Aaron Frazin, Charlie App

Founder: Aaron Frazin Company Description: Application that researches the people you are scheduled to meet with and sends you insight briefings before your meeting Company Site: https://charlieapp.com; Facebook; Twitter Date of Interview: January 2015 Aaron Frazin is the co-founder and CEO of Charlie App, an online application that compiles research and sends you a summary…
Read more

Shannon Downey, Pivotal Production

Founder: Shannon Downey Company: Pivotal Production Company Site: http://www.pivotalchicago.com/; Twitter Company Description: Pivotal Production is a marketing strategy firm that combines traditional and new media Date of Interview: January 2015 Shannon Downey is the CEO and founder of Pivotal Production, a marketing strategy firm. She is also the creator of Badass Cross Stitch and the…
Read more

Jeremy Balboni, Brooklyn Boulders – Chicago

Founders: Jeremy Balboni, Lance Pinn Company Description: Hybrid urban rock climbing, fitness and co-working facilities Company Site: http://brooklynboulders.com/chicago/, Facebook, Twitter Date of Interview: December 2014   Jeremy Balboni, Brooklyn Boulders Art by John Rose Jeremy Balboni is the CEO and co-founder of Brooklyn Boulders. He and his team have brought “the beauty of new fitness”…
Read more

Throw Back Thursdays (Jan 2015)

Introducing Throw Back Thursdays, a monthly recap of favorite quotes from interviews published in a previous month. On what inspires: “I’m driven by passion. That’s what gets me excited, that’s what gets me up every morning. It’s totally random – it touches my heart and I become passionate about it.” – Jimmy Odom, WeDeliver On moving from…
Read more

Raj Karmani, Zero Percent

Founder: Rajesh Karmani Company Description: Zero Percent is a technology platform that connects food retailers with food charities to donate and pick-up food surplus in a simple, reliable and safe way. Company Site: http://zeropercent.us/, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Date of Interview: November 2014 Raj Karmani came to the United States from Pakistan to study Computer Science….
Read more

Jay Savsani, Meal Sharing

Founder: Jay Savsani Company Description: Online platform that brings hosts and guests together over home-cooked meals around the world. Company Site: mealsharing.com, Twitter, Facebook Date of Interview: November 2014   Jay Savsani  used to build startup MVPs for other people’s dreams. “When people ask me if Meal Sharing is my first startup.. I’m like, ‘It’s…
Read more

Neal Sales-Griffin, Starter League

Founders: Neal Sales-Griffin, Mike McGee Company Description: Starter League is an immersive, beginner-friendly programming school. Company Site: http://www.starterleague.com/, Facebook, Twitter Date of interview: November 2014   Neal Sales-Griffin is the CEO and co-founder of Starter League, a first-of-kind innovative and immersive programming school in Chicago.  For Neal, the motivation, journey and vision of Starter League…
Read more

Tiffaney Florentine, Trodo

Founders: Tiffaney Florentine and Kara Albert Company Description: Trodo is a health and wellness company that is creating functional fitness communities through corporate wellness programs, youth programs and league events. Company Site: trodo.org, Facebook, Twitter Date of Interview: November 2014 Tiffaney Florentine is a military vet, an American Gladiator contender, a CrossFitter and a certified…
Read more

Mike Garg, Gozent

Founder: Mayank “Mike” Garg Company Description: Technology platform that streamlines the rental application processing life cycle Company Site: https://www.gozent.com Date of interview: October 2014 Mayank “Mike” Garg is the founder of Gozent, an on-line rental processing platform. He moved to the US from Delhi, India in January 2009 to study at Purdue University and moved to Chicago after…
Read more

Shivani Jain, FitnessCubed

Founders: Arnav Dalmia, Shivani Jain, Ryota Sekine Company Description: FitnessCubed makes Cubii, an under-desk elliptical trainer with the goal of fighting the sitting disease common in today’s working lifestyle. Company Site: http://www.fitnesscubed.com/, Twitter, Facebook Date of interview: October 2014 Shivani Jain is the Chief Marketing Officer and one of three co-founders of FitnessCubed. While doing…
Read more