Advertising Supplement to Crain's Chicago Business
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2014 PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR: PROGRAM BOOK PUBLISHED BY: ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS 2014_Innovation_C1.indd 1 10/21/14 11:48 AM HELPING LOCAL INNOVATORS MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT More than 75 years ago, a family business opened its doors in a Chicago suburb. Today, Molex has grown to a team of over 36,000 strong, with 45 manufacturing locations in 17 countries around the world. With a global impact spanning a range of industries, including medical, information technology and automotive, Molex knows fi rsthand how a local business can make a big difference. That’s why we proudly support Chicago businesses as a sponsor of The Innovators Connection; because innovation is only as valuable as the impact it makes. Learn more at molex.com MOL-14182-Crains-InnvtnAd-FP4C_FINAL_141013-r1.indd 1 10/13/14 4:44 PM Untitled-3 1 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS HELPING LOCAL CHICAGO INNOVATORS INNOVATION MAKE A GLOBAL AWARDS IMPACT Hosted at The Harris Theater RECEPTION AND COCKTAILS More than 75 years ago, a family business opened its doors in a 5:00pm – 6:15pm Chicago suburb. Today, Molex has grown to a team of over 36,000 strong, with 45 manufacturing locations in 17 countries around AWARDS CEREMONY the world. With a global impact spanning a range of industries, including medical, information technology and automotive, Molex 6:30pm-8:30pm knows fi rsthand how a local business can make a big difference. That’s why we proudly support Chicago businesses as a sponsor PERFORMANCE AND SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARD of The Innovators Connection; because innovation is only as David Garibaldi valuable as the impact it makes. WELCOMING REMARKS Learn more at molex.com Tom Kuczmarski, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation Awards Dan Miller, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation Awards Luke Tanen, Executive Director, Chicago Innovation Awards SOCIAL INNOVATOR AWARD COLLABORATION AWARD UP-AND-COMER AWARDS VISIONARY AWARD Sam Yagan, CEO, Match.com CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS WINNERS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTERS Troy Henikoff, Managing Director, Techstars Gerould Kern, Senior Vice President & Editor, Chicago Tribune Philip Kotler, Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management Theresa Mintle, President, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President Hedy Ratner, President Emeritus, Women’s Business Development Center Allison Rosati, NBC 5 Chicago Terry Savage, Investment Advisor & Finance Expert Rob Stafford, NBC 5 Chicago David Snyder, Publisher, Crain’s Chicago Business Kevin Willer, Partner & Co-Founder, Chicago Ventures Ed Wehmer, President & CEO, Wintrust Financial Corporation Donna Zarcone, President, Economic Club of Chicago Andrea Zopp, CEO, Chicago Urban League 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 1 MOL-14182-Crains-InnvtnAd-FP4C_FINAL_141013-r1.indd 1 10/13/14 4:44 PM Untitled-3 2 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS CONTENTS CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS FOUNDERS 3 Tom Kuczmarski + Dan Miller 8-27 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS AWARDS WINNERS VISIONARY AWARD - Sam Yagan 4 AuctionsByCellular, dough, SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD - The Joffrey Ballet SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARD - David Garibaldi Horizon Pharma, Keeper Security, LMK Technologies, Mattersight, FROM THE PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR Radio Flyer, Rise Interactive, 5 Molex Strata Decision Technology, Swingbyte FEATURE The Innovators Connection Plays Matchmaker Between 6-7 Local Startups and Big Firms 28-29 COMPANY PROFILE: Molex SOCIAL INNOVATOR AWARD WINNER - Caremerge 30 THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER - alligatortek COLLABORATION AWARD WINNER - Molex, Belltone 32-33 2014 UP & COMER AWARD WINNERS 34 JUDGING PANEL 35 BOARD OF ADVISORS 36 EVENT CALENDAR 38,40 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 42 PAST WINNERS 43 THE INNOVATORS CONNECTION 44 2014 SPONSORS 46 2014 PARTNERS 47 LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR 48 INNOVATION AWARDS TEAM 2 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS Untitled-3 3 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS Innovative new products and services are one of the most effective ways to help a business prosper and grow or for a nonprofit to achieve its goals. That is why we are proud to host the Chicago Innovation Awards. For the 13th consecutive year, the awards will celebrate the creative spirit of the Chicago region by recognizing and honoring the area’s most innovative new products and services. INNOVATION AWARDS FOUNDERS TOM KUCZMARSKI Co-founder, Chicago Innovation Awards THOMAS D. KUCZMARSKI, President of Kuczmarski Innovation, is a nationally recognized expert in the innovation and development of new products and services. The author of six books and many articles, Mr. Kuczmarski has taught product and service innovation at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for over 30 years. DAN MILLER Co-founder, Chicago Innovation Awards DAN MILLER is a long-time prominent Chicago area journalist. He was the publisher and executive vice president of The Heartland Institute. As business editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, he co-founded the Chicago Innovation Awards with Tom Kuczmarski. Before that, he worked as business reporter for the Chicago Daily News, helped launch Crain’s Chicago Business, serving as its editor for its first decade, and served as chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 1996-2000. www.ChicagoInnovationAwards.com • @Chi_Innovation • #2014CIA 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 3 Untitled-3 4 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS VISIONARY AWARD - SAM YAGAN SAM YAGAN is the CEO of The Match Group, where he oversees a portfolio of 40 global brands including Match.com, Tinder, and several other innovative companies. Previously, Sam co-founded Excelerate Labs (now Techstars Chicago) to provide seed funding and mentorship to support new entrepreneurs in Chicago. To date, this program has launched 40 new companies and created over 150 new jobs. Looking further back, Sam was the Co-founder of Sparknotes, which sold to Barnes & Noble for $30 million, and the Co-founder of OkCupid, which was bought by The Match Group for $90 million. Last year, Time Magazine listed Sam among their “100 Most Infl uential People in the World.” SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD JOFFREY BALLET Now celebrating its 20th season in Chicago, THE JOFFREY BALLET has been hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts.” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of fi rsts includes being the fi rst dance company to perform at the White House, the fi rst to appear on television, the fi rst classical dance company to go multi-media, the fi rst to commission a rock-n-roll ballet, the fi rst and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time Magazine, the fi rst company to have had a major motion picture based on it – Robert Altman’s The Company – and the fi rst U.S. ballet company to livestream video of a rehearsal on YouTube. The Joffrey Ballet’s innovative repertoire includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces, and cutting-edge contemporary works. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, the company continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley Wheater. SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARD DAVID GARIBALDI DAVID GARIBALDI is a uniquely talented performance artist from Sacramento. His passion for music and color, or “rhythm and hue,” combined with his dynamic stage presence has taken him all over the world, from touring with the Blue Man Group to becoming a fi nalist on “America’s Got Talent.” He is also passionate about the potential of art to help those in need, having raised over $1,000,000 for nonprofi ts and charities such as Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope, Sacramento Children’s Home, and World Vision. 4 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS Untitled-3 5 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS FROM THE PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR As a leading provider of electronic components and solutions, MOLEX views innovation as a tool for solving complex customer challenges. This philosophy has helped us not only create many pioneering electronic solutions, but also build a globally recognized company. BRIAN KRAUSE Vice President of Marketing and Communications Molex BRIAN KRAUSE is Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications at Molex. Mr. Krause manages the Molex global brand, sales enablement & lead generation, sales planning and the global commercialization and promotion of Molex products, technologies, capabilities and services. Recently named by BtoB Magazine as one of the top digital marketers, Mr. Krause has dedicated his career to defining programs that demonstrate innovation, support customer needs, and drive long-term sales. Mr. Krause is a frequent speaker on B2B social media and global B2B marketing strategies. 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 5 Untitled-3 6 10/21/14 9:51 AM ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS The Innovators Connection Plays CREATIVE MATCHMAKER Between LOCAL STARTUPS and BIG FIRMS BY JANE ADLER hink “Shark Tank” minus the personal drama. firm Kuczmarski Innovation, and Dan Miller, a That’s the Innovators Connection, a Chicago longtime Chicago journalist and former chair of the T program that links big corporations and Illinois Commerce Commission. startup companies for potential collaborations. The Chicago Innovation Awards fielded The entrepreneurs have about 20 minutes to 552 nominees this year, representing potential present their ideas to executives from the larger, new business opportunities for startups and big established company. Both sides then discuss how corporations alike. they might work together. Does the startup have a In 2014, the Innovators Connection matched local new technology or service the big company needs to startups with 19 large companies from across the solve a problem? Is the big company the right fit for a country, including high-profile names such as Molex growing startup that needs customers and funding? Inc., Cisco Systems Inc.