Why software engineers at Tock hang out in top restaurant kitchens
Why would a software programmer shadow a server in a fancy restaurant? Or hang out in the kitchen where they orchestrate the orders between the chefs and the waiters? It's...
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FeeBelly helps users spot danger when signing complex contracts
Anyone who's signed a contract for a mortgage or even a club membership knows they can be a pain, especially if you miss a clause about overages, fees or extra...
Do coding boot camps measure up? These groups want to help you find out
As coding boot camps multiply to meet demand for programmers, it's harder than ever for would-be engineers to pick a school. But growing complaints about the schools' value and recent...
When it’s time for startups to set up HR
If the sexual harassment controversy at Uber tells a cautionary tale for startups, it's don't wait until you're in trouble to have clear employee policies and practices. The blog post...
This coworking space hacks kids’ cars and helps modernize the concrete industry
A game designer who brought the hacker and maker movements to Chicago's south suburbs is making a bigger impact than he planned. Jayson Margalus, a software engineer and game development...
Suburban coworking, less ‘college campus’ and more upscale, gains ground
Ask Chicagoans where to find a coworking center and there's a good chance that they'll tell you 1871, Grind or one of 80 other places in the city. Ask that...
Can Chicago’s tech climate support the growth of blockbuster redwoods?
Forget unicorns. Chicago needs redwoods. To become a world-class tech hub, some say, a city needs founders to think beyond creating the $1 billion private companies known as unicorns. It...
New Year’s resolutions for 2017 from Chicago innovators
When we asked members of Blue Sky Innovation's Blue Network for their 2017 business goals, a few trends emerged. Some want to tap Chicago's local strengths for their business, others...
Glance wants to put a smart mirror in your house, your gym, your hotel
Your bathroom mirror will soon show more than your reflection as you get ready for the day. Chicago startup Glance Displays has created an $1,800 smart mirror with a heads-up...
Tech leaders say Donald Trump’s immigration plan could hurt startups, workers
If President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his anti-immigration stance, it won't save American jobs, say leaders of Chicago's tech startup sector. Worse, the businesses that depend on high-skill technical...