By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Tech startup Qonqr will debut its mobile game on Apple Inc.’s app store by the end of the week.
The firm’s app is a cross between Foursquare and the popular classic board game Risk. Players can release “nanobots” at geographic locations and battle against other teams of players for control over particular areas.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Why bother with Brazil when you can expand into Minneapolis instead?
That’s the question SalesForce.com Inc. CEO Mark Benioff offered up in response to a query about why the software giant isn’t expanding into more emerging markets overseas.
In a Feb. 23 earnings call, Benioff said he sees more opportunities in smaller U.S. markets than he does in regions abroad. He highlighted Minneapolis in the response — even going so far as to call the city an “emerging country.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Growing software firm Open Access Technology International Inc. (OATI) plans to build a second campus and data center on 4.3 acres in Bloomington.
The Minneapolis-based company, which sells Web-based applications for the energy industry, reached a deal to acquire land near Interstate 494 and Highway 100. The parcel is at the intersection of Computer Avenue and West 78th Street.
The company hasn’t set a budget for the project or hired contractors, said David Heim, who is managing the project for OATI. The development will include office space, a showroom for OATI’s products and a data center.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) plans to build a $15 million data center at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
MAC is soliciting bids from firms that want to construct the 10,700-square-foot facility, which will be located in the cargo area at the airport. Bids are due Feb. 14 and contracts will be awarded in March. Work on the facility will begin in April.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis – St.Paul Business Journal
“Twin Cities software developer Robert Grogan has won a third-place prize in the U.S. Small Business Administration ’s “Apps for Entrepreneurs Challenge.”
The national SBA competition challenged developers to create mobile applications that make it easier for entrepreneurs to mine government data related to property rights and energy-project leases.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Following news of Jobs2Web’s $110 million sale to SuccessFactors , we touched base with CEO Ken Holec to talk about the road to acquisition and what’s next for the company.
Here are some excerpts from the conversation: “
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Consulting firm Carol Corp., which launched in 2006 as a Web portal where consumers could comparison shop for health care services, has been sold to UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s Optum subsidiary.
Tony Miller, a venture capitalist and the former CEO of Definity Health, started Carol with the goal creating an online “care marketplace” where people could compare prices for routine health services at Twin Cities care providers. Carol eventually gave up on the idea, citing technical challenges and other issues.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis – St.Paul Business Journal
“Minnesota lost about 2,900 high-tech jobs last year, but retained its ranking as the 17th-largest “cyberstate” in the United States, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Cyberstates study, compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based TechAmerica Foundation, found that Minnesota employed 120,800 high-tech workers last year. In 2010, the state lost 1,100 jobs in the computer and peripheral-equipment manufacturing sector and 800 jobs in the electronics-component manufacturing field.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis – St.Paul Business Journal
“Northbrook Digital has sold its assets and patents to Google Inc.
Mark Wolfe, CEO of Woodbury-based Northbrook, didn’t reveal the name of the buyer, though federal documents show Google now owns the patents.
The patents relate to methods of displaying advertisements in Web browser tool bars, as well as link-sharing technology, Wolfe said.”
Today (8/17) the Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal posted an update to yesterdays news (below the fold) with a statement from Google:
“Minnesota is home to countless Google users and customers — big and small — who are helping drive innovation and economic growth for the state. In 2010, Google provided more than $1 billion in economic activity for Minnesota businesses. Our users, partners, developers and customers are located all over the country including Minnesota. With innovation occurring at the University of Minnesota as well as the tech sector across the state, we’re excited to be joining the Association and being a part of the working group.”
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