By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“BestBuy.com president Scott Durchslag on Tuesday outlined the retailer’s plans to revamp its online strategy, saying it will focus on “streaming” tailored deals to loyalty program members and forging partnerships with innovative technology companies.
Durchslag, senior vice president of digital and marketing and president of Best Buy.com and eCommerce, spoke before a crowd at the Minnesota High Tech Association spring conference.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“With Groupon suffering some high-profile set backs this week, it’s a good time to look into what happened to the handful of Twin Cities startups that were chasing after the once-booming group-buying market.
At least two of the homegrown startups appear to have faded away in recent years: The Blind Squirrel, an Edina-based company that mixed group-buying with nonprofit donations, and Groupenture.com, which offered group-buying deals on adventure travel.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Startup video-game developer Soul and Vibe Interactive is seeking $5 million in funding as it prepares to launch a sports title starring the breakfast of champions.
Tony Chiodo, a gaming-industry veteran and former director of product development for Plymouth-based Destineer Studios, started Soul and Vibe in February 2011 with plans to begin publishing original titles. Not long after, he got a call from a contact at General Mills (NYSE: GIS), kicking off a conversation that ultimately landed Soul and Vibe rights to develop a game featuring the Wheaties cereal brand.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Scott Davis‘ business partners gave him strict instructions: During standard working hours, you will do nothing but try to raise capital.
Davis spent months preparing pitch decks and meeting with angel investors in a bid to raise up to $1 million for Qonqr, the mobile gaming startup he and two partners launched at Startup Weekend in 2010. For a host of reasons, nobody invested, and Davis — by then the company’s only full-time staffer — gave up.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“MobileRealtyApps, a developer of mobile applications for real estate firms, is the latest tech startup to lease office space at the Grain Exchange building after outgrowing a co-working space at CoCo.
The company this week moved into about 1,400 square feet of space on the first floor of the building. Several tech companies and organizations have set up shop at the Grain Exchange since CoCo opened in 2011.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Software firm Calabrio Inc. is moving from Plymouth to larger digs in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis as it ramps up recruiting.
The company leased about 30,000 square feet inside the Wyman building at 400 1st Ave. N. Calabrio’s new space will be between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet larger than its current offices.”
Bu John Vomhof Jr., Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Target Corp. has hired Jason Goldberger as senior vice president of Target.com and Mobile, the company announced Tuesday.
Goldberger will lead all functions associated with Target’s e-commerce business, including the user experience, merchandising and analytics. He will start working for Minneapolis-based Target (NYSE: TGT) Feb. 11.”
By Sam Black, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Infor, the New York-based software company that bought Lawson Software in 2012, has started a site search for the 650 employees it has in downtown St. Paul.
The company, which was the original anchor tenant of a St. Paul office tower known as Lawson Commons, is considering leaving that building and looking in all parts of the Twin Cities as it tries to find the best location for its Twin Cities office, according to Infor spokesman Dan Barnhardt.”
By Katharine Grayson, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“More than 20 Minnesota companies are at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, showing off products ranging from 3D printers to components for record players.
Conference organizers expect the event will draw more than 150,000 attendees this year.Twin Cities companies at the conference include large businesses such as Oakdale-based data-storage firm Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN). The company, whose consumer-electronics brands include TDK and XtremeMac, will be displaying products such as headphones, iPad Mini cases, and speakers.”
By Jim Hammerand, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Word reached the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal newsroom that Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) CEO William Lansing told Minnesota employees during a visit last month that a headquarters move to San Jose, Calif., is in the works.
…When asked about Lansing’s visit, FICO spokeswoman Kate Blatt didn’t dispute the visit or the rumor, saying only that, “We haven’t announced anything about a move.”
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