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Chicago design veteran winds up in a ‘nail biter’ on Kickstarter
Nothing's guaranteed in fundraising: Even the best can have close calls on crowdfunding sites. Craighton Berman, a Chicago designer tapped by Kickstarter to provide advice and boost use on the...
Pukk, a tablet stand inspired by that Pixar lamp, hits Kickstarter
Inventor Erik Kittlaus wants to give people a better — and better-looking — way to hold up their phones and tablets. His latest, Pukk, is a magnetic articulating arm that...
Keyo lets you pay for food, drink and goods with a wave of the hand
A Chicago startup is offering a handy new way to pay for coffee, food and even clothing at retailers. In fact, your hand is all you'll need to make purchases...
CPS finds a way to boost computer students — as school IT interns
At 20 years old, Gabriela Puma is helping keep an entire Chicago school connected. Puma is the IT specialist at McCutcheon Elementary School, where she works as part of the...
Toys at Chicago Public Library teach building blocks of code — without a computer
Toys don't have to be high-tech to teach kids how to code. Take, for example, the toys from startup Learning Beautiful, featured at the newly redesigned Thomas Hughes Children's Library...
Freevo offers a new batch of restaurant freebies to Chicagoans
Another app is landing in Chicago that gets diners freebies at local eateries — if they're willing to eat at off hours. Freevo, which launched this month, partners with 150...
This smart doorbell from Motorola alums blew past its crowdfunding goal
A team of former Motorola engineers has landed a crowdfunding hit: a connected doorbell that lets users on mobile devices and laptops see and speak with whomever is at the...
Peanut, a friend-finding app for moms, is making a push in Chicago
Chicago moms in search of friendships with other mothers, your Tinder has arrived. Peanut, an app that connects nearby users based on common interests and age of children, is ramping...
Glappitnova adds mentoring, gets spontaneous with 2017 festival
Glappitnova, the millennial-focused creative and entrepreneurial festival, is experimenting with spontaneity during its signature showcase this week — creating a new opportunity for anyone to grab the mic and host...
Pocket-sized Dostoyevsky? Chicago’s latest Kickstarter hit offers classic lit to go
A group of entrepreneurs is on a mission to get you to put down your phone and turn instead to classic literature — works by Mark Twain, Jane Austen, Fyodor...