, 2019

Hiring is a major challenge for employers. On the flip side of the coin, socioeconomic and other barriers can prevent certain job seekers from identifying opportunities. The aptly named Solve offers a solution. Led by CEO and founder Matt Strauss, the software platform helps companies find and hire talented people in underserved communities. It also connects prospective employees with nonprofits that can help them tackle the barriers preventing them from getting jobs.

Locus Robotics: How ‘Collaborative Robots’ are Driving the Future of E-Commerce Nov 20, 2019

The robots are coming. Actually, they’re already here. But they’re not what you think, says Karen Leavitt, Chief Marketing Officer of Locus Robotics. The Wilmington, Massachusetts-based company, founded in 2014, makes robots that enable e-commerce and B2B companies to maximize efficiency in their warehouses enabling them to compete in the dynamic world of e-commerce. The world of robotics has changed so much in the last 20 or so years, spurred on by forward-thinking innovators like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who have done more for automation than sci-fi pop culture ever imagined. “This is not Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons,” says Karen. “Think of a self-driving car. These robots are a bit like that, but they don’t look like a car that you or I would get into and drive. They’re designed to operate indoors, in the densely populated world of warehouses.” Ready to embrace our robot overlords? Karen gives us a view into the real world of automation –– and what takes place in between “add to cart” and your doorstep.

Cubii Caters to a Market Their Competitors Ignore Nov 19, 2019

The struggle to get from work to the gym is real. Arnav Dalmia realized that all but the most dedicated gym-goers find it challenging to fit in regular exercise. So he originally founded Cubii to make it easier to be active while at work. The company’s mission has evolved from there. He first pitched the under-desk mini elliptical machines to the Technori Showcase in 2015, when the company was known as Fitness Cubed. After launching with the intent of helping cooped-up office workers, Cubii quickly gained popularity with another demographic — one often ignored by the fitness industry. “I started to get these phone calls from customers talking about how Cubii had changed their life, and they were not using Cubii at their desk, they were using Cubii for rehab,” Arnav says. “We changed the mission of the company. Initially, it was workout while you work, now it is fitness for all ages, abilities and lifestyles.”

Can I Eat This? Spokin’s Mission Is to Help People With Allergies Get a Quick Answer Nov 14, 2019

Managing food allergies requires a lot of time and effort — and information isn’t always available when and where you need it. As the mom of a daughter with life-threatening food allergies, Susie Hultquist knew this problem all too well. But it wasn’t until she struggled to identify whether her daughter could safely eat Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies that business inspiration struck. In 2015, Susie founded Spokin. Think Instagram meets Yelp meets WebMD, specifically built for people with allergies. Users review products and restaurants all around the world based on their allergens, and their contributions appear on a newsfeed alongside Spokin’s product guides, recipes and other original content. The app automatically filters out products containing your personal allergens, thanks to their detailed signup process, and there’s also a search option for when you’re looking for restaurants in a particular city, or for the ingredients of a particular item.

Caremerge CEO: ‘Leadership by Example is My Go-to’ Nov 12, 2019

“In the senior living market, the old image is nursing home: the new image is active communities for older adults who can simplify their lives and spend their free time really enjoying themselves, their family, their friends,” says Nancy Koenig, CEO of Caremerge, which provides technology solutions for the senior living market. Like previous guests Jay Klauminzer and Elizabeth Harz, Nancy’s story is an interesting study in how to lead a company you didn’t start. She became the CEO in October 2017, taking the reigns from co-founder and chairman Asif Khan. Nancy explains her approach to taking on someone else’s vision (hint: focus on the metrics) and the triumphs that come with creating technology for a demographic that has long been ignored by the tech world.

Tim Barry Knows It Takes a Village to Treat Chronic Illness. Enter VillageMD. Nov 07, 2019

VillageMD aims to improve the quality of care by easing the burden on primary care doctors. VillageMD Co-founder and CEO Tim Barry explains that focusing on the most costly chronically ill patients helps reduce pressure on the entire healthcare system. Founded in 2013, the company announced its $100 million Series B round in September. Here Tim explains the history and the mission of his company — and how VillageMD is leveraging tech with a human touch to offer better care.

Attracting Building Tenants is Challenging. Flamingo Promises to Help Luxury High Rise Apartments Stand Out Nov 05, 2019

The rising number of luxury apartment buildings is putting property managers under increasing pressure to entice new tenants — and to convince current ones to stay when their lease is up. When round-the-clock doormen, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a residential lounge are seen as standard, how can property managers set their building apart? Jude Chiy founded resident engagement platform Flamingo to offer a solution. Not only can residents use it to do useful things like pay rent and make maintenance requests, Flamingo also allows property managers to easily offer concierge-style services like dog-walking, cleaning and personal training sessions.

Republic: How to invest in the scrappy startups today that could be the Fortune 500 companies of tomorrow Nov 01, 2019

Do you ever wish you’d had the opportunity to invest in a company like Netflix or Facebook when they were just a fledgling startup? In the most simple terms, investment platform Republic was created to just that. The platform democratizes fundraising so that anyone can access investment opportunities in the startup ecosystem. The company has quickly built a name for itself — even though it is not even five years old. Republic co-founder and CEO Ken Nguyen started the company after the SEC enacted legislation in May 2016 enabling non-accredited investors to put some cash into early-stage companies. Since then, Republic has taken the lead in the equity crowdfunding space, making it easy for almost anyone to invest as little as $10 in a business. The good news — especially for unseasoned investors — is that they heavily vet startups before promoting them on the platform. They say that fewer than 3 percent of companies that apply pass their due diligence. Even though Ken started the company to meet a contemporary need, he’s looking to the future. His optimism and desire to bring investment opportunities to more than the 1 percent came through loud and clear in his interview at the WGN studios.

Axio: To handle cybersecurity, it can’t just be about the tech. Here’s why Oct 24, 2019

It’s as true for tech as it is for war and football: sometimes the best defense is a good offense. But that requires everyone within an organization to understand the threat and how to counter it. Scott Kannry and Brendan Fitzpatrick, Axio’s CEO and VP of Cyber Risk Engineering respectively, understand this challenge. Axio’s goal is to help organizations neutralize cybersecurity threats through a combination of services and products. The company prides itself on removing the jargon and insider talk to make cybersecurity more accessible to the entire organization.

Cloudbakers’ Founder: Innovation Starts With Collaboration Oct 22, 2019

Moving to the cloud can be intimidating for people accustomed to storing all their data on hardware. Enter Mitch Greenwald and his company Cloudbakers, which helps small to medium-sized businesses translate the vision of cloud-based storage into reality. As a Google Premier Partner for more than eight years, Cloudbakers has worked with financial services, technology, healthcare and other businesses to make the switch to Google products. What’s neat about Cloudbakers is that they don’t just introduce you to the apps and run: they plan your transition process carefully and help your team navigate the shift with the goal of keeping everyone on the same virtual page.

Healthcare Transportation Is a Problem. Chicago Startup Kaizen Health Plans To Navigate a Better Route Oct 17, 2019

According to the American Hospital Association, 3.6 million people miss appointments with healthcare providers every year because they can’t make it to the clinic or the office. In some cases, it’s due to a lack of public transportation options or an inability to afford a taxi. Regardless of the reason, Mindi Knebel, Founder and CEO of Kaizen Health, is tackling the issue head-on. Kaizen’s goal is to improve healthcare access by offering a cost-efficient logistics hub for both providers and patients. Through their white-label platform, providers can create an appropriate transportation plan right when a patient books an appointment or at the time of discharge.

How Hub Group's ability to innovate keeps them above the competition Oct 16, 2019

Established companies often wonder what it takes to create true digital transformation — the kind that helps your customers and your bottom line. Hub Group is a great example. Founded in 1971 on the outskirts of Chicago, by Joyce and Phillip Yeager. The couple saw the potential of intermodal shipping, in which containers are transported from one place to another using multiple types of transportation — usually trains and trucks — without having to unload their contents. Hub Group is still thriving today, thanks in large part to Joyce and Phillip’s son David Yeager, the current CEO and Chairman.David made a stop at the WGN Studios to talk about the disaster that forced them to innovate and the careful process of developing new technology.

MarTech Company Fyllo Is Raising Big to Help Brands Easily (and Legally) Sell Cannabis Online Oct 15, 2019

Eleven states (including Illinois) and D.C. are in various stages of legalizing recreational marijuana, and in 2018 the cannabis industry was estimated to be worth $10.4 billion — even though the drug is still restricted at the federal level. As the market becomes increasingly viable and appealing, ahem, budding cannabis entrepreneurs are faced with the challenge of moving an underground operation online. One of the biggest transition issues is navigating compliance laws. Aristotle Loumis and Chad Bronstein founded the marketing tech platform Fyllo earlier this year. The company offers to help brands meet compliance requirements at scale and ensure that ads are served to audiences in states where it’s legal. After closing a $16 million seed round, they raised an additional $2 million in September.

Promoshare Works With Local Influencers To Help You Build an Audience for Your Live Event Oct 10, 2019

At its core, marketing is one person saying to another (or many others), ‘hey, check this out.’ And it’s that small but powerful sentiment that’s at the heart of PromoShare. The company teams up with clients looking to put on a live event. Their users find events they’re interested in and sell tickets to their friends using the PromoShare platform, which tracks how many people they’re bringing in and gives them rewards for hitting certain goals. The ambassadors, as PromoShare calls them, don’t need 700,000+ followers to be eligible for partnerships. As founder and CEO Ernesto Pedroza explains, they can be micro influencers with 1,000 to 100,000 followers, or nano influencers, with even fewer.

Charge Running: Meet Your New Running Coach — Tips and Motivation Peloton Style through your Smartphone Oct 09, 2019

You’ve decided to run a race. Maybe it’s a 10K or maybe you’re one of those nuts who has signed up for the Chicago Marathon. Either way, congratulations! Now, how are you going to train and stay motivated? Tech helps us in so many areas of our lives — from watching movies to ordering takeout to answering emails — and it can help make you a better runner, too. Matthew Knippen, CEO and co-founder of Charge Running, knows that you have choices when it comes to running apps for improving your running. Charge Running sets itself apart by connecting you with a coach and other runners while you’re pounding the pavement (or the treadmill).

Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig Urban on How Her Diet Plan Became an International Movement Oct 08, 2019

Melissa Hartwig Urban, co-founder and CEO of Whole30, was the first guinea pig for her diet. “I was eating pretty healthy whole foods, I was exercising a ton: but what the Whole30 showed me in that first self-experiment were all the ways that I was using food to comfort, reward and punish myself, and to self-soothe to relieve anxiety,” she said of the origins of her diet plan, which has become a movement. Melissa spoke to Technori on the sidelines of the recent G2 Reach conference, which was held September 11 in Chicago. For the uninitiated, the idea of Whole30 is to break the pattern of unhealthy diet habits by taking on a highly restrictive diet for 30 days: that includes cutting out dairy, sugar and grains, among other ingredients.

Navigation is Stuck in the 20th Century. Humatics is Here for What’s Coming Next. Oct 03, 2019

Even before the rest of us were blown away by the Maps app, David Mindell was working on delivering even more precise location information. In addition to his various appointments in aeronautics and robotics at MIT, David has been involved in dozens of underwater research explorations, including the search for the Titanic. It was the navigational challenges that come with being underwater — where GPS can’t reach you — that inspired him to find a better way to help everyone figure out exactly where we are at all times, by mapping every single section of space, down to the cubic millimeter. This isn’t just for humans: David and his company Humatics are focused on developing technology that will help robots better understand where they are, which can help make their movements more precise, and their interactions with other robots and humans more efficient and even safer.

CoverWallet: The industry outsiders making business insurance easy Oct 02, 2019

Securing an insurance policy that covers your needs is one of the most important items for businesses at all stages, but it’s also one of the most arduous. That’s where CoverWallet comes in. Co-founders Rashmi Melgiri and Inaki Berenguer were looking for an industry that could benefit from moving online when they landed on insurance. Neither had worked in the industry before: both have MBAs from MIT, and Rashmi’s background is in consulting and advertising. But being the outsiders brought certain benefits. First, they could work with multiple insurance carriers to cover as many types of business insurance as possible. Second, instead of standing for the slow-rolling attitude of the established insurance carriers, they offered the instant gratification of on-demand online companies. Listen to Rashmi talk to Scott over the phone at WGN.

Catalytic Wants to Give the Worst Parts of Your Job to Robots So You Can Be More Human Oct 01, 2019

How do we ditch the dull parts of our day jobs? According to Sean Chou and Catalytic — and numerous sci-fi authors — it’s by giving the boring tasks that make us feel like robots to actual robots — or, specifically, to artificial intelligence. Catalytic takes the existing data processing software like Salesforce, Excel, Quickbooks etc. and helps you run them as one, cutting out back and forth, and speeding up processes like invoicing and employee on-boarding. While many people see AI as a threat to human jobs, Sean believes that introducing software like Catalytic will improve productivity to the point that we’ll be able to use all that saved time to work on genuinely interesting projects that improve customer experience.

Disruption Joe talks Voice of Blockchain Sep 27, 2019

Joe Hernandez aka Disruption Joe joins the podcast in-studio at WGN to talk about the latest trends in Chicago tech and diving into all things blockchain. His belief in Chicago's ability to become a center for blockchain innovation led him to create the Voice of Blockchain in 2018. 1,000 people came to Navy Pier to learn about and promote the technology behind bitcoin for the first major event. In 2019, they hope to bring the show to the next level with corporate sponsors like Fidelity Digital Assets, TD Ameritrade, and Deloitte bringing legitimacy to blockchain.

Groundbreaker: Meet the Company Cleaning Up the Back Offices of Real Estate Sep 26, 2019

Take a look at a property that is for sale and of course, you’ll see its best attributes on display. It’s pristine and uncluttered, shiny and inviting. Glimpse behind-the-scenes of most real estate offices, and you’ll see the total opposite. This is no secret to anyone in the industry, including Jake Marmulstein who is building a business that aims to tame the chaos for real estate companies. Groundbreaker is a white label SaaS platform that enables real estate syndicators to find, manage and verify investors; receive payments; and show off property profiles. Five years on, they’re hiring for roles in multiple areas of the business. Jake explains to Scott what drove him to create a solution for real estate businesses, the challenges of being a non-technical founder, and the company’s breakthrough realization

How Relish Works is Adding Zest to a 122-year-old Company Sep 25, 2019

If there’s one industry that’s both very old and highly innovative, it’s food. We’ve been eating since before we could talk in more than grunts — but what we want to eat, and how and where we acquire food, continues to change rapidly. One company trying to balance that long history with the need to innovate is wholesale food distributors Gordon Food Service. The company traces its roots back to 1897 when it delivered butter and eggs. Now it employs 19,000 people, and in 2018 Gordon Food Service was the 22nd largest privately held company in the US, according to Forbes. In 2017, Gordon Food Service officially launched a new and separate entity, delightfully named Relish Works. Their mission is to look for innovations that can help Gordon Food Service and the wholesale food distribution industry modernize and grow. One of the people leading the effort is Managing Director Mandy Tahvonen. As Mandy explains, Relish Works is currently working on multiple industry-improving projects; but one that she and Gordon Food Service are especially excited about is The Food Foundry, an accelerator program they’re running with Chicago-based digital startup incubator 1871.

A VC Makes the Case For Working and Investing in Tech Beyond Silicon Valley Sep 24, 2019

When you’ve already worked at Google for over a decade, co-founded a successful startup, used your talents to help a non-profit, and earned degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Business School — what’s next? For Minnie Ingersoll, the answer was venture capital and a move away from Silicon Valley. After graduating from Stanford with a computer science degree, Minnie joined Google in its early days — when the company still had fewer than 500 employees. After working there for almost 12 years, she moved on to co-found Shift, a site selling used cars online. (Her co-founder and Shift’s current co-CEO, Toby Russell, was a recent Technori guest.) From there, Minnie left to work as COO of non-profit Code for America. Having spent so much of her career in the tech bubble, Minnie saw the drawbacks of putting Silicon Valley on a pedestal. The Southern California native made the move to Los Angeles — which is where she joined TenOneTen Ventures as a partner in February 2019. She also co-hosts LA Venture, in which she and fellow TenOneTen partner David Waxman interview investors based in Los Angeles.

Would You Pay to Be Very Cold for Three Minutes? CryoBar Thinks So for Efficient Therapy Sep 20, 2019

If you’ve lived through a Chicago winter, the idea of paying someone to let you stand in a machine that gets cold enough to give you frostbite seems dubious at best. But CryoBar owner Sara Latham is convinced that that’s exactly what many of us dealing with injuries, stress and even chronic illnesses need to feel better. For the uninitiated, CryoBar offers treatments based around the belief that submerging oneself partially or totally in subzero temperatures for very short periods of time can treat a range of ailments.

From clients to talent, People + People Conference is all about growth Sep 19, 2019

Strategic growth requires a People+People™ plan. Simply put, you can’t have one without the other. As sales grow, so does your need for a talented workforce. Here’s the bottom line: It takes the same strategies to attract and retain clients as it does employees – and you need a healthy, engaged pipeline of both to achieve business goals. Join business leaders from all industries to connect and gain actionable insights into solving several of the most common growth challenges businesses face. Kathy Steele from Red Caffeine and Kirk Miller from Second City join Scott in-studio to discuss the conference hosted at Second City Works.

Starry is the New Internet Service Provider on the Block and They’re Making It Easier (and Cheaper) For You to Get Connected Sep 18, 2019

Chet Kanojia’s entrepreneurial ventures often have a theme of pushing back against the “big guy” — and for good reason. As a kid growing up in Bhopal, India, he was profoundly affected by the Union Carbide plant disaster, which exposed more than 600,000 people to harmful gasses and resulted in 15,000 deaths. It is the world’s worst industrial disaster and Chet was around 12 or 13 when it happened. He says witnessing how corporate mismanagement resulted in major tragedy left him distrustful of big business. That perspective informs the kind of innovations Chet has introduced to the marketplace. His previous company Aereo was an attempt at creating an open platform for television to give viewers more control over their TV content. Now he’s building Starry, which offers low-cost, fast internet access. Listen to Chet talk to Scott about how his entrepreneurial journey and mission to offer great internet for the masses.

How Netflix turned a humble beginning into one of the most disruptive companies of the past hundred years Sep 17, 2019

The origin story of one of the most influential businesses to emerge in the last 20 years is now available for your reading pleasure — Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph has written a new memoir, “That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea." Today Netflix is a household name. But back in 1997, streaming movies directly to your TV still seemed like the stuff of sci-fi. Marc along with Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings were just starting to brainstorm ideas for a new business. Marc, a Silicon Valley veteran, was an entrepreneurial guy long before Netflix, as he explains in his interview with Scott in-studio at WGN Radio

This On-The-Go Smoothie Bowl is Designed to Spark Joy Sep 16, 2019

Be honest: are you a regular deskfast eater — grabbing breakfast while you’re settling in at the office? Jon Agay noticed this trend while doing market research for what would become joyböl, a “ready-in-seconds” granola smoothie bowl. Made to eat while you’re on the go, you simply add water or your preferred milk and get ready to enjoy. Jon, the co-founder of joyböl, was in the unique position of developing the product as an “intrapreneur” with the backing of his employer, Kellogg’s, where he is the Global Senior Marketing Director.

How to Bring Sales Into the 21st Century Sep 12, 2019

While other aspects of business, like marketing, product and UX, have been revamped and revolutionized multiple times in just the last 10 years, the technology many businesses give to their sales teams is decades-old and not up to solving modern problems. Showpad is aiming to help companies move a few evolutionary stages forward. Specifically, they’re focusing on the sales enablement side through their content management platform, where salespeople can store digital materials for clients and easily share them across teams. Showpad COO Jason Holmes joins Scott in-studio to talk about where sales goes wrong, and where it’s going next.

This Company Is Trying to Reduce Healthcare Costs by Figuring Out Drug Discounts Sep 10, 2019

A SaaS platform developed by pharmaceutical industry veterans, Kalderos combines that background knowledge with artificial intelligence and data to calculate when and where discounts should be applied.Jeremy Docken founded the company with the goal of untangling the issue of noncompliant discounts in the pharmaceutical industry. If that sentence made very little sense to you, you are far from alone. Even Jeremy, who has a background in pharmaceuticals and auditing, admits that negotiating the messy world of drug prices from a patient’s perspective is a headache in itself.

Why Empathy and Having Fun Are the Secrets to Marketing (and Business) Success Sep 05, 2019

This probably comes as no surprise, but around here, we believe that business talk doesn’t always have to be serious. It’s possible to be scaling huge companies, laser-focused on your mission while bringing in your personality, too. A serious business owner who agrees with this sentiment: John Ostler, co-founder of Eight Bit Studios. The Chicago-based creative shop designs and develops apps and websites for companies that want to push the envelope on originality. John also co-hosts his own Chicago-centric business podcast, Bytes Over Bagels. After a hiatus, the show is back for a second season and features interviews with an array of tech and business leaders covering topics like design, investment, as well as product and strategy.

Egen Solutions CEO on Tech Outsourcing: ‘From Day One, Our Engineers Sit Next To Their Engineers’ Sep 03, 2019

Technology outsourcing firms might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about where the next major tech innovation might come from. But increasingly, firms like Egen Solutions are helping companies — from the Fortune 500 to smaller startups — navigate the path to business growth. Raghu Potini, Egen’s CEO, came on the podcast to shed light on how the Chicago-headquartered company works with businesses on application development, IT modernization and other digital services.

How To Win Your Sales War and Crush Your Sales Targets Aug 30, 2019

Finding great sales talent is notoriously tough. Interviews are a poor predictor of future performance, and without the proper on-the-job support and training, even a seasoned sales pro can flounder in a new environment. Raleigh Wilkins runs his own company, Wheeler-Wilkins, which offers sales training based on the processes he developed while improving his own sales skills. He is also working on building up a team of former-military sales reps that businesses can hire for short periods of time, calls his approach the “ground truth sales system,” because the best intelligence comes from the boots on the ground. You certainly can’t compare a bad day at the office to active duty. But the ideas that Raleigh brings to the world of sales, the process and preparation, can definitely help any of us survive a sales crisis.

The Ferrari of Email Services Will Make You Go Faster — for $30/Month Aug 29, 2019

What the car did for transport, Superhuman does for email. But while pioneers like Henry Ford intentionally made cars available to the mass market, Superhuman has a very specific target audience. The service costs $30 a month, and new users must pass a qualification process: there’s an estimated waiting list of over 100,000. (A referral from a current user could help move things along). Once you’re in, you receive a 30-minute phone tutorial. In the early days, this was done in person, and the man walking you through it was Superhuman founder and CEO Rahul Vohra. His exclusive strategy for Superhuman is paying off: in June 2019, the company raised $33 million in a Series B round. Over the phone, Rahul explained how he convinced people to pay to read their emails, and which key emotion he strives to create.

Here’s Why it’s Time to Fix the Way We Support Working Parents — And How to Do it Aug 28, 2019

Aside from founders telling you that their company is their baby, families don’t often figure into the mythology of the tech startup. One simple reason is that many of the people who are focusing on family life are not in the office: they’re at home with said family. And while some of them are happy with that arrangement, for many it’s less a choice than an inevitability, because the American workplace still hasn’t figured out how to support working parents — especially moms. As the CCO of The Mom Project, Colleen Curtis is working to help companies introduce and implement policies that support parents at all stages of childcare — maternity leave through the teenage years.

This Company Is Making It Easier To Own and Profit From Farmland Aug 27, 2019

FarmTogether estimates that farmland is a more than $2.5 trillion market in the U.S. alone, and as high as $9 trillion worldwide, which makes it larger than real estate and gold. But after a little digging, CEO Artem Milinchuk realized that many potential investors found the sector too confusing, not to mention geographically disparate. Enter FarmTogether, which is helping investors of all backgrounds put their money into vetted farmland. They monitor the farm’s progress, and you get annual payments. We got Artem on a call to explain how farming works today and how it could work tomorrow, and why farmland is a more reliable investment than you might think.

This App Will Give You Real-Time Access to a Live Translator When You Travel Aug 23, 2019

“Uber for ‘x’” is the most overused, maddening phrase in startup land. It’s hype-marketing shorthand for just about every business idea that leverages the sharing economy. That’s why co-founders Keithan and Quiante Hedrick were initially wary of framing their live-translator-on-demand app, Instaspeakers, as “Uber for translation” to potential investors. Translators on the platform are certified, working professionals –– not just people who are bilingual. Plus, they’re available via live video call, 24/7. It’s light years more effective than software like Google Translate, and more accessible than B2B translation services like TransPerfect and LionBridge.

This Company is Creating the Future of Online Shopping Aug 21, 2019

As the founder and CTO of ThreeKit, the Vancouver native spent almost 15 years creating visual effects technology that was used in the Harry Potter, Star Wars and Marvel franchises, among others. But as if that legacy wasn’t impressive enough, consider that he’s now changing the way we shop online. Ben and ThreeKit have moved their focus from the big screen to the small screen — in this case, cellphones and laptops rather than the movie theater. They’ve used their visual effects knowledge to create software that can help e-commerce companies better show off their products.

You’ve Probably Never Heard of This Superfood (but It Could Be the Next Big Thing) Aug 15, 2019

The way to the heart may indeed be through the stomach (metaphorically speaking), but a food entrepreneur’s path to success is less easily discernible. Emily Griffith, CEO of Lil Bucks, offers fruit seed products that might not be known to many consumers. Specifically, Lil Bucks are selling sprouted buckwheat (yes, it comes from fruit!). You can sprinkle it on oatmeal for a crunchy texture, use it as a low-sugar alternative to granola, or add it to your next acai bowl. Emily has made it her mission to prove that tastiness can mix with nutritional value. She came to her interview prepared with samples, plus insight into exactly what makes sprouted buckwheat the next superfood, and how Lil Bucks is going to make it big.

How to Use Influencers Without Feeling Like You’re Throwing Your Money Away Aug 13, 2019

For anyone over the age of 17, contemplating not just the functions of these platforms but how people are actually using them — and how that fits in with your business — is enough to put (more) gray hairs on your head. And yet ignoring them is not an option: it’s evolve or die. Fortunately, Corbett Drummey, a long time Technori guest, has got the game manual that can help you navigate around those potential slip-ups. Corbett is the CEO of Popular Pays, a platform designed to help brands connect with content creators who can give them that much-needed social media presence without adding undue stress.

How Kid Play Company Pearachute 10xed Active Monthly Users Aug 08, 2019

Anyone with children will appreciate exactly why Pearachute is doing the opposite of its namesake and taking off — especially in the middle of summer, when you’ve exhausted your imagination and wallet trying to keep the kids entertained. And founder Desiree Vargas Wrigley has big ideas about where she’s going to take that mounting momentum. She told us where Pearachute got its start, where it’s going next, and the major pivot she had to make.

This Company Made $255 Million From Helping You Figure out What’s for Dinner Aug 06, 2019

Home Chef was founded in 2013 by Patrick Vihtelic, who was inspired to bring homemade meals to as many people as possible thanks to memories of the fresh food he grew up eating on his family’s farm. In 2014, the company did $423,207 in revenue. CTO Matt Pulley came on board the following year, and in 2017 that revenue shot up by 60,166 percent, to a spicy $255 million. By May 2018, they were acquired by Kroger for an initial sum of $200 million, with the potential to earn $500 million more from future earnout payments, based on hitting certain milestones over the course of five years. Still, Matt is far from complacent. In the interview, he talks about the company’s early days, complete with a smoky test kitchen; their upcoming challenges; and how to help people answer the daily question that tears households apart: what’s for dinner?

Meet The Investors Swinging Big In The Midwest Aug 01, 2019

If you buy into the mainstream narrative around the U.S. tech industry, California and New York are the two gleaming lights on either end of a dark and empty tunnel that runs between the coasts. That makes Victor Gutwein the man with the flashlight, shining a glowing beam onto the hidden opportunities all around the Midwest. So far, M25 has a portfolio of 88 companies, including former Technori guests humanpredictions, Winston Privacy, 2ndKitchen, and True Public. Victor stopped by the WGN Radio to share his insights with Scott on identifying companies that have the magic ingredients to rise to the top.

How Car-Shopping Company Shift Is Disrupting the Awful Business of Buying a Car Jul 31, 2019

There are more than a few reasons why buying a car –– especially a used one –– is about as appealing as getting a root canal, being stuck on a packed airplane taxiing on a runway or using a porta-john at a burrito festival. The buying process is stuck in analog mode. So Toby Russell and his co-founder, George Arison, built an online used car marketplace that features transparent pricing, concierge service and a generous return policy. Can a startup disrupt a massive industry that’s still largely offline, stubbornly unresponsive to consumer habits and intent on obfuscating its inner workings? Listen to Toby talk to Scott at WGN Radio how Shift is changing the auto marketplace.

How a New Salon is Nailing the Manicure Experience for Professional Women Jul 30, 2019

Kim Marsh, COO of ezza nails, sits down with Scott Kitun at WGN Radio. Kim and her co-founder Ale Breuer are both products of Teach for America and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Their mutual obsession with the minute details has helped them gain a deep understanding of their nail salons’ customers. That means they can provide better customer care and more relevant services, while also putting together a long-term strategy that’s set to chip away (pun intended!) at the multi-billion dollar nail salon industry.

4 Tips for Being a Better Leader From the Legendary Former Cisco Boss Jul 28, 2019

Listen to John Chambers, former Cisco CEO and current leader of JC2 Ventures, talk with Scott about his career, book and new venture on WGN. John has been innovating tech since the ‘80s. He spent 25-plus years serving as the CEO, chairman and chairman emeritus of the company he helped found, Cisco. Then he went on to found JC2 Ventures, the culmination of his experience honing the cutting edge of the last quarter century of tech. Needless to say, John did exactly what he set out to do by asking us that question. As he always does, he pushed us to be our best.

Meet The Company Introducing Institutions To The Wild West Of Cryptocurrency Jul 25, 2019

Edward Woodford, CEO of Seed CX, sits down with Scott at WGN Radio. At a time when cryptocurrency is rising in popularity, while also coming under scrutiny for its unregulated elements, Edward and his Seed CX co-founder Brian Liston are attempting to bring a more traditional audience into the game. After raising $25.1 million in 2015, the company said they were the first digital ass exchange with clients exclusively from “established institutions.”

This Crypto Company Wants To Reward You For Listening To Music Jul 23, 2019

Dan Novaes sits down with Scott at WGN Radio. Dan’s company Current Media aims to upend how media consumption is monetized. In short, Current takes ad dollars and passes some of the value on to consumers, as an incentive to keep using the platform. On Current’s app, users do things that they already do on the internet — right now, the company is primarily focused on streaming music — and are rewarded with in-app points called CRNT, where 1,000 CRNT points equal $1. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, cash, and various products, including hardware like headphones

This Recruiting Company Uses Data To Send Emails People Actually Want To Read Jul 18, 2019

If there’s one thing that drives tech workers completely nuts, it’s those awful, automated recruitment emails. So many of these recruiting emails go unread, unanswered and unloved. As a long-time tech recruiter, Elliot Garms has seen this play out — which is why he’s putting the humanity back into hiring through his company humanpredictions. What makes humanpredictions smarter than your average recruiter is software that employs data analytics to give you up-to-date information on not just a potential employee’s skills and experience, but their preferred technologies, and how likely they are to be looking for a new job.

This Leading AI Chicago Startup Turns Raw Data into Meaningful Stories for Business Intelligence Jul 16, 2019

Chicago wasn’t built in a day, as the saying nearly goes, reminding us that everything worth doing takes time, patience and unwavering hard work. Stuart Frankel learned that lesson over nearly a decade of experience. In the nine years since he co-founded Narrative Science — which creates software that translates headache-inducing data into useful information — he’s watched the market slowly catch up to his way of thinking. The company itself has evolved too: after getting their start with software that turned baseball scores into stories for reporters, they’re now best known for report-writing product Quill — at least at the moment.

Craft Whiskey in the Mail? There’s a Subscription Box For That Jul 15, 2019

Craft whiskey used to be the exclusive domain of snobs. That was the perception, at least. Think of a person who nerds out on craft whiskey and you might fall asleep at the very thought of a lecture on tasting notes and aging processes. But that’s not Dannie Strable, co-founder of RackHouse Whiskey, a subscription box that promises more than just a different drink every month. Instead of getting into the whiskey-tasting weeds, subscribers learn the stories behind the small, often family-operated distilleries provided in each box. Listen to hear Dannie sit down with Scott and talk about everything from his pro baseball career to learning the ropes of the whiskey industry.

You’ll Never Guess What Lou Malnati’s Grandson Is up to (Hint: It’s NOT Pizza, But Starts With a ‘P’) Jul 11, 2019

Will Malnati is, indeed, from that Malnati family. His great-grandfather Adolpho ‘Rudy’ Malnati, Sr. was a deep dish pioneer at Pizzeria Uno, and his grandfather Lou opened his eponymous restaurant in 1971 — the first in a chain now widely considered to serve the best deep dish pizza in Chicago (and therefore everywhere.) after spending a decade in the family industry, Will’s path ultimately lead him to the less glamorous but equally challenging world of podcasting. In 2019, Will started At Will Media, creating podcasts and other audio products for companies who want to get in on the latest ways to connect with customers, with the help and guidance of an expert.

This Marketplace Offers Custom-Made Women’s Clothing To Help You Find the Perfect Fit Jul 10, 2019

Balodana CEO Dana Todd joined Scott Kitun in the WGN Studio to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and how it led her to lead a fashion startup. Dismayed with the availability of fashionable options for women who don’t fall into the very young or very thin categories, Dana saw an opportunity to offer custom-made clothing for a variety of body types. That’s how Balodana, an online marketplace for women’s clothing, was born. It sells made-to-measure wares from designers around the world at prices comparable to traditional retail.

How Victor Ciardelli Went From ‘Broke and in a Bad Spot’ to CEO of a Mortgage Giant Jul 09, 2019

Victor Ciardelli, Founder and CEO of Guaranteed Rate, sits down with Scott Kitun.

Spotivity Helps Find After School Programs for Teenagers in Chicago Jul 09, 2019

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. He’s putting network to work as he grows Spotivity, an app that connects teens with after school activities & other extracurricular opportunities in their communities, based on their location, interests & aptitudes.

Hatch CEO: ‘It's Okay to Make Mistakes. Don't Make Them Twice.’ Jul 02, 2019

CEO Jake Kiser joined Technori CEO Scott Kitun in the WGN Studio to talk about how building trust and loyalty has led to Hatch’s success. Hatch Loyalty 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.

Eventually You Could Get 5G From Your Neighbor and Cut Big Telecom Out Jul 01, 2019

Amir Haleem, CEO of Helium sits down with Scott Kitun at WGN Radio. 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. Helium aims to simplify connecting things like IoT devices and sensors by building a network of wireless operators. Companies like Lime, Nestle and Stay Alfred are already using the network.

How To Harness Data for Business Growth Jun 28, 2019

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. CEO Kelly Manthey sits down with Scott to discuss how Solstice fits in as a solution.

The Company That Lets You Open Your Garage From Your Smartphone Wants to Keep Making It Easier Jun 25, 2019

Jeff Meredith, President and COO of Chamberlain Group, sits down with Scott Kitun at WGN Radio. For more than 40 years, the company has been a global leader in high-quality garage door openers and gate entry systems developing technologies like LiftMaster. They’re also pioneering the tech that lets the Amazon delivery guy easily and securely drop off your packages in your garage while you’re out.

5 Ways Monica + Andy Is Innovating How We Shop for Newborns and Kids Jun 06, 2019

Monica + Andy CEO Monica Royer joins Scott, a soon-to-be-father, in-studio at WGN Radio. Monica, who began her career in the pharmaceutical industry, was a first-time entrepreneur and a mom searching for soft, safe baby clothes. Today, Chicago-based Monica + Andy is a bonafide lifestyle brand with six retail locations in Chicagoland, California and the East Coast.

Raise.com Helps You Never Waste a Gift Card Again Jun 04, 2019

Jay Klauminzer, CEO of Raise, sits down with Scott Kitun at WGN Radio. In its early days, Raise functioned as a gift card marketplace for the many, many people “who have lots of unused gift cards sitting in their desk drawer.” Raise.com was a place to get rid of them. Under Jay’s leadership, Raise shifted its model to prioritize “direct relationships” with over 500 retail partners. Together, they partner to sell gift cards directly to customers.

Fairygodboss Reinvents The Employment Site with a Female-Centric Mission May 30, 2019

George Huang, CEO of Fairygodboss, calls-in to chat with Scott on WGN Radio. Fairygodboss offers job listings, employer profiles, anonymous employee reviews and a daily feed where users can post either anonymously or under their real names. Today, the platform is the largest online career community for women (though male allies are welcome too).

CEO/Investor Ravin Gandhi: ‘The Ability to Sell is Like Oxygen’ May 29, 2019

This episode is sponsored by MBRE

The ‘Airbnb for Farmland’ Helps Landowners Monetize Their Farm May 28, 2019

Corbett Kull, CEO of Tillable, joins Scott in-studio to talk about how he's aiming to revolutionize the use of farmland. Coined as the Airbnb of farmland, Tillable is a digital network that connects landowners with farmers. Through his platform, families who own farmland can better utilize and monetize their land without the use of a big corporation, become better landowners and improve the return on their investment.

These Smoothies On-The-Go (No Blender Cleanup!) Could Be Coming To a Gym Near You May 24, 2019

Co-founders Tom Zhang and Stephanie Mellinger from Zenblen, an automated smoothie-making kiosk, talk with Scott Kitun at WGN Radio. The company is in its early stages, but you can already taste test their creations at gyms, coworking spaces and networking events around the city.

Lulafit Is Bringing a High-End Wellness Experience to Your Door May 23, 2019

Colleen Werner, CEO of Lulafit, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about how she aims to make health and wellness easy, even when life gets busy. As a wellness amenities management service, LulaFit partners with commercial offices and luxury residential buildings to manage the common spaces that typically go underutilized — including fitness centers and spas.Their wellness services range from diet and exercise to stress, sleep, and ergonomics.

Chi Wellness Challenge check-in with Factor75 Founder Mike Apostal and Listen Ventures MD Jeff Cantalupo May 22, 2019

It's week three of the #ChiWellnessChallenge, a challenge designed to make entrepreneurs and founders take stock of their well-being and pursue a six-week goal to better themselves whether it be focus, eating, exercise, weight loss or sleep. In-studio Scott talks to challenge participants Pete Wilkins, Managing Director of Hyde Park Angels, Mike Apostal, founder of Factor75 and Jeff Cantalupo, Managing Director of Listen Ventures.

UPShow Gives Businesses the Power To Create Their Own Netflix May 20, 2019

Matt Gibbs, CMO of UPshow, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in the heart of downtown Chicago. UPshow wants to change your relationship with screen time and content engagement. Whether your patrons sit at the doctor's office or at a bar, UPshow has the ability to offer customizable and marketable content inside your place of business. Listen to Matt talk about how the company has evolved since its founding three years ago.

Utilizing Mixed Reality for a Futuristic Shopping Experience May 14, 2019

Heather Baker, VP of talent at InContext Solutions, and Joe Wegreke, Director of human capital consulting at TriNet, join Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in downtown Chicago to discuss mixed reality and human resource services.

Supercharging the Gig Economy, the Future of Employment May 13, 2019

Rick Bowman, CEO of Shiftgig, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in the heart of downtown Chicago. The gig economy is the best place to find experts in any field, and the popular form of employment will soon rival the traditional methods of hiring.

The Organic Sparkling Water Startup That Uses Flower Power May 08, 2019

Candice Crane, founder & CEO of Petal, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in the heart of downtown Chicago. Her startup, which launched in 2017, uses flowers and other botanicals to create a tasty, no-caffeine, little-sugar, sparkling drink. A look into how she came up with an idea she knew would be a good fit for its market.

Take the Guesswork Out of Business Problems With ‘Person-Level Data’ May 06, 2019

Sulabh Agarwal, CTO of Civis Analytics, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in the heart of downtown Chicago. Person-level data is the new sliced bread of the analytics world, and you'll want to become familiar with it.

Get Connected With Local Resources to Help Improve Your Finances May 01, 2019

Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, CEO and co-founder of SpringFour, joins Scott in-studio in downtown Chicago. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

No More Social Media FOMO: The Best App to Anonymously Share Your Opinion Apr 30, 2019

Kaben Clauson, founder & CEO of TruePublic, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in downtown Chicago to share an update of his app. TruePublic is a survey app that acquires anonymous data and shares it with the world. Male, female, white, green, each topical survey question provides different results, and the anonymity ensures everyone has an equal voice. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

This 91-Year-Old Insurance Giant Stays Young with Smart Acquisitions and Ambitious Investments Apr 25, 2019

Ryan Rist, the Director of Innovation for American Family, stopped by the WGN Studio in downtown Chicago to talk about how insurance can innovate, the challenges for would-be industry disruptors, and how American Family has changed up the way it does things. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

A Home Gym With Video instructors: Innovating the Recent Fitness Craze Apr 24, 2019

Aly Orady, CEO & founder of Tonal, joins Scott on WGN Radio to talk about how his company has made an impact in the "home gym" world among big names like Bowflex and Peloton. Struggling with weight since childhood, Aly decided to fix his problem on his own. Listen to Scott and Aly shoot the crap and look deep behind the scenes. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Capture Your Products at Every Angle to Show Buyers Your Best Apr 23, 2019

Jeff Hunt, CEO of Snap36, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio in Chicago to tell his startup story. Jeff, having worked in the tech industry for 30 years, has made product content a thing of ease. Listen in to find out how he managed to stay in the game for so long, and how he still created something groundbreaking so late in the game. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Milwaukee is the New New Midwestern Tech Hub Apr 17, 2019

James Hischke, Senior Director of Tech Advancement and Outreach at Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee, joins Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio right in downtown Chicago. Milwaukee is often referred to as Chicago's younger sibling, but its quickly making a case to be a serious contender for "tech hub of the Midwest." A little friendly competition never hurt anybody, right?

Easy Estate Planning for a Generation That's Not Thinking About It Apr 16, 2019

Cody Barbo, co-founder of Trust & Will, joins Scott on WGN Radio to talk about life after death. Not the afterlife, but the legacy we leave behind when we pass. As a younger generation, Millennials don't even think about passing away. Cody's company Trust & Will will help with that. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Get Paid to Find an Apartment: Rentgrata's Continued Success in Chicago Apr 10, 2019

Zach Sloan, co-founder & CFO of Rentgrata, joins Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio to give us an update on his get-paid-to-live apartment hunting platform. A Technori favorite, this episode is brought to you by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Technori and Founder Institute: A Free Spot in the Startup Launch Program Apr 10, 2019

The Founder Institute and Technori are partnering up to offer one founder a free place on the Institute's world-renown startup launch program. This is a $999 value that can be yours if you just apply here -> https://fi.co/join/Technori

Make Your Own Herb-Infused Oils (Yes, THAT Kind of Herb) Apr 09, 2019

Chrissy Bellman, founder & CEO of LEVO Oil Infusion, joins Scott on the phone from Denver, Colorado. Her LEVO machine has been deemed the KitchenAid of cannabis by Forbes, and it's easy to see why. Herb-infused oils without the mess or the stench. Listen to learn more!

Cybersecurity Cheaper Than Netflix: Now There's no Excuse to be Unprotected Apr 09, 2019

Darren Guccione, CEO & co-founder of Keeper Security, joins Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio right in the heart of downtown Chicago. Keeper Security offers protection for under $5 a month, and Darren is here to hammer in the importance of protection for businesses.

3D Printing Since 11, Ethan Baehrand Made a Business Out of His Passion Apr 08, 2019

Ethan Baehrand, CEO of Creative 3D Technologies, joins Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Quevos Egg White Chips Are Your New High-Protein Guilt-Free Snack Apr 03, 2019

Nick Hamburger, co-founder of Quevos, joins host Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio in Chicago. Nick, a 21-year-old entrepreneur, has found a way to sell the crispy remains of a fried egg with a twist. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MR Real Estate.

Blueprint Bridges the Gap Between Doctors and Patients — All Through Your Smartphone Apr 03, 2019

Danny Freed, founder & CEO of Blueprint, joins host Scott Kitun in-studio at WGN Radio.

Genuity Shakes up IT Management Pricing Models, Helping Small Businesses Afford Enterprise-Level Tools Apr 01, 2019

Colum Donahue, co-founder & CEO of Genuity, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio.

S2 Brands is Redefining How We Grieve and Memorialize Our Loved Ones Mar 27, 2019

Michael Schimmel, founder & CEO of S2 Brands, joins Scott in-studio at WGN. S2 Brands embraces transparency to make death and the grieving process more manageable without sacrificing appropriateness or appreciation. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Farmer’s Fridge Gives You Fresh, Restaurant-Quality Eats From a Vending Machine Mar 26, 2019

Luke Saunders, founder & CEO of Farmer's Fridge, joins Scott in-studio at WGN once again to give an update on his innovative "fresh food vending machine" invention. Farmer's Fridge machines are all over Chicago, but we don't think it'll be long until they're all over America.

Ensono Provides IT Solutions for Today and Watches Your Back for Tomorrow Mar 20, 2019

Jeff VonDeylen, CEO of Ensono, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to address a giant concern for all startups: IT. Ensono delivers solutions in a way that has helped them expand to meet the demands of their clients. This episode is brought to you by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Let MBX Handle Your Startup's Manufacturing and Hardware Logistics Mar 18, 2019

Chris Tucker, president of MBX Systems, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about helping startups using software. MBX doesn't just focus on logistics or inventory, they focus on strictly game-changing tech. This episode is sponsored by MB Real Estate and Bank of America.

From Two Guys to $100M: Six Scaling Tips From BenchPrep Mar 13, 2019

Ashish Rangnekar, co-founder of BenchPrep, joins Scott in-studio to talk about lifelong learning. An online learning platform that helps students prepare for standardized tests, BenchPrep is something Scott wishes he had in school. Not that it would've helped much, but still.

With a Shift to Apparel, The Tie Bar Helps Millennial Guys Find a Perfect Fit Mar 11, 2019

Allyson Lewis, The Tie Bar CEO, joins Scott in-studio at WGN once again to give him an update on their expansion and success around Chicago. Offering trendy menswear for insane prices will do that for you!

Be Your Own Broker With Abode HQ's Real Estate Platform Mar 06, 2019

Kyle Stoner, founder and CEO of Abode Technologies, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about how easy real estate should be. Abode uses machine learning to match home buyers with top real estate professionals such as realtors, bankers, and contractors. Listen to learn more!

Three Lessons in Scaling From Lightstream, Your Next Streaming Studio Mar 04, 2019

Stu Grubbs and Jenny Farver, CEO and CTO of Lightstream respectively, join Scott in-studio to give listeners a look at how companies plan expansion. Lightstream went from 4 co-founders, to (now) 23 members, and the number is only going to get bigger.

2ndKitchen Serves Food to Your Office From Nearby Restaurants and Bars Feb 28, 2019

Nick Anastasiades, co-founder & CEO of 2ndKitchen, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk food. 2ndKitchen lets restaurants and bars deliver straight to customers with no cost to them. Find out exactly how they work in this episode of the Technori podcast.

Crafty Makes Sure Your Office Has Your Favorite Snacks and Beer Feb 25, 2019

Ishan Daya, co-founder of Crafty, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to jaw about food, and how employers try and fail to give their workers a satisfying lunch option. Crafty provides the chips, the coffee, the sandwiches, the beer... almost anything you could want during the work day.

Teaching One Billion Kids How to Code: That's What Codeverse is Going to Do Feb 18, 2019

Katy Lynch, co-founder and CMO of Codeverse, joins Scott in-studio for the hundredth time to give an update on how well Codeverse is doing. Since they were last in our studio, they've built more brick-and-mortar locations and are planning to expand even more! Listen to our latest episode to hear the newest developments with the program that will teach one billion children how to code, program, and innovate.

Hire without borders, and avoid all the hassle using Envoy Global Feb 13, 2019

Dick Burke, president & CEO of Envoy Global, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about what makes the best kind of team. If you really do want the BEST, then you have to consider hiring from around the world. Envoy Global will help you with that and all the red tape you'll no doubt encounter.

Aegis AI's Camera Software Can Detect a Gun and Notify the Police Instantly Feb 12, 2019

Aegis AI's founders Sonny Tai and Ben Ziomek join Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about their gun-detection software. Sonny has a mission in life to make the world safer one gun at a time, and his ideation reflects that. Company is now called Actuate.

Attest is Going to Help You Digitize Your Personal Identity Using Blockchain Feb 06, 2019

Jennifer O'Rourke, co-founder & president of Attest, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about how the future of blockchain will help shape our online identities more than you realize. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

ActiveCampaign Serves Up Big Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses Feb 05, 2019

Jason VandeBoom, founder & CEO of ActiveCampaign, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about the advantage his CRM has over others such as Salesforce, MailChimp, and HubSpot. If you listen, you can get almost TWO months of ActiveCampaign for absolutely FREE! The first two weeks are already free with a trial, but Technori can get you more. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Orbitz Founder Jeff Katz Disrupts Travel Again with New Startup Journera Jan 31, 2019

Jeff Katz, founder & CEO of Journera and original founder of Orbitz, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to share his insights on how travel companies can (and should) use data to connect and provide accommodating options to consumers. For travelers, it's not about the hotel you stay at, it's about the entire journey. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

How Sittercity started with zero funding and ended up at the top of Chicago's business ladder Jan 29, 2019

Elizabeth Harz, CEO of Sittercity, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to share her classic bootstrapping story about how her on-demand babysitting company went from rags to riches (metaphorically speaking!). Everyone compares simple, accessible, quick-response programs to Uber, when instead they should be comparing them to SitterCity.

Startup Peanut Butter Helps Employers Offer Student Loan Repayment As a Benefit Jan 24, 2019

David Aronson, founder and CEO of Peanut Butter, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to give him the dark truth about student loans in the US. The total student loan debt has reached $1.5 trillion, and has become the nation's largest financial asset. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

From DevMynd to Tandem: 3 Ways Founder JC Grubbs Made His Rebrand Look Easy Jan 22, 2019

Founder and CEO of Tandem, JC Grubbs, joins Scott in-studio to give us some lessons in how to not only rename your company, but rebrand it entirely in order to create a fresh persona, mission, and pitch. Tandem was once DevMynd before JC decided something needed to change. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Retail Platform Pixavo Delivers a Unique Digital Concierge Experience Jan 16, 2019

MaryLiz Lehman, CEO & co-founder of Pixavo, joins Scott in-studio at WGN to talk about the antiquated method of retailers today. It's not about what you sell (I can get anything from anywhere at any time), it's about how you sell it. Be transparent, and be open with your customers! This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

GuardianVets Offers Around-the-clock, Dependable Veterinary Care Jan 16, 2019

John Dillon, founder and CEO of GuardianVets, joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to share how tech and triage came together to give his clients help when they need it the most. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Brideside: A High-Touch Approach to Wedding Apparel Jan 14, 2019

Brideside co-founder Nicole Staple joins Scott at WGN Radio to talk about all the fun that comes with preparing a wedding, but also all the stress, timing, and investment that can accompany it. But that's exactly what Brideside is here for. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Improve Your Sales: How to Lead With Transparency and Vulnerability to Win Customers’ Trust Jan 10, 2019

Author of "The Transparency Sale" Todd Caponi joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to discuss his new book, and how the art of the sale is almost a pastime these days. Whenever we see a salesperson, we immediately take a step back and think "Yeah okay, what are you trying to sell me?" Today's salespeople must change their approach, and Todd has been able to do it for several years now.

Pop, Clink, Fizz: SOCIAL Delivers Guilt-Free Organic Sparkling Wine Jan 07, 2019

CEO of SOCIAL Sparkling Wine, Leah Caplanis, joins Scott at WGN Radio to talk about taking advantage of the opportunity given to you in life. Leah believes that if you come up with an idea, then no one is more suitable to see it through than you are. And we agree. You came up with the idea after all, didn't you?

Building a business in the era of Amazon's endless shelf Jan 03, 2019

Seller Labs CMO Jeff Cohen joins Scott in-studio to explain how third-party providers make a living through Amazon. It's more than an "if you can't beat them, join them" mentality; Amazon is helping "the little guy" by giving the world access to its products for low marketing prices and no need to keep inventory. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

"Flat organization just works" - How Punchkick uses this method to grow Jan 01, 2019

Co-founder and CEO of Punchkick Interactive Zab Dabbas joins Scott at WGN Radio to outline how he uses a special process that allows everyone in his company an equal opportunity to grow. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Three Quick Lessons in Disruption with Drew Lydecker Dec 31, 2018

AVANT Communications co-founder and president Drew Lydecker joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about what it takes to disrupt your marketplace. It's not about doing something new or coming up with a groundbreaking, history-making idea... it's about putting your head down, taking note of the competition, and doing what they do worst, best. This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

PediaSource: On-call, vetted childcare experts from neuropsychologists to potty trainers Dec 20, 2018

PediaSource founder and CEO Hema Raj Trukenbrod spoke to Scott in-studio at WGN Radio about what the heck he's going to do when he has his first kid! PediaSource is a network of trained, educated, vetted, trusted, and caring childcare experts. From neuropsychologists to potty-trainers, PediaSource can help you care for your child from age 0-18, anytime you need them.

Holistic Uses Data to Give Companies an “Employee Happiness” Credit Score Dec 19, 2018

Holistic CEO Tom Alexander joins Scott in-studio and WGN Radio once again to spread the good word of data. Company culture has been a focus for new and current employees over the last few years, and people are looking for ways to disrupt and improve it. We use data to help us in all aspects of life, so why can't we use data to help improve work culture and make work a better place for everyone?

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Chicago is more ethnically diverse than the entire US, but its VCs are not Dec 17, 2018

Chicago Blend board members Lindsay Knight and Kristi Dula join Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to shed light on the diversity issue Chicago companies face. VCs in the Windy City are, unsurprisingly, overwhelmingly white and male. It will take decades to make a large dent in those numbers, but the sooner we get started, the sooner it'll change.

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

YourBit rounds up your credit card charges and sends the difference to charity Dec 13, 2018

YourBit founder and CEO Matt Minor joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about why charity should be consistent throughout the year instead of just during the holiday season. When you spend $1.50 on something, YourBit rounds the credit card charge up to the next dollar, and you donate the remaining 50 cents to a charity. Using YourBit, people can donate to charity year-round without even having to think twice about it. We pay for Netflix each month, so why can't we donate some change to a charity every time we buy a coffee?

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Using data visualization to give you the best investment advice Dec 12, 2018

YCharts CEO Sean Brown joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to help our listeners with investing. YCharts isn't just some dude telling you what and what not to invest in; it's a cloud-based investment research platform that uses data visualization to help people make smarter investment choices.

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

How two CEOs made a protein bar stand out among endless competition Dec 11, 2018

JiMMYBAR! co-CEOs Jim Simon and Jason Wadler join Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to share how they became so successful in a market that is otherwise overflowing with competition. If you want a protein bar that isn't made of chalk and a bunch of incoherent ingredients, chances are it'll be tough to find one that also tastes good. This is the part where we say "This is where JiMMYBAR! comes in." This is where JiMMYBAR! comes in.

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

Challenge Accepted: How WeSolv is Disrupting ‘Diversity Recruiting’ Dec 03, 2018

WeSolv CEO and Founder Stella Ashaolu joins Scott in-studio to share their experiences with "diversity" in the workplace. Companies often talk about diversity, spread its values, and exclaim how important it is, but do they practice it?

“When I started, there were no black female founders in Chicago that readily came to mind, to whom I could go to for advice,” says Stella Ashaolu, founder and CEO of WeSolv.

Her three-year old Chicago-based startup is reducing hiring bias by providing opportunities for MBA students to solve real-world challenges for top companies.

Chris Gladwin on Problem-Solving, Perserverance, and Plans for Chicago Nov 29, 2018

What Tech Startups Need To Know About the Cloud Nov 16, 2018

What was once a futuristic notion has turned into a scary place to store our data. The cloud can be a tough place to understand, and an even tougher place to keep your data secure. Without the right professional advice and strategy, you might make a mistake that could cost you.

Unitas Global CMO Scott Walker joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to try and explain the cloud to him. Large legacy businesses are migrating their data and services to the cloud, but they don’t realize what kind of difficulties they may encounter.

Fake It Til You Make It; Trader Edition Nov 15, 2018

This past year has turned a lot of average Joes into less-than-average investors, and we can thank the crypto surge for this. So you bought a share of a company, and then the stock dropped 60%... what do you do now? That's what keeps people away: the constant ups and downs of the market.

Some of us are afraid to buy stocks, some of us are afraid to sell stocks, but some of us are nuts and actually do both. We all know that one friend who can't tie their own shoes but somehow they're making money on stocks (coughSCOTTcough). What's stopping you from being that friend?

Rapunzl Investments founder Brian Curcio gives Scott investment advice in-studio at WGN Radio. Whether you’re a day-trader looking to make that quick buck, or you “hodl” every stock you have your hands on, you’d be much better off with some help. Shoot, even Scott needs some advice once in a while.

6 Tips for Successful Company Parties, Benefits and Other IRL Interactions Nov 14, 2018

Every time you throw an event, you make a statement about your company, your brand, and yourself. If you host a bad event, people will remember it and reference it whenever you come up in conversation. So you'd probably want to host the best experience for your guests, wouldn't you?

PartySlate CEO Julie Novack joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about how events should be more than just having a bunch of people in a room. Your event should have a clear purpose and objective, not just free food and drink. Each event is unique, and everyone will associate your brand with your events, so it’s always in your best interest to get a professional planner to help you (like, maybe PartySlate).

Julie is also our guest on Fakers and Makers this week; Amazon HQ2, lifelike robot spouses, and driver-less cabs are the issues up for discussion in this episode. Tune in each week for a new segment of F&M featuring a different guest!

Startup Showcase: Talking with CEO Todd Unger Nov 13, 2018

When Todd Unger was working for AOL many years ago, people told him he was nuts. "You're crazy! This is all a fad!" Well, who's nuts now? Media has come so far in the last couple decades, and Todd is no stranger to it.

Old institutions are becoming digitized to keep up with the advancement of media. Ford is becoming a software company, newspapers are becoming online-only, and even Todd's company, the American Medical Association, has moved onto digital journals. The influence of companies is greater than it ever was and nowhere as great as it ever will be.

Listen to Scott and Todd talk about the advancement and modernization of media in this episode of the Technori podcast.

Watching eSports in a bar just like football Sunday... that's FanHome Nov 12, 2018

FanHome founder Lucas Pasch joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about the rising world of eSports. FanHome brings people together to watch live eSports just like live sports: in bars with beer! Millions of fans tune in to watch Overwatch, Dota 2, and CS:GO championships. If you’re one of them, and you live in Chicago, you might want to check them out.

Gone are the days of streaming eSports tournaments to your computer at home. Attend a FanHome event and you could find others near you with similar interests. Soon, FanHome will have their 2019 eSports schedule figured out, so be sure to stay up to date with that. Who knows, maybe Technori and FanHome will play video games together one day...

The trick to marketing is to treat it like a first date Nov 08, 2018

Steel Croissant founder Matt Mroczek joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio for the second time in one year! On the show before with Scrub30, Matt makes the point that marketing is a lot like trying to land that first date. There’s a lot of gut feeling involved, you need to make a connection, and there’s a bunch of garbage out there to sift through.

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

This startup just used video shoutouts to reinvent the autograph market Nov 07, 2018

Cameo CEO Steven Galanis joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about why Cameo is so far apart from Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. One day in the very near future, Snapchat might not exist. But something as interesting as Cameo will. With Galanis at the helm, it’s important to bet on the jockey and not the horse.

This episode is sponsored by Bank of America and MB Real Estate.

You ever order food? Chowly probably helped with that Nov 02, 2018

Chowly, Inc. CEO Sterling Douglass joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about Scott’s second-favorite thing after startups - food! You ever see those tablets at a restaurant that servers use to input orders? They’re clunky, slow, and annoying. Chowly eliminates the tablet middle-man and connects third-party platforms to POS systems.

Carlease.com is shaking up the auto industry and making car leasing easier Nov 01, 2018

Carlease.com CEO Hans Bodine joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to share in their common love for cars. Carlease.com provides consumers and dealers with the knowledge they need to make an informed decision about their vehicle. Gone are the days of intimidation at the dealership; Carlease.com makes everything simple and understandable.

Kevin Leland connects scientists to research funding with Halo Oct 24, 2018

Halo founder Kevin Leland joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to… confess their love to each other? Boasting a similar track record to Scott, Kevin’s company Halo helps connect scientists to research funding so they can continue to operate in their own laboratories.

Why tech companies are flocking to legacy real estate Oct 24, 2018

MB Real Estate managing director Andrew Davidson joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk popular real estate destinations for big-name business in downtown Chicago. The combination of older buildings and increasing company sizes is making areas like LaSalle Street a hot commodity for companies looking to move.

This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America & Jones Lang LaSalle.

How to enjoy better wine with Winestyr Oct 22, 2018

Winestyr co-founders Scott Washburn and Bob Wilson join Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to drink wine. Headquartered in Chicago, Winestyr sends its members expertly curated wine right to the front door. Scott’s been a member for years, and he’d sell a kidney to keep his subscription going.

SwipeSense is improving hospital efficiency and sanitation Oct 22, 2018

SwipeSense is improving hospital efficiency and sanitationSwipeSense founder Mert Iseri joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk sanitation in hospitals. SwipeSense is like a GPS tracker for the inside of hospitals, making sure nurses stay sanitized and that the hospital runs as smoothly as possible.

What top investors look for in founders Oct 17, 2018

Lightbank Managing Partner Vic Pascucci joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about what top VCs are looking to invest in; more particularly WHO they’re looking to invest in and why... A few epic truth bombs (as well as a lot of other sorts of bombs) 🔥

The bar of the future is here with Bartesian Oct 08, 2018

Bartesian CEO Ryan Close joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to discuss Scott’s second-favorite topic after startups: booze. Bartesian is basically an espresso machine for premium cocktails. Set it up, scan a code, and the Bartesian makes a delicious cocktail for you.

Winston Privacy allows users to surf the web safely and keep your data secure Oct 04, 2018

Winston Privacy founder Rich Stokes joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk internet data privacy. Rich’s invention Winston randomizes your VPN data and scrambles it with other Winston owners’, making it impossible for others to steal or find your information. Just by plugging it in and turning it on, Winston disables 75-80% of all tracking.

Jason Kolb on the “internet of insurance” and revolutionizing the industry Oct 04, 2018

DAIS CEO Jason Kolb joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about his mind-child, the Internet of insurance. Jason noticed the insurance market was horribly disconnected between agents and carriers, so he makes it his mission to encourage connectivity and push the space forward.

Developing Chicago's leaders to affect civic change Oct 02, 2018

Leadership Greater Chicago CEO Maria Wynne joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to discuss the issues that face the Chicago community, from education to technology. LGC brings together Chicago’s leaders to explore key challenges and develop solutions.

Creating rapid growth in the classroom through personalized learning Sep 27, 2018

ThinkCERCA CEO Eileen Murphy joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about the lack of preparation students face after they graduate and head into the real world. It’s time to dump the old curriculum and become more engaged with our students

This startup aims to save millions of newborn lives through medical technologies Sep 27, 2018

Neopenda co-founder and CEO Sona Shah joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk newborn health. Three million babies die within their first month of life, and nearly all of those deaths occur in a developing country. Neopenda’s vital signs monitor aims to fix that.

Rich Alapack knows no hate Sep 20, 2018

we all live here Founder Richard Alapack joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about hatred; what starts it, where it happens, and most importantly, how to stop it. we all live here uses art, community, and technology to remind everyone who lives here (hint: we all do).

This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America & Jones Lang LaSalle.

The Top 3 (or 4) Tools Every Startup Needs Sep 11, 2018

Launching a startup is nearly impossible, regardless of funding, experience and even luck - but, if there was one thing that might just separate the top founders from the pack, it's knowing how valuable time is.

Imagine, when Instagram blew past 1,000,000 downloads they still had just a 13 person team... THIRTEEN! How is that possible? I'll tell you how; it's possible because of exceptional time management skills (and accompanying collaboration tools).

In case you've never heard of G2 Crowd - which is hard to imagine, given the millions of monthly site visitors - G2 is something of a Yelp for SaaS tools and it has quickly become the go-to spot for founders and other tech-enabled businesses to review, read and engage with popular apps like Salesforce, Heroku, Sprout social and others.

Newly (9 months on the job) hired CMO Ryan Bonnici joined me live in-studio to discuss what it's been like taking on such a senior role, where G2 Crowd is going next and what his top 3 tools are for startups looking to compete at the highest level.

Tour your next office space from your couch Sep 01, 2018

It's Saturday morning, you woke up a little bit early and you're enjoying the comfort of your couch. But you have to leave to tour a new office space for your budding startup in an hour and you don't really feel like it.

If you whip out your smartphone you'll be able to tour those offices without putting pants on.

Remember when we heard about virtual reality for the first time and we thought it would make us fat and lazy? Well that time has come, and it's pretty amazing. Give Truss a try next time you have a tour on your schedule.

A look into the booming cannabis startup industry Aug 31, 2018

The Devil's lettuce, grass... Whatever you call pot, you can't ignore the fact it's becoming more and more, should I say, accepted in American society. You might not believe it after the recent Elon Musk PR nightmare, but it is!

In states like Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington, marijuana entrepreneurs are finding great success in not only the medical industry but the recreational world as well. Matt recently attended CannaCon in Boston, MA, where it's clear that weed will soon blow up the startup economy.

You know how investing in cryptocurrency is all the rage now? Yeah, just wait until weed is 100% legalized. Shoot, why wait? Invest now!

HR should encourage growth, not just hire new people Aug 28, 2018

Cognos HR CEO Bob Cerone joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about how companies can use human resources to propel their business rather than just make new hires. In today’s world, restricted HR can seriously hurt a company.

This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America & Jones Lang LaSalle.

Large companies fail at content, but you don't have to Aug 27, 2018

PopularPays CEO & Co-Founder Corbett Drummey joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to pal around about why advertising and content creation is so hard to master. Large companies can't keep up with constantly changing trends, but Scott and Corbett share how small companies can.

This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America & Jones Lang LaSalle.

How to find (and keep) a great salesperson Aug 27, 2018

Miller Heiman Group President and CEO Byron Matthews joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to discuss why a truly good salesman is hard to come by these days. Maybe it’s because kids are too busy online to care much about it, or maybe companies simply aren’t looking hard enough. Got a good salesman? Don’t let them go.
This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America, & Jones Lang LaSalle.

Tovala: A smart oven for everyone Aug 27, 2018

Tovala Founder David Rabie joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about smart ovens paired with meal plans. Rabie hustled across the U.S. carrying his oven on buses and subways before getting $9 million in funding last year.

This episode is sponsored by Salesforce, Bank of America & Jones Lang LaSalle.

Improving workplace culture w/ Holistic Aug 27, 2018

Former 1871 COO Tom Alexander has now founded an innovative way to measure and quantify team culture with his new venture Holistic. He joins Technori to talk about what it’s like to go from helping support entrepreneurs, to being one.

We'll do anything for our pets, so get them the best kind of insurance, too Aug 24, 2018

When my dog needed surgery, my wife and I spent an inSANE amount of money to make sure everything was okay. But don't worry - I gladly would've paid more!

We'd do anything for our pets, so why wouldn't we make sure they have the best care and the best protection?

Rusty is another ex-real estate guy (just like me!), so there must be something about real estate that makes people want to quit immediately and start their own business. Maybe the housing crisis had something to do with it, but I'm not so sure...

Rise Interactive CEO Jon Morris Aug 16, 2018

Rise Interactive CEO Jon Morris joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio about the basics of building a company. As long as what you deliver is exceptional and consistent with your brand, you’ll stick around while your competition fades away.

In a factory, data is more valuable than the actual product Aug 03, 2018

SensrTrx CEO Bryan Sapot joins Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about the data behind the machines and equipment we use. Inside of a factory, the data registered by a machine could be more valuable than the actual product itself.

Correcting today's retail education w/ Progress Jun 27, 2018

Progress offers in-person training that will provide businesses with lessons, like communication, that won't be offered in other traditional arenas like college. CEO Ray Riley joins the show to set the record straight: communication is a core skill not a soft one.

A business model based on hitting a hole-in-one Jun 13, 2018

Swing King CEO Mike Jakob hops on the show to talk about the inspiration behind his hole-in-one contest technology. Swing King aims to provide a new revenue stream for golf courses and cash prizes for golfers by setting up a discreet camera system on any Par 3, 150+ yard hole on a golf course. Hear Mike and Scott dive into all things golf, his revenue model and how to make a business around the universal celebration for a hole-in-one shot.

If we deny AI, we deny our own progress Jun 13, 2018

"Narrative Science is humanizing data like never before, with technology that interprets your data, then transforms it into insightful, natural language narratives at unprecedented speed and scale. Turn your data into an actionable, powerful asset you can use to make better decisions, improve interactions with customers, and empower your employees."

Narrative Science CEO Stuart Frankel joins the show.

3D printers your grandparents can figure out Jun 13, 2018

3D printers are in vogue but they aren't reliably safe or efficient...yet. R3 Printing Co-Founder Daniel Downs calls into Technori LIVE from Manhattan to discuss his mission to expand 3D printing on the enterprise level. Listen and find out how it will trickle down to in-home and in-school products in the future. Sean Froelich hosts.

You can invest in R3 Printing on Republic. https://republic.co/r3-printing

Rent bikes wherever and whenever you want Jun 13, 2018

Twisted Road CEO Austin Rothbard spent 20 years in corporate America before hitting the open road. He became addicted to motorcycles after his first ride in 2015. Then he realized that it was difficult to find bikes when he travelled. That's where Twisted Road was born.

G2 Crowd: from Iowa farms to P2P reviews Jun 07, 2018

G2 Crowd CEO Tim Handorf came from humble beginnings. Like a graduating from a class of 19 in Iowa kind of humble. But it's there where he found some of his greatest entrepreneurial lessons. So what's farming got to do with tech and business? Listen in and find out how the business-solutions software company became a Chicago mainstay.

The inside scoop on Home Chef's $700 million merger May 29, 2018

Home Chef CEO Patrick Vihtelic led his company to a big 2017. The fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service saw 150% growth and $250 million in revenue. Host Scott Kitun talks with Vihtelic about the recent merger and more on this episode.

Alcohol tech is finally catching up to the rest of the world May 24, 2018

Provi Founder & CEO Taylor Katzman is in the business of booze. He helps give alcohol distributors a leg up in the industry by making their systems more efficient. The platform serves as a one stop shop for ordering and supplying beverages. They recently raised $5 million.

A global political advocacy platform to serve local needs May 24, 2018

CityBase CEO Mike Duffy is giving political advocacy a big leg up. CityBase CityBase is creating a common language and consistent interface for government services. There are 1,000+ constituent activities in a city, which break down to a handful of common user actions. We’re committed to providing governments a global platform to serve local needs.

ClearCover founder Kyle Nakatsuji May 17, 2018

Clearcover is a platform with the goal of cutting down on car insurance costs. CEO Kyle Nakatsuji saw his company raise over $11 million in year one. Nakatsuji’s company is a disruptor. So how do you disrupt a powerful industry like car insurance while also maintaining relationships with the old guard? Originally published November 1st, 2017.

Lease a car (never buy!) to your front door May 15, 2018

Carlease.com CEO Andy O’Dwyer is here to talk some pressure off host Scott Kitun. Carlease connects users with the right car, solid dealerships and good offers while delivering the car to your door. Unfortunately for Scott, his beloved electric car Howard got into a bad crash. Scott and the leased car will be alright, but he’d like some input.

Print photos straight from your phone May 15, 2018

FOTO ATM lets you print your favorite pics directly from your phone. Co-Founders Eric Michael’s and Brian Gardner join the show to talk about how they built the special little app. Find out how this product was developed and designed and how you can bolster your Instagram game.

Making social media happy again May 15, 2018

Curiosity CEO Lisa Weinstein makes content that trends. The content they create is both positive and eye-opening. Weinstein opens up about the glut of online content and how negative media can be combated with positive, educational stories.

Connecting Chicago through easy parking May 15, 2018

Yona Shtern is CEO of ParkWhiz and he’s connected garages, consumers and major brands together in order to streamline the parking process. ParkWhiz recently had to decide whether to host their own service or work it into other platforms. What did they do? Either way, there’s no need to sweat about getting to your next outing!

Visit ParkWhiz and use promo code TECHNORI to save $10 on parking.

(Finally) Easy leasing for tenants and landlords May 04, 2018

Avail makes renting easier and less daunting for landlords and tenants. Co-founder Ryan Coon found an archaic leasing industry and saw a path for innovation. Potential tenants even have an opportunity to find the right pad for them.

John Roa: "Everything is there to stop you." Fight back. May 04, 2018

It’s been a long trip to building Roa Ventures for multi-time Founder John Roa. He endured years of struggle before selling his startup Akta to Salesforce. Currently, Roa Investments deploys early-stage capital into high-potential lifestyle businesses. And they’re global. Roa shares the wisdom he’s learned during his entrepreneurial path.

Become the one in charge of your life again May 02, 2018

Cara CEO and President Maria Kim is helping the underserved find quality work. Enduring domestic violence, poverty and incarceration should not be an end to finding a quality career. The process also rebuilds esteem among the individuals and their families.

Quality of service should be your top goal May 02, 2018

Hunt Club CEO Nick Cromydas is passionate about building napkin ideas into companies. He’s appeared on Forbes 30 under 30 and founder of New Coast Ventures. Cromydas and host Scott Kitun talk about how tech can bolster the recruitment process. Switching jobs is a difficult road, but tech can put the best guides at the table.

Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

All your data, one cloud-based engine Apr 30, 2018

Justin Ullman is on a mission to organize your company. The RhinoDox software is a cloud-based document solutions software that organizes your files and propels your business processes. The company has roots in 1913 and Ullman updated the company for digital storage in 2016. Host Scott Kitun and Ullman discuss wasted time, Step Brothers, and how management is like chess.

Survival lessons from a 25-year-old tech company Apr 30, 2018

alligatortek is software that addresses business bottlenecks. Founder and CEO Sid Bala took his 90s enterprise-application company and updated it, getting it named as one of the top 50 Employers for Gen Y Emerging Talent in 2013. Bala reflects on the origins of his company and the many lessons and successes along the way. aligatortek is a 2-time Chi Innovation Award winner. And remember, alligators put “byte” into your productivity.

Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Have a happier, healthier dog Apr 25, 2018

Stephen Hauer has created a tasty new GOO for your dog that re-calibrates their immune systems, letting them live happier, healthier lives. Doggy Goo is a goo-licious treat that you feed to your dog daily. Prevention trumps treatment every time. GoCivic Chicago’s Beth Bond also joins the show to discuss the upcoming Midwest Women in Tech conference.

A holistic student-teacher relationship formed through tech Apr 25, 2018

Otus COO Keith Westman is giving you more insight into the classroom. Host Scott Kitun is joined by GoCivic Chicago’s Beth Bond to talk about what’s new in tech overseas in London and Stuttgart. The goal of Otus is to utilize tech to create a holistic approach to teacher-student relationships without replacing humans with bots.

Office gym memberships to increase productivity Apr 20, 2018

Gympass is gonna get your office ready for beach season. The program allows offices to sign up together for a gym membership. US General Manager Sean Flynn and Midwest General Manager Fabio Salim join the show. The duo will let you know why this system is a win-win-win for businesses, employees and gyms. Pleasure beats pressure.

Whole30 approved, keto-friendly, 100% beef sticks Apr 20, 2018

Chomps is the better for you meat snack. Gas station meats have historically left consumers wanting for better, healthier options. CEO Peter Maldonado and COO Rashid Ali join the show. Host Scott Kitun is happy to have the opportunity to discuss jerky. How do you build a meats startup? The team then gets into a lively discussion about the importance of timeliness.

How do you become an influencer? Apr 18, 2018

Matt Kamp is Senior Vice President of Influence & Co. The old adage goes “talent isn’t everything.” That’s because so many talented people have a hard time getting published. That’s where Kamp steps in to share some of the insights offered by his company.

Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Rentgrata: Get real information about the apartments you’re searching Apr 18, 2018

Rentgrata is letting you live welcome. Co-founders Zach Sloan and Sam McArtor built a platform that combines apartment searching with social networking. The differentiator for this startup is that it allows you to talk with building tenants to learn about life on that block.

Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Outsource all your chores Apr 18, 2018

CEO Jake Obremski and CTO Neil Glazier are helping you get your chores done with the Dablr app. The duo started Dablr as high school juniors and are helping you either find extra help or extra dough. The services offered on the marketplace go anywhere from moving boxes to cleaning floors. Also, get an inside look on what it takes to build an app.

Equal Pay Day Roundtable Apr 16, 2018

Technori presents a special round table to recognize Equal Pay Day with Chicago women tech leaders. Host Scott Kitun and GoCivic Executive Director Beth Bond host the discussion. Terri Brax, Founder of Women Tech Founders and Ethos CEO Alida Miranda-Wolff join in to share some eye-opening stats to discuss about where Chicago is succeeding and where it's falling short.

You can only fix the problems you're interested in Apr 16, 2018

If your product fails, it means your people failed. That’s the problem Ethos CEO Alida Miranda-Wolf sets out to help companies avoid. Better people means a better business. Miranda-Wolf just came off a three year run at Hyde Park Angels before starting her own company which is currently launching. She’s loaded up with wisdom and she’s ready to share with host Scott Kitun and special co-host Beth Bond from GoCivic.

Put these women on your Chicago tech radar Apr 16, 2018

The Founder of Women Tech Founders Terri Brax joins the show to discuss the upcoming Midwest Conference. GoCivic’s Beth Bond co-hosts with Scott Kitun to run through the rolodex of star female leaders that will be at the event.

How Blue1647 is building an education movement in Chicago Apr 13, 2018

Blue1647 Founder Emile Cambry is building the next diverse generation of tech entrepreneurs. He’s hosting a TechCrunch meetup April 19th for young entrepreneurs to meet with tech leaders from around the nation. Cambry is currently developing Blue Studios which is a STEM program for K-12 students. How does he juggle it all?

Give scheduling a break; let Shedwool handle it Apr 11, 2018

ShedWool is changing the way employees schedule. CEO Cory Warfield has spent 20 years in the restaurant industry and he’s ready to modernize organization. Warfield used to rap and talks about his past in the music industry as well as bootstrapping. Warfield had a negative experience with a Chicago steakhouse and took it upon himself to improve scheduling across many more industries than restaurants.

Actual, honest, patient-first health care Apr 11, 2018

CEO Mike Pykosz is building a patient-first approach to health care with Oak Street Health. The centers, spread throughout Chicagoland, focus on medicare patients and underserved communities. 9 out of 10 patients are strongly recommending Oak Street Health services. What sets them apart? Same-day appointments for one.

Eating well at work shouldn't be hard (or expensive) Apr 10, 2018

Any new customers can download the app, or sign up at the fridge and get 50% off. For existing customers, they can use the code WGN10 to get 10% off.

Farmer’s Fridge creates automated “micro-restaurants” delivered to offices, public lobbies, and airports and every unsold meal is donated to local pantries. The process doesn’t cost vendors anything, it’s all based on customer consumption. Founder Luke Saunders sought to build a company that offer high-quality food fast. And by tasting the results, it’s safe to say this startup succeeded. And stay tuned for a live startup pitch from Pree Walla, co-founder of Preemadonna. Preemadonna is disrupting the nailcare industry with the Nailbot.

How Boomers can retire without fearing bankruptcy Apr 10, 2018

Ten thousand baby boomers turn 65 each and every day. Genivity is allowing seniors to retire without having to worry about bankruptcy by getting the whole family on board. Founder and CEO Heather Holmes helped create a SaaS platform that offers elder care cost planning. Listen and clear the air and the fear that comes along with elder care.

Back up every photo you ever take Apr 04, 2018

Founder Ercan Erciyes and Director of Customer Success Hardik Patel join the show to discuss easily storing your photos with Monument. The intelligent monument device backs up all the photos you take automatically. The team crowdfunded with Kickstarter and discovered a bigger user base excited to embrace the product than they expected. Use code TECHNORI to get $30 off online orders.

Why AI is your best sales rep Apr 04, 2018

XSELL Technologies founder and CEO Matt Coughlin and Vice President Brad Bennett are revolutionizing sales. The platform utilizes AI to manage customer interactions. What if every customer talked with your best sales rep? That’s what XSELL offers!

Jiobit: safe, real-time GPS child monitoring Apr 04, 2018

Jiobit CMO Lindsay Slutzky is helping to keep your kids safe. The company’s hardware gives parents peace of mind when they’re out in public with children. Parents can get GPS locating on their smartphone. Now the company is setting its focus on gun violence. Jiobit is joining forces with Motorola, Techstars Chicago and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence to host an educational event at Merchandise Mart.

Reverb Foundation is bringing music back to schools Apr 03, 2018

Reverb Director Molly Fannin helps operate one of Chicago’s most musical startups. It’s a platform for trading musical equipment, but now it’s expanding. The company gives back with Reverb Foundation with a mission to create more musicians. You can get involved! Reverb is joining hands with Salesforce, Girls Rock! and a host of musicians. Scott Kitun discusses how music makes tech, education and business more worthwhile.

Chicago ranks #1 in returns to investors Mar 26, 2018

A recent study shows that Chicago leads in returns to investors. Lightbank Managing Director Victor Pascucci III is one of those investors that opens doors for some of the hottest Chicago startups. Host Scott Kitun talks with Vic about Chicago’s rising tide as a tech hub and what sets the Windy City apart from the rest of the world.

Two-time winner of “Most Effective IT Team," ISAC Mar 26, 2018

ISAC has been around for 60 years and has sucessfully attracted new tech talent and has won Most Effective IT Team award for the second time, being the first state agency to do so. CIO Ramnath Cidambi joins the show to talk about how ISAC has stays relevant and how they help low-income students flourish. Sean Froelich fills in for Scott Kitun to learn about how tech is helping the modern student get to college, succeed in college and then finally, find a career.

Scout Alarm offers the complete personalized home security package Mar 21, 2018

Scout Alarm Founder David Shapiro offers a new breed of home security. Shapiro was unimpressed when he saw the offerings on the market. They were too complicated. The other problem is that the majority of people do not have home security. Scout puts users in the driver seat allowing them to personalize their security system for their home.

Why people are naturally lazy with passwords Mar 21, 2018

Keeper Security Inc. Co-Founder Darren Guccione is on the frontlines defending against hackers. The company focuses on passwords because 80 percent of breaches are due to poor password care. Keeper Security Inc. is also a Chicago Innovation award winner. Learn how hackers think so you can avoid an cyber attack and Save 50 percent when using promo code: TECHNORI.

Look out March Madness, Chicago’s tech bracket is on FIRE Mar 19, 2018

ChicagoInno Associate Editor Jim Dallke is competing head on with the NCAA with #techmadnessCHI, a bracket composed of Chicago’s top tech companies. Which competition has better jump shooters? The bracket is seeded by investment and gives Chicago an opportunity to know the startup community while creating some geeky competition.

Branding is much more than just marketing Mar 19, 2018

AE Marketing Group Founder Brian Walker is celebrating 7 years of service and double-digit profit growth. The group helps organizations realize that “branding” is more important than just marketing. Everything should be aligned. Walker show how find a line to a goal. And it starts with narrowing down who the target audience is.

Packaging is important; it's the first thing your consumer sees Mar 14, 2018

McDonald’s, Oreos, and Aquafina are all renowned for memorable packaging. Now you can beautify your packaging tubes. Paper Tube Co. Founder David Molo helps artisans and luxury-brands create customized, tubed packaging that’s just as good as the product inside. Hear the inside “scope” of how packaging can make you the top dog.

Get your selfie on TVs at Hooter's, Dunkin, and more Mar 14, 2018

UPshow transforms TV screens into social media broadcasting for anyone wanting to throw their pictures on screen. Strike your best pose! Host Scott Kitun talks with CEO Adam Hirsen about his admiration for the growing company, and his love for Hooters wings. Hooters is now officially an UPshow client with many more chains like Dunkin’ Donuts getting on board.

IT specialists: the modern superhero Mar 14, 2018

ImagIT Solutions CEO Brian Gardner keeps businesses, with multiple locations, running. The company offers services in 45 countries after humble start in 1999, when Gardner was only 14. When WiFi drops and you need help, ImagIT is there. Host Scott Kitun and Gardner go down the wire and discuss how to best deck-out your office and stay connected from coast-to-coast.

FivetoNine founder Jasmine Shells Mar 09, 2018

Who are kids in school looking up to? Is it the Fortune 500 CEO or Diddy? Five to Nine CEO Jasmine Shells is connecting city millennials in new and exciting ways. The platform allows users to find events and groups around the city they probably didn’t know about. The Technori crew digs into how the millennial is networking, connecting and changing workplace culture. They also share their WORST networking experiences.

WolfPack is the newest buddy system for road hogs Mar 09, 2018

Wild-road hogs and bicyclists are getting a new tech friend, WolfPack Systems, Inc. Scott Kitun and Beth Bond are joined by Founder Jonathan Chashper to talk about the evolution of community biking. Don’t get lost from your pack! You can invest in WolfPack with Republic.

P. Diddy or Bill Gates? Who do kids these days look up to? Mar 09, 2018

Who are kids in school looking up to? Is it the Fortune 500 CEO or Diddy? Five to Nine CEO Jasmine Shells is connecting city millennials in new and exciting ways. The platform allows users to find events and groups around the city they probably didn’t know about. The Technori crew digs into how the millennial is networking, connecting and changing workplace culture. They also share their WORST networking experiences.

A simple way to help your debt stop piling up Mar 07, 2018

Rent roll and operating expenses can and will add up quickly. With Lucro, your money can sit still and pile up while you make deals instead of crunching numbers. Break the model. Break your predicted earnings. Buy Lucro.

Daily office activities to improve morale and health Mar 07, 2018

Using positive psychology, ProHabits develops daily activities that can inspire personal and professional growth. Remove certain negative words from your day’s vocabulary or take 10 minutes to daydream and recharge your brain. A little professional habit goes a long way.

Tech-savvy Square Roots Kitchen serves fresh food, fast Mar 07, 2018

An elevator in a city can be the deciding factor between a healthy lunch and an unhealthy one. Square Roots Kitchen is a tech-enabled, fast-casual restaurant that provides guests with fresh ingredients and tasty dishes that won’t break the bank (or your belt).

ReAir: Gogo COO John Wade Mar 02, 2018

Scott talks to Gogo Air COO John Wade about the exciting innovations coming to the world of airline web services. March 2nd, 2017.

What will flying in the future look like? Mar 02, 2018

Gogo is one of Chicago’s brightest startups. They made a name extending Wi-Fi on flights. But the transformation of flying is just getting started. Gogo’s SVP Global Account Manager Dave Bijur stops in to talk about how your flight will feel different soon. GoCivic’s Beth Bond joins the conversation.

The future of the US economy is in Latin countries Mar 02, 2018

TechBridge is literally bridging Latin talent to America. The US is becoming increasingly Spanish-speaking and Latin countries are disrupting the global economy with new ideas. How should Chicago integrate with this change? TechBridge Managing Director Alfred Stevens is joined by AOS International Co-Founder Luis Calciedo to talk about partnering talents across hemispheres. GoCivic’s Beth Bond joins the conversation.

You’re wasting money on software without Flexera Feb 28, 2018

We know too little about software. Which is dangerous since it’s so global. Flexera CEO Jim Ryan is making the process of selling software more transparent, secure and effective. With software being so rooted in our everyday life, there’s a lot of room for sunk costs and dysfunction. Flexera seeks to solve this. Scott and Jim also reminisce about life at Marquette in Milwaukee and how that experience shaped their professional lives.

Three rules for building a community Feb 28, 2018

The Community Company Co-Founder Ryan Paugh built world-renowned community strategy for massive brands. Brands and publishers need an extra hand connecting with users and that’s where The Community Company fits in. Community builder Beth Bond from GoCivic Chicago joins the conversation. Ryan lays out what is needed to build a strong community.

You're wasting money on software Feb 28, 2018

We know too little about software. Which is dangerous since it’s so global. Flexera CEO Jim Ryan is making the process of selling software more transparent, secure and effective. With software being so rooted in our everyday life, there’s a lot of room for sunk costs and dysfunction. Flexera seeks to solve this. Scott and Jim also reminisce about life at Marquette in Milwaukee and how that experience shaped their professional lives.

Hire tomorrow's business leaders today Feb 28, 2018

City Colleges of Chicago Executive Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement Eric Lugo joins the show the show to talk about training students for tech. City Colleges offers free coding classes and cybersecurity bootcamps that helps underprivileged students get into the tech scene. Lugo is providing quality tech training for students. GoCivic’s Beth Bond joins the conversation.

Could Jane Technologies become the Amazon for cannabis? Feb 23, 2018

Jane Technologies CEO Socrates Rosenfeld joins the show to talk about iheartjane.com, an online marketplace for ordering pick up/delivery of legal cannabis, currently in California. Could this be a blueprint for additional marketplaces as the industry gets stronger and legalization moves business into new states like Illinois?

Let AR design your home before you spend a penny Feb 16, 2018

Accessible clean-eating in your office Feb 16, 2018

A version of Google street view, but for indoors Feb 15, 2018

Panoskin and LCP360 CEO Wojciech Kalembasa is taking visual tours, like Google street view, to the next level. When Google wanted to get off the streets and indoors, Kalembasa saw an opportunity. He sold his car and decided to get into the 360 visual business. The first client was Merchandise Mart and other Chicago landmarks soon followed while on boarding thousands of photographers across the globe.

STEM is just like the schools we grew up with Feb 14, 2018

Rajiv Nathan... aka Raj Nathan... aka RajNation joins Scott Kitun and Beth Bond in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about his many career hats, his thoughts on social media, and why STEAM seems like it's just school!

Are Chicago startups playing it too safe? Feb 12, 2018

Kin is a fast-growing, tech-first, property insurance company co-founded by Sean Harper. Harper goes into the weeds when it comes to finding what impacts the cost of your home insurance. For example, clean your gutters more. He’s a multi-time founder who has learned how practicality can be your friend and your enemy. Where do you draw the line when you consider how much capital you should raise?

Mediafly: Close more deals by leading with content Feb 07, 2018

Mediafly is not the company it was day one. CEO Carson Conant and VP of Marketing Isabelle Papoulias are now offering up evolved selling with Mediafly. Delusional optimism was the original driving force, but after time passed, he found himself doing work for Disney. It’s a wild ride going from the early days of Mediafly, podcasting, to the pivot toward enhancing sales engagement for Fortune 1000 organizations. Quick tip: facts do better than anecdotes.

Enterprise drone usage starts to soar Jan 24, 2018

Uplift President Suzanne EL-Moursi is taking companies to the skies. Using drones, Uplift collects data for enterprise businesses who need hard-to-get data. Construction companies can get a look at worksites, for example. Getting this data helps companies scale. What are some of the barriers to building a drone company? How much can drones change the game?

What happens when financial planners go into business with architects? Jan 24, 2018

Co-founders Adam Hengels and Brian Ahmes built a company that thinks like a developer and designs like an architect. Say hello to Parafin. The Parafin tools help real-estate developers automate design. This saves massive amounts of time and money. The founders matches an expertise in finance and architecture. How do these co-founders share leadership?

For companies looking to grow, Theron sees the path forward Jan 17, 2018

After the success of SMS assist, Alex Rothman started fielding questions about how he did it. That’s where Theron Technology Solutions was founded alongside his father, Mike Rothman. The Co-Founders teach other startups how to scale. The Theron story shows how one business can be flipped into an entirely new one. Every company has distinct needs, why isn’t the market meeting them?

Unlock the secrets to sales in 6 months with Sales Assembly Jan 09, 2018

VentureSCALE Co-Founders Jeff Rosset and Matt Green join Scott in-studio at WGN Radio to talk about building sales organizations with Sales Assembly. The Chicago tech community raised $1.7 billion in 2017 but many startups struggle with getting access because they don’t understand sales.

Can Curable heal your chronic pain? Dec 20, 2017

50 million American adults suffer from severe, chronic pain according to the NIH. Meanwhile, the US is caught in an opioid epidemic. Startups are finding healthier solutions to chronic pain. Curable CEO John Gribbin also suffered from years of lower-back pain. He found success in cognitive behavioral therapy. The solution to chronic pain may not be physical, but perception based.

This Dentist became a techie to provide better dental care Dec 20, 2017

Dr. Rajan Sharma emigrated to the United States 30 years ago to become a dentist. He later entered the startup business to create state-of-the-art dental care clinics. Eon Clinics specialize in dental implants. Sharma has adopted new tech that has made for huge advancements.

Off The Record With Caleb Gardner: Net Neutrality Dec 13, 2017

Caleb Gardner joins Scott Kitun for a bonus interview to discuss the ramifications of the FCC possibly changing net neutrality. How could this impact your internet experience? And what can you do to have your voice heard? Gardner was an organizer for the Obama campaign and is currently co-founder of 18 Coffees digital consultancy.

What does local food actually mean? This startup had to find out Dec 06, 2017

FarmLogix CEO Linda Mallers is on a mission to make food commerce more transparent. Mallers is following the consumer-driven change in the food industry and helping distributors meet it. It was challenging to find interest in her startup at the get go, but Mallers found a way to break through.

Learn how to utilize your Gmail like a pro Dec 06, 2017

GMass Founder Ajay Goel turns your email inbox into a marketing platform. That makes things easier, doesn’t it? Goel realized he was “living” inside Gmail and wanted to find a way to drive more value for marketers and beyond within Google’s staple service. According to Goel, email is thriving more than ever.

How to sell your data with Pearachute CEO Desiree Vargas Wrigley Nov 29, 2017

Desiree Vargas Wrigley continues to build her startup Pearachute and is entering new fundraising after a recent Shark Tank appearance. Pearachute helps parents find classes to sign their kids up for. Appearing on Shark Tank wasn’t all a fairy tale, but Vargas Wrigley is a multitime founder and has lessons for any founder that’ll help them along their path.

Gesture modernizes auctions Nov 29, 2017

Gesture CEO Jim Alvarez is updating the charity auction process. His company puts the pen and paper into your smartphone in order to incentivize donations and keeps people involved with text updates. Alvarez thought it was wrong to make people wait to donate money. Gesture is involved with thousands of charity events. How do they make it work?

Look out for self-serving beer taps in Chicago Nov 29, 2017

Do you want to pour your own beer at the bar? Enter Josh Goodman, CEO of PourMyBeer. This startup turns dispenser systems at bars and restaurants into a self-serving tap. Currently the system is set up in Logan Square and Wicker Park and measures drinks by ounce. Hear Goodman’s early struggles and how that led him to where he is today.

Updating the Real Estate Industry with Buildout Nov 15, 2017

Is commercial real estate finally getting a modern makeover? Vishu Ramanathan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Buildout. His startup is cutting away complexities in order to automate a giant market with lagging technology.

Modobag turns your luggage into a kart Nov 15, 2017

Do you ever worry that you won’t make your flight? Hit the gas! Modobag is the first rideable suitcase. It also charges your phone! Kevin O’Donnell is the Co-Founder of Modobag. The bag is decked out with features that’ll make any flyer swoon. Why would you walk at the airport?

Meet your future Illinois state governor JB Pritzker Nov 15, 2017

JB Pritzker, running for governor of Illinois, joins Scott in-studio to talk about the campaign and what he's going to do for tech.

TopStep Trader founder Michael Patak Nov 01, 2017

TopStep Trader founder and CVO Michael Patak joins the show with host Scott Kitun.

Raise founder George Bousis continues to impress Sep 14, 2016

George Bousis, founder and Chairman of Raise.com joins the show with Scott Kitun