It’s easy to take electricity for granted. When we plug something in, it usually works. If it doesn’t, the problem probably isn’t with the outlet (though I have had that happen). Our electric system has been around for well over a century, which is why it’s so reliable. However, keeping it up to date still requires a lot of innovation. That’s where Utilidata comes in. They’re a Providence, RI based company that delivers “value to utilities and large energy users by improving operational decisions through the use of new data extraction and digital processing techniques.” We all know that measurement is usually the first step in improvement, and that’s why Utilidata is all about using data to optimize energy efficiencies.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
customer service,
data,
energy,
engineering,
green,
marketing,
paid,
product management,
Rhode Island,
sales,
software development,
web development
If there is any skill that is necessary across all kinds of jobs, its the ability communicate effectively. While communication is a skill that can definitely be taught and developed, it’s much easier to nurture when you’re using the right tools. That’s why work communication tools have always been a big business. Some of the latest trends have been in the form of project management and online chat tools. But what about tools for people who work in jobs that might require something like a walkie-talkie? Cell phones and text messaging might have changed those jobs a little bit, but there’s more room for technology. That’s why Lua was founded in 2010. They’re a New York, NY based company that is focused on “empowering mobile workforces by giving them access to the people and information they need to get the job done from the field or the office.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
business development,
design,
engineering,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing,
software development,
telecommunications,
web development
While the United States may not hold the patent on freedom, I’m pretty sure that we hold the trademark. Freedom and liberty are a huge part of our national identity, though a nation, almost by definition, imposes limits on freedom. That’s generally where political differences arise from–how much and what types of freedom should be limited? The people at The Institute for Humane Studies would probably say not much and not many. They are an Arlington, VA based organization (housed at George Mason University) that “advances a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented, productive students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
academia,
analyst,
data,
design,
development,
education,
graphic design,
human resources,
marketing,
non-profit,
policy,
program development,
public policy,
Virginia
Have any of you seen the movie North? Roger Ebert said, “North is a bad film – one of the worst movies ever made” (and Siskel agreed). I sheepishly admit that I liked it. It’s about a kid who sues his parents so that he can be a free agent and have potential new parents try to woo him. I think the reason that so many people found the movie so distasteful was that North, the main character, has an exceptionally good life–and this makes light of the fact that there are so many real-life kids who really could use legal help to get out of truly terrible situations. Luckily, there’s a real-life organization to help them. It’s called the Juvenile Law Center. They are a Philadelphia, PA based non-profit that “plays a leadership role nationally and in Pennsylvania in shaping and using the law on behalf of children in the child welfare and justice systems to promote fairness, prevent harm, secure access to appropriate services, and ensure a smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
advocacy,
communications,
development,
Internships,
law,
marketing,
non-profit,
Pennsylvania,
policy,
public policy
For most of us social media is a time waster. It’s mindless entertainment that fills in gaps in our days. But for some people it’s a job. For them the mobile app just won’t do. They need power tools to manage all of their social media accounts, and that’s exactly what Sprout Social offers. They’re a Chicago, IL based company that offers “a management and egnagement platform for social business.” Sprout Social’s software offers all of the tools that one might need to engage with customers, publish content, and analyze the effectiveness of social marketing. This kind of platform is a must have for any company that takes social seriously.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
communication,
community management,
customer service,
design,
engineering,
Illinois,
Internships,
marketing,
mobile,
online marketing,
paid,
product development,
product management,
quality assurance,
quality engineer,
sales,
seo,
social media,
software development,
web development
Being the CEO–even of a tiny business like mine–is hard. You have to either be aware of everything that is happening or trust other people to be aware of everything that is happening. Even if you have a team that you can trust, you want to be able to keep tabs on them in the most efficient way possible. That’s what Domo is all about. They’re an American Fork, UT based company that “transforms the way executives manage their business and drives value from the tens of billions of dollars that’s been spent on traditional business intelligence systems.” They pull all of the important data from every important source and put it in one intuitive platform.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
account management,
analyst,
analytics,
business development,
data,
engineering,
information technology,
Internships,
marketing,
production,
software development,
video,
web development
When I think about potential new websites that I’d build, I usually look for underserved niches–gaps to fill. There are so many companies building large generalist sites that you really need to do something different to have a chance at building a real business. At least that’s my take. Emerge Media has a completely different philosophy. They are a Chicago, IL based company that is “taking on the essential roots of everyday tasks and breathing real life into the technology behind them.” They’ve been launching new sites in broad niches with a lot of competition. It seems crazy to me, but it might just work.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
analytics,
data,
design,
Illinois,
information technology,
interactive media,
Internships,
marketing,
media,
online marketing,
paid,
product management,
sem,
seo,
software development,
user experience,
web development
We live in a world of data. Everything from the prices on financial markets to our weights can be measured and tracked very easily. Even an average person can use easily accessible online tools to fake being a “data scientist.” But what about data that isn’t obviously data? I’m talking about stuff that isn’t neatly sorted into rows and columns–the kind of stuff that you’d have to painstakingly tabulate by hand. We now have technology that can do the hard work for us, and one of the companies behind such technology is ListenLogic. They are a Conshohocken, PA based company that extracts “insights from unstructured big data to drive business outcomes.” Their “big data” technology allows clients to act on information that they never before could have acted on.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
analytics,
customer service,
data,
Internships,
market research,
marketing,
paid,
Pennsylvania,
research,
sales,
social media,
software development
My favorite vacations when I was growing up were our annual trips to Nantucket. While it’s an awesome island and I had a lot of fiends there, there was something else that made the vacations special. We rented a house. I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it makes a vacation more relaxing. You may not have someone who makes your bed every morning, but there’s something really nice about having a place that feels like home while you’re on vacation. Back then we found our rental through an agent, but today it’s much easier to just go online and use a site like Tripping. They are a San Francisco, CA based company that has build “the world’s largest search engine for vacation and short-term rentals.” They tap into other sites’ inventories and let you compare properties easily.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
California,
data,
engineering,
Internships,
marketing,
sales,
software development,
travel,
unpaid,
web development
Who doesn’t love a good t-shirt? For me it’s all about comfort. That’s why I generally pick solid colored tees made out of high quality fabrics. For others it’s more about expression–you want your shirt to say something about who you are. If what you’re saying about yourself with your shirt is that you have a good sense of humor, then BustedTees mint be the place for you to shop. They are a New York, NY based company that was started by the same team as CollegeHumor. They started in 2004 because they wanted “people to have fun, laugh, look good, feel comfortable, get good jobs, get sweaty dancing and go home with someone who also did those things.” It’s amazing what something as simple as a t-shirt can do for people.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
apparel,
community management,
design,
e-commerce,
fashion,
humor,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing,
paid,
social media
If you’ve watched The Office at all, you know that the office supply industry is not only mind-numbingly boring, but it’s also dying a slow, painful death. And if you pay attention to the news, you know that Detroit is a dying city with nothing good going on. So what if I told you that there is an office supply startup based in Detroit, MI that is anything but boring and growing rapidly? Their name is Chalkfly, and they provide “the supplies you need to do your best work.” There are a lot of narratives working against Chalkfly, but they’re just narratives. Results are what matter, and Chalkfly already claims brands like Foursquare, Moosejaw and Etsy as clients.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
account management,
analytics,
data,
design,
e-commerce,
graphic design,
Internships,
marketing,
merchandising,
Michigan,
online marketing,
sales
For a long time marketing has been about piggybacking on other people’s content. You buy ads in newspapers, during tv shows, and on billboards (I guess scenery next to the highway is content?). At some point marketers realized that they could become the content creators–that’s what soap operas were originally about. Today social media has forced nearly every brand into content creation. Doing it right on all of the important platforms is really hard. That’s why Chute, a San Francisco, CA based company, has developed a “visual content engine for brands” that makes “it easy to keep pace with your customers and create compelling, fresh content to engage with your fans, build awareness and, ultimately, increase conversion.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
advertising,
California,
customer service,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
public relations,
social media,
software development,
unpaid,
web development
I come up with a lot of business ideas. More often than not I find that someone is already doing it–and usually I’m fine with that. It’s cool to see someone putting the idea to the test since I can’t try most of the ideas that I come up with. A lot of my ideas center around a thesis that more and more people will forgo traditional jobs and instead make a living (or at least supplement their incomes) by reaching new markets through the Internet. Vayable is a company based on this thesis. They are a San Francisco, CA and New York, NY based company that offers “a home for anyone looking to experience honest, local culture through experiences created and hosted by passionate local Insiders.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
business development,
California,
communications,
community management,
engineering,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing,
paid,
sales,
travel
We all know that kids are fickle. What was cool last week is now the opposite. The same can be said about the mobile app market, which means that there are a lot of one hit wonders. How do you create longevity in historically volatile markets? By creating a network. Use success in one area to pave the way for success in others. That’s how Fingerprint approaches mobile apps. They’re a San Francisco, CA based company that has “designed a way to transition this parent and kid engagement into the digital world.” They partner with existing brands to leverage offline success online and then to build on the online successes that follow.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
business development,
California,
engineering,
Internships,
marketing,
mobile,
software development,
video games,
web development
Branding is one of the most powerful marketing tools known to man. Building a strong brand makes every part of running a business easier, but you better get it right. That’s why a lot of major brands hire consultancies to help them formulate new brands or to breathe new life into existing brands. One of the firms that helps huge companies with branding is Protobrand. They are based in Boston, MA, and they are “an independent research and branding consultancy that offers a unique perspective on emotional insight mining.” That’s the key right there–emotion. It’s what brands are really all about, and that’s why Protobrand puts a strong emphasis on it.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
brand management,
business development,
marketing,
Massachusetts
If you like nice stuff but don’t like spending money, then you should always at least consider buying things used. Occasionally there’s an ick factor, but most of the time “pre-owned” stuff is perfectly good and less than half the price. Sometimes it’s even more valuable–like in the case of antique furniture–but today we’re talking about furniture that comes at a discount. That’s what AptDeco offers. They’re a New York, NY based startup that allows you “to buy or sell furniture without the scams, hassle, or creepy people going into your apartment.” This is actually something that I would use if it was available in Chicago because I’m currently trying to sell a couch.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analytics,
community management,
customer service,
furniture,
interior design,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing
While I think the education part of college is generally overrated in importance by most people, there’s a part of the college experience that I think is underrated: dorm life. Being thrown into a completely new living situation with people who are a lot like you, but also very different from you is an amazing opportunity to learn and grow. What if we had similar opportunities but at different life stages? That’s what Krash is about. They are a Boston, MA based company that offers a “way for founders, entrepreneurs and innovators to rapidly build the supportive personal and professional networks they need to be successful.” They do this by offering immersive co-living experiences in Boston, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
California,
community management,
events,
Illinois,
Internships,
marketing,
Massachusetts,
New York,
Washington DC
Pretty much everybody in the business world has heard the saying “if it matters, measure it.” But what happens when you’re measuring so many different things that you stop paying attention? It’d be a lot easier if you could look at every important data point in one view–a dashboard. That’s exactly what SumAll offers for people who do business online. They’re a New York, NY based company that allows “you to see all your information in one place and provide you visibility into the past, present, and future.” It would be a lot harder to drive a car if you had twelve different dashboards for each important data point. The same can be said for running a business, which is why SumAll pull everything into one place.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analytics,
data,
design,
engineering,
graphic design,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing,
social media,
software development,
web development
I’m an outdoorsy guy who is stuck in a city that is at least a couple hours away from most of the things that I want to do. As a result I spend a lot of time visiting what my wife calls “fishing websites” (that’s exactly what they are). One upstart that caters to guys like me is Huckberry. They’re a San Francisco, CA based company that “is like your favorite store, your grandpa’s favorite store, and your favorite magazine all rolled into one.” It’s pretty much the intersection of yuppie and outdoorsy with a tiny bit of hipster here and there. It’s for “dudes in the middle”–the kind of guys who go camping one weekend and to a black tie wedding the next weekend.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analytics,
business development,
buyer,
California,
copywriting,
customer service,
design,
e-commerce,
e-mail,
editorial,
Internships,
marketing,
merchandising,
online marketing,
outdoors,
paid,
production,
writing
For some people a rug is a functional thing, for others it’s art. A handmade carpet can drastically improve the way a room looks–it can bring an exotic flair to an otherwise muted decor. The problem with handmade rugs is that they are often made by children. Child labor continues to be a problem across the world, and it’s especially bad in the handmade carpet industry–there are more than 250,000 children currently being exploited. Goodweave is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “is helping to combat this problem and transform the rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs and by providing education and opportunities to rescued and at-risk children.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
advocacy,
communications,
development,
education,
interactive media,
Internships,
Manufacturing,
marketing,
media,
non-profit,
program development,
social media,
Washington DC
Few things make me happier than spending time outdoors. Fly fishing is my main sport, but I can enjoy almost any activity that doesn’t put me at too much risk of injuring myself so that I can’t fish. One of the fun things about being an outdoor enthusiast is collecting gear. Even when you’re stuck in the city, you can buy new stuff, clean it, repair it, and get it ready for your next big trip. If you’re thinking about buying new gear, you need to check out Backcountry. They are a Park City, UT based company that gets “get people who get outside—plain and simple.” They’re all “about gear, grit, and connecting people to their passions.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
e-commerce,
e-mail,
engineering,
information technology,
Internships,
marketing,
merchandising,
online marketing,
outdoors,
planner,
recycling,
software development,
Utah,
web development
When it comes to restaurant changes, it’s all about branding. People choose chains because they know they can get exactly the same food experience whether they’re in New York, NY or Dubuque, IA. Since companies are investing so much into building these brands, they might as well extract as much value as they can from them. That’s where Inventure Foods comes in. They’re a Phoenix, AZ based snack food company that offers a “diverse lineup of innovative consumer brands sold both nationally and internationally.” They were formerly a potato chip company (Poore Brothers), but they branched out and started co-branding a variety of snacks with companies like TGI Fridays, Jamba Juice, and Nathan’s Famous.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
Arizona,
brand management,
food,
Internships,
marketing,
paid
Yesterday we took a look at an online marketing company. Today we’re going to do the same. While today’s company offers many of the same services, the difference is that they tend to work with larger, national clients. This may seem like a small distinction, but the level of competition can make it seem like a different business. WPromote is an El Segundo, CA based company that calls itself “the country’s leading Online Marketing firm, delivering incredible results for [its] Search Engine Optimization, PPC Management and Social Media clients.” That’s big talk, but they must be living up to it if companies like Toyota, Ford, TOMS, Tumi, and Southern New Hampshire University are hiring them to do their online marketing.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
account management,
advertising,
California,
design,
e-mail,
graphic design,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
sem,
seo,
social media,
software development,
unpaid,
web development
Online marketing seems to keep getting more complex. Now that every big brand is throwing money at every marketing platform they can, it’s getting a lot harder to drive results. What used to be something that a lot of companies could do themselves now requires an agency. One such agency is OneIMS. They’re a Skokie, IL based company that offers “everything from services like branding and web design to online marketing strategies like SEO and PPC.” Their clients range from small local business to national brands with e-commerce companies falling somewhere in the middle.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
account management,
advertising,
Illinois,
interactive media,
Internships,
local,
marketing,
online marketing,
sales,
sem,
seo,
software development,
web development
If you’ve been looking for a job for any amount of time, you’ve probably interacted with dozens of applicant tracking systems. In case you’re not aware, they’re the software that companies use to post jobs and… track applicants. A lot of them suck for the end user (you), but a few offer pretty good experiences. One of the better ones is The Resumator. They’re a Pittsburgh, PA and San Francisco, CA based company that helps “great people build great companies” by bringing “talented professionals and compelling companies together.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
account management,
analytics,
business development,
California,
engineering,
human resources,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
paid,
Pennsylvania,
recruiting,
sales,
software development,
web development
I had 20/12 vision up until Junior year of high school. Then it all fell apart and I couldn’t read the blackboard. I was in denial for a while, but it became quite obvious that I… I needed glasses. Although glasses certainly weren’t cool at the time, I was more concerned with having to wear something on my face all of the time. That’s why I opted for contacts. Today it seems that people who don’t even need vision correction are wearing glasses, and that is making a lot of fashion brands want to enter the eyewear category. eponym is a company that allows them to do that quickly and easily. They are based in Brooklyn, NY, and they “help the world’s most exciting brands create and distribute their own eyewear.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
blogging,
customer service,
design,
e-commerce,
eyewear,
fashion,
graphic design,
Internships,
marketing,
retail,
social media,
software development,
web development,
writing
Having a personal chef would be pretty life changing. Not only would it make healthy eating much easier, but it would also free up a ton of time. Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to employ a chef full-time. So how can regular people get the personal chef experience? Kitchensurfing is a New York, NY based company that matches “up chefs and people who need a cook at high and low price points and for a variety of types of engagements, from cooking lessons for the kids to fried chicken parties to 10-course anniversary dinners.” Almost anyone can afford a personal chef when it’s only for one night.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
business development,
California,
culinary,
customer service,
design,
food,
Illinois,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
online marketing,
paid,
product development,
product management,
software development,
web development
We live in a 3D world, but we’ve often been constrained by two-dimensional mediums. For a long time it was pencil and paper, but then it became computers. They brought the hope of real 3D capabilities, but it took a long time for technology to get to the point that working in 3D became realistic. Believe it or not, Spatial got its start in 1986 when they released “ACIS, the first commercially available 3D modeling kernel.” Since then the Broomfield, CO based company has become “the leading provider of 3D components for technical application development across a broad range of industries.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
Colorado,
communications,
design,
engineering,
Internships,
Manufacturing,
marketing,
paid,
social media,
software development,
web development
The last time that Amy and I reserved a rental car, they didn’t have a car for us when we showed up. It was straight out of Seinfeld’s The Car Reservation, except the agent didn’t even try to help us. We ended up having to spend $250 on an Uber to get us to the wedding on time. I wish I could say that it’s the last time that I’ll ever use a rental car company, but it won’t be. However, I am tempted to try something new like RelayRides. They are a San Francisco, CA based company that connects “vehicle owners whose cars would otherwise be idle with people who need a car.” It’s a model that makes sense, even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
analytics,
automotive,
California,
cars,
communications,
community management,
customer service,
design,
engineering,
finance,
Internships,
marketing,
mobile,
online marketing,
operations,
planning,
software development,
travel,
user experience,
web development
I’m not sure if travel is any more popular today than it used to be, but it sure seems like it from looking at what my Facebook friends are up to. Travel is a massive industry because it’s both a leisure activity and a business activity, and that also makes it a very complex industry. People who work in travel need to keep up with the latest news and trends, so they often turn to Northstar Travel Media. They’re a Secaucus, NJ based “business information and marketing solutions provider to the $300 billion U.S. travel, tourism and meetings industries.” It started in 1939 with Hotel & Travel Index, and today Northstar Travel Media reaches more than 1.7 million monthly unique visitors online and 1.1 million people through subscriptions.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
analyst,
data,
design,
editorial,
graphic design,
hospitality management,
human resources,
Internships,
marketing,
media,
paid,
publishing,
tourism,
travel,
writing
