When a small business needs fast money, it’s easy to whip out a credit card to make the purchase. Every entrepreneur relies on them. Why not, when they’re convenient and easy to manage? But the line between personal and business credit can be blurry. When is it appropriate to open a business credit card, versus continuing to use personal cards? These milestones signify it’s … [More]
AR Sky Writing
Skrite empowers users to create their own AR by leaving virtual messages in the sky, giving them the opportunity to “own the sky.” It is the first app to enable everyday users to create their own messages and explore others in the sky around them. Skrites — the pieces of content, users upload to the sky — can only be created in a user’s current location. Skrites are created … [More]
Wellness Scheduling On the Go
ThrivinU is a new app for the wellness community, being beta tested in the Phoenix area on iOS and Android. Scottsdale resident Dara Rummel modeled it after Uber, to connect providers of health and wellness services with consumers. She wanted an easier way to schedule appointments and have the option for a professional provider to come to her. ThrivinU is built around six … [More]
Key to Connect
EventKey offers a new level of connection at professional events from simple meetups to business seminars. The platform works through LinkedIn. Organizations can use EventKey to promote, sell tickets and do registration for events. Advantage to attendees is being able to access photos and more easily recognize other attendees, facilitating introductions. The app … [More]
Return on Recognition
Vistance, new patent-pending technology from Rideau, Inc., uses predictive analytic employee recognition data to identify the return on recognition for companies and to create tailored education for managers by focusing on their individual needs around recognition and engagement dimensions for their employees. Built upon award-winning, state-of-the-art technology and validated … [More]
Automated Consulting?
Valley-based SaaS startup ForeIQ has created an app that offers a one-of-a-kind option for modern consulting companies looking to adopt automation. It was originally developed by Fuller Solutions founder Patrick Fuller and his team as an internal solution to automate the day-to-day business management of their own professional services firm, which realized a three-fold increase … [More]
Things To Do
Things 3 takes the popular task manager app to a higher level. An Apple Editor’s choice, it has all the bells and whistles. Multiple windows helps ensure things don’t get lost in the shuffle of a stack of memos, and the calendar view gives users a step up on time management — with reminders, too, so important items don’t get overlooked. Make to-do lists and checklists, and … [More]
Outside Auditors and the Inside Truth
Companies and shareholders depend on auditors to provide unbiased, independent analyses of financial statements, but new research from the University of Missouri shows auditors can be influenced and misled by information provided by the organization’s management. The study, “The Effect of Partition Dependence on Assessing Accounting Estimates,” is presented by Nate Newton, … [More]
Bike Service Goes Mobile
The “we’ll come to you” concept now has a bicycle incarnation in Beeline Bikes, a Bay Area startup that has a Phoenix-area franchise operator in The Velo to serve Downtown Phoenix and segments of the East and South Valley. “The typical Beeline Bikes mobile bike shop customer is very different from the typical local bike customers,” says Beeline CEO and founder Pete Buhl. In … [More]
Hilton Debuts Eco- and Pet-Friendly Concept
Hilton’s latest concept in its hospitality portfolio is Home2 Suites, aimed at guests looking to stay five or more nights, and it chose Glendale, across the street from University of Phoenix Stadium, as one of its debut locations. Evidence indicates that was a smart choice, as the hotel has been booked solid since its first week two months ago, according to Jake Rodriguez, … [More]
Monetizing Spare Time
Hire.Bid improves the way people find and hire high-end professionals and allows professionals to better leverage and monetize their skills. Its proprietary system incentivizes professionals to perform their best for clients and allows those same professionals — even if employed — to make money by auctioning off their spare time. The platform inverses the traditional model … [More]
Goods to Go
Roadie lets people send things (from furniture to boxes, bicycles and more) with drivers already heading in that direction. It’s a smart solution to save on shipping costs and a green way to use resources already on the road. The service is also becoming popular with local small businesses, as an affordable way to deliver goods to their customers. … [More]
Stocking Up
Stockpile offers companies and unique and rewarding way to incentivize employees. Shares of stock can be gifted in any dollar amount and is the gift that keeps on giving. E-gifts or physical gift cards are available and allow employers to help their team become investors. … [More]
CEOs Are Business Experts? Not Always.
Naphtali Hoff writes about a reporter interviewing a successful and rather terse bank president. When asked about his success, the president said, “Right decisions.” And how does one make right decisions? He answered, “Experience.” So, how is experience gained? He replied, “Wrong decisions.” Research conducted by the Arizona Commerce Authority with CEOs of young, high-growth … [More]
Transparent Last-Mile Delivery
Courier service Dropoff recently expanded into Phoenix with its proprietary technology platform for last-mile, same-day delivery for businesses large and small. Among the features its technology enables are real-time tracking and confirmation of order status with easy Web and mobile ordering, along with signature verification once the delivery is completed, and transparency as … [More]
Smartphone as Supercam
The ShowOff Super Mount enables hands-free photos and videos from the user’s smartphone — up to 30 feet away — by combining Bluetooth technology with an advanced magnetic system. It also provides real-time updates while working if attached to a computer or monitor, and gives GPS navigation in the car if mounted to the rearview mirror. The ShowOff Super Mount uses an … [More]
The Medium Is the Message
SnapComms recently launched CommsTools.com as a free online resource that can help employers get a message across successfully to their workforce (or help anyone looking for ideas on how best to communicate to a wider group). Getting employee attention is extremely hard nowadays as staff contend with bloated email inboxes and information overload. “CommsTools.com helps … [More]
The New Temp
Facilitating opportunities in the growing gig economy, the mobile app called Shiftgig connects businesses with people who want to work short-term jobs or shifts — such as those who manned many positions at local stadiums for Spring Training. In fact, Intuit released a study earlier this year (its second annual “Dispatches from the New Economy: The On-Demand Workforce”) that … [More]
