Technori Podcast With Scott Kitun

Twisted Road CEO Austin Rothbard spent 20 years in corporate America before hitting the open road. He became addicted to motorcycles after his first ride in 2015. Then he realized that it was difficult to find bikes when he travelled. That's where Twisted Road was born.

G2 Crowd CEO Tim Handorf came from humble beginnings. Like a graduating from a class of 19 in Iowa kind of humble. But it's there where he found some of his greatest entrepreneurial lessons. So what's farming got to do with tech and business? Listen in and find out how the business-solutions software company became a Chicago mainstay.

Home Chef CEO Patrick Vihtelic led his company to a big 2017. The fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service saw 150% growth and $250 million in revenue. Host Scott Kitun talks with Vihtelic about the recent merger and more on this episode.

Provi Founder & CEO Taylor Katzman is in the business of booze. He helps give alcohol distributors a leg up in the industry by making their systems more efficient. The platform serves as a one stop shop for ordering and supplying beverages. They recently raised $5 million.

CityBase CEO Mike Duffy is giving political advocacy a big leg up. CityBase CityBase is creating a common language and consistent interface for government services. There are 1,000+ constituent activities in a city, which break down to a handful of common user actions. We’re committed to providing governments a global platform to serve local needs.

Clearcover is a platform with the goal of cutting down on car insurance costs. CEO Kyle Nakatsuji saw his company raise over $11 million in year one. Nakatsuji’s company is a disruptor. So how do you disrupt a powerful industry like car insurance while also maintaining relationships with the old guard? Originally published November 1st, 2017.

Carlease.com CEO Andy O’Dwyer is here to talk some pressure off host Scott Kitun. Carlease connects users with the right car, solid dealerships and good offers while delivering the car to your door. Unfortunately for Scott, his beloved electric car Howard got into a bad crash. Scott and the leased car will be alright, but he’d like some input.

FOTO ATM lets you print your favorite pics directly from your phone. Co-Founders Eric Michael’s and Brian Gardner join the show to talk about how they built the special little app. Find out how this product was developed and designed and how you can bolster your Instagram game.

Curiosity CEO Lisa Weinstein makes content that trends. The content they create is both positive and eye-opening. Weinstein opens up about the glut of online content and how negative media can be combated with positive, educational stories.

Yona Shtern is CEO of ParkWhiz and he’s connected garages, consumers and major brands together in order to streamline the parking process. ParkWhiz recently had to decide whether to host their own service or work it into other platforms. What did they do? Either way, there’s no need to sweat about getting to your next outing! Visit ParkWhiz and use promo code TECHNORI to save $10 on parking.

Avail makes renting easier and less daunting for landlords and tenants. Co-founder Ryan Coon found an archaic leasing industry and saw a path for innovation. Potential tenants even have an opportunity to find the right pad for them.

It’s been a long trip to building Roa Ventures for multi-time Founder John Roa. He endured years of struggle before selling his startup Akta to Salesforce. Currently, Roa Investments deploys early-stage capital into high-potential lifestyle businesses. And they’re global. Roa shares the wisdom he’s learned during his entrepreneurial path.

Cara CEO and President Maria Kim is helping the underserved find quality work. Enduring domestic violence, poverty and incarceration should not be an end to finding a quality career. The process also rebuilds esteem among the individuals and their families.

Hunt Club CEO Nick Cromydas is passionate about building napkin ideas into companies. He’s appeared on Forbes 30 under 30 and founder of New Coast Ventures. Cromydas and host Scott Kitun talk about how tech can bolster the recruitment process. Switching jobs is a difficult road, but tech can put the best guides at the table. Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Justin Ullman is on a mission to organize your company. The RhinoDox software is a cloud-based document solutions software that organizes your files and propels your business processes. The company has roots in 1913 and Ullman updated the company for digital storage in 2016. Host Scott Kitun and Ullman discuss wasted time, Step Brothers, and how management is like chess.

alligatortek is software that addresses business bottlenecks. Founder and CEO Sid Bala took his 90s enterprise-application company and updated it, getting it named as one of the top 50 Employers for Gen Y Emerging Talent in 2013. Bala reflects on the origins of his company and the many lessons and successes along the way. aligatortek is a 2-time Chi Innovation Award winner. And remember, alligators put “byte” into your productivity. Find more innovators at Technori.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stephen Hauer has created a tasty new GOO for your dog that re-calibrates their immune systems, letting them live happier, healthier lives. Doggy Goo is a goo-licious treat that you feed to your dog daily. Prevention trumps treatment every time. GoCivic Chicago’s Beth Bond also joins the show to discuss the upcoming Midwest Women in Tech conference.

Otus COO Keith Westman is giving you more insight into the classroom. Host Scott Kitun is joined by GoCivic Chicago’s Beth Bond to talk about what’s new in tech overseas in London and Stuttgart. The goal of Otus is to utilize tech to create a holistic approach to teacher-student relationships without replacing humans with bots.

Gympass is gonna get your office ready for beach season. The program allows offices to sign up together for a gym membership. US General Manager Sean Flynn and Midwest General Manager Fabio Salim join the show. The duo will let you know why this system is a win-win-win for businesses, employees and gyms. Pleasure beats pressure.

Chomps is the better for you meat snack. Gas station meats have historically left consumers wanting for better, healthier options. CEO Peter Maldonado and COO Rashid Ali join the show. Host Scott Kitun is happy to have the opportunity to discuss jerky. How do you build a meats startup? The team then gets into a lively discussion about the importance of timeliness.