#builtinchicago

Chicago Startup Scene Joins Top-Ranked for Profitability

As the startup scene in Silicon Valley becomes more saturated and the cost of living skyrockets, other cities are beginning to look far more attractive to startups — and to venture capitalists. (more…)

Dolly (getdolly.com) is a Chicago-based start-up that wants to be the "Uber of movers." (Hey, that rhymes.) Recently announcing a new round of funding, Dolly looks like it has a bright future as it seeks to expand its services beyond the Windy City.

Their website is clean and iconic, making it easy to get a sense of what they service offers and why you would need it. I appreciate the visual simplicity, but the copy doesn't quite match up with it.

Let's start with the headline. "Get your stuff where it needs to go." feels like it's trying to be profound, but is lacking a reason to be profound. What exactly does it mean when it says "needs to go?" I feel like that's a philosophical question.  

I like the three icons giving you an idea of what you'd use the service for, but they don't land neatly. By that I mean, it takes me a second to realize why they're there. Honestly, I thought the first icon was going to redirect me to Craigslist to start shopping for large pieces of furniture.

The order seems wrong, too. I'd think you'd want to start with apartment moving.

For most of you seeing this video, it is the first time you are hearing about Ideafeed so welcome! We are a student founded Startup coming from Chicago, IL. If you are interested in learning more check out www.Ideafeed.io or email us at [email protected]!!

Love,

By Jack Sutherland, Founder

Being an employee at a Startup takes Courage.

It is no secret that becoming an employee at a startup is not the easiest career choice to make. If you hold any kind of degree besides Entrepreneurship, the startup space is the last place you are told/expected to start your career. But if you somehow know someone or got a connection to a startup and you start your career journey with a newly launched venture than you are halfway to making the right choice.

The next step is adapting to the lifestyle it entails and fully immersing yourself in the environment around you. The work/life balance isn't what you learn about in your management classes. The startup work/life balance usually is more along the lines of work is life. And I would venture to guess that the majority of people in this space are 100% okay with that realization. Which is exactly why people stay. 

There is something to be said about the feeling of being part of a small team, 2-3 months old and you are already solving real problems for real people. I don't think you would be nearly done with training in the same time period at corporation A-Z. You will be doing real work day one and you will share in the successes and failures of that startup collectively. It's a great feeling. 

A Quick Aside..

I suppose I am choosing the wrong place to convince people to work at startups, on the basis of everyone in the BuiltInChicago community already does. But if this somehow gets out to the general public I will let the Facebook virality formula do its job. If it does do its job and you are reading this with no prior knowledge of BuiltInChicago, 1871, Startup Institute, the Starter League, or the startup environment in Chicago, then click any of the links I just provided and realize that this is real.  

I have worked with 2 great startups in my short career. When I was a sophmore in College, I had the priviledge to work with two of my greatest mentors Kasey Gandham and Mike Shannon as they were in the early stages of starting up Packback. ***If you are a college student reading this post, and you feel even the slightest urge to find the nearest startup to you and start working; Go to this link and talk to these guys. I promise you that you wont regret it and will get the most out of the experience.*** The other startup that I was able to be with was this past year, Matchup. And let me be the first to tell you, if you haven't already heard, the potential of this company is extremely exciting and youneed to be talking to these guys about what they have going on. Just recently launched and they already will be tearing up their space in the near future. 

My near future.

That brings us to now, I am a Senior in college with my whole life ahead of me. I have had 2 other corporate insurance and finance internships and I don't think I have referred to those in my day-to-day life for long while. That is because I have too much to talk about when it comes to the experiences I have had with the 2 great companies listed above. The startup ecosystem in Chicago is rather inspiring to say the least. You can't make it through a day at 1871 without hearing a story from someone inspiring you to work twice as hard. All of the founders that I have  encountered have been so well grounded to reality and so supportive that it is easy to see my next step in this wonderful crazy startup world we have immersed ourselves in. 

I have seen what it is like to start businesses with success, now its time for me to get a little skin in the game. I know I will fall flat on my face from time to time but I also know I have the supportive structure of the Chicago startup ecosystem to help me back up. 

My name is Jack Sutherland, I am a former employee of two great Chicago-Built companies, and a founder of a brand new one, Ideafeed, where we will enhance the way you approach problem solving. The future is near and bright and I owe it all to the people who make this city/community great.

By: Margaret Mahar

Chicago is a no doubt a hub of sorts. Passionately dubbed 'The Windy City' (and for good reason), we are home to some of the world's most talented people and entrepreneurs. 

But what about the entrepreneurs who specialize in the field of journalism? Must they be shafted in this world of trendy french fry start ups and bizarre iPhone gaming apps? 

Where Chicago thrives in other areas, it lacks in providing a plethora of eager journalistic entrepreneurs. The internet led me to a few solid sources, however I was digging around for quite some time. This fact is discouraging, but potentially hopeful, leading room for young imaginative thinkers to blow up Chicagoland's weak journalistic scene. 

Notable newsworthy entrepreneurs include Andy Keil, founder of Pop'stache, a site that details all things music related. Building the site at just 20 years of age, Keil saw it grow to a volunteered staff of 45 and "still growing strong!" Pop'stache is a beyond relevant site, as Chicago's music scene is ever-growing with huge festivals such as Lollapalooza, Pitchfork or Northcoast. 

Needn't we forget about science journalism? Switching gears to 2011, a little company was founded by two McCormick professors called Narrative Science. This startup has since been honored with awards and grants many times over, proving that even the simplest of ideas can turn into so much more. Created by Kris Hammond and Larry Birmbaum, Narrative Science "uses a computer program to automatically generate new stories." Their motto? "We transform data into stories and insight."

This next company, while mostly blog based, reaches over 13 million unique visitors per month. Rant Media Network, a start up founded by entrepreneur Grant Brown, is a platform for "hundreds of writers and bloggers around the world [to] reach a global audience by producing opinionated written and video content on any and all topics related to sports." Sure, the company has had a while to plant it's seed and grow to fruition. But Rant Media Network is a true example of what a start up can really become.

Mayor Freeman-Wilson to be Featured in Politico Live Segment Tomorrow

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson will be featured in Politico’s What Works event tomorrow, April 9, 2014, at 9:49 am. The event can be viewed online at Politico.com. Full details and agenda are below:

POLITICO Magazine ‘What Works: Chicago’ Event

Presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Can the Rust Belt really become the Tech Belt? Can robots save a city’s economy and reinvent its jobs? Why city is the…