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Dozens of local entrepreneurs and digital innovators again packed the upstairs at Rockit Bar and Grill for the Built In Chicago Launch on Sept. 11. A casual crowdpoll by Built In CEO Maria Katris revealed a bevy of first-timers among familiar faces, as well as several individuals whose companies were hiring and others who were seeking jobs. The theme of hiring permeated the event with individuals making connections, as always, and with presenters mentioning open positions at their companies as well.
First up was eMazeMe, a social business directory that allows users to curate lists of their favorite local businesses to share with their friends. Co-founder and CEO Chris Pauly called his company “Pinterest meets Yelp,” because it allows users to visually organize vendors they prefer while also offering ratings and reviews. Since launch, eMazeMe users have searched 100,000 businesses. The company is seeking a CTO and looking to raise a first round.
Next, TidySurveys took the stage to promote its simple survey platform. According to co-founder Griffin Granberg, TidySurveys optimizes questionnaires across devices, from smartphones to tablets. He says that companies struggle with survey completion when the design does not work on handheld devices. TidySurveys solves that problem and increases response rates with aesthetically-pleasing survey templates.
Third was Keith Hanson, CEO and founder of Rate Your Seats, an online portal for rating specific seats at sporting and concert venues. Having partnered with four of the country’s largest ticket marketplaces, Rate Your Seats lets customers describe the pros and cons of any particular seat. As Hanson said, sports and music fans spend hundreds of dollars on tickets, and “you wouldn’t spend that much on a hotel room without reading reviews.” As the company is six months away from scaling, Hanson is seeking connections with people who have experience growing profitable businesses.
Shaun Johnson of Startup Institute addressed the crowd next, pitching an eight-week intensive course designed to prepare individuals to work at startups. According to Johnson, these may be people looking to get out of the corporate world — and fast. The program was built out of TechStars and is already live in Boston and New York. On Oct. 21, Startup Institute will launch in Chicago and applications are open here.
Finally, Authentify’s Dan Zurawski took the stage to tell attendees about the company’s new smartphone app, xFA, which can be used to authenticate logins for sensitive accounts like PayPal. By scanning an on-screen QR code, users can code in with their voice and Authentify sets up a voice-activated password to secure the account. In the future, the technology uses voice biometric technology to verify a user’s identity before allowing login access. Currently, Authentify is seeking beta testers and hiring at many levels. See open positions here.
That’s all for the latest Built In Chicago Launch. Join us next month at Rockit Bar & Grill.
