Creativity and Computers Combined

Scott Ruttencutter sits behind a wall of shelves that hold robots and other high-tech toys. As I walk past a soda machine, a pool table and other assorted gadgets his dog Moka prances over seeking attention. This is what is known as a creative environment!  As an Interactive Studio, creativity and innovation is the hallmark of what IQ Foundry is and does.  “We are smart, unique and effective,” says Scott, “and we specialize in innovative interactive website design and development.” Clients such as Trek Bicycle, Firefly Mobile, Subzero, and Jim Beam apparently agree. “We’ve been designing some amazing interactive sites for companies with a national and even global market presence,” says Scott. Go to the WowWee Toys website (www.wowwee.com) for an example of the type of work they do.

In addition to creative and development work for clients, IQ Foundry also has a software development division dedicated to creating web-based applications to solve small business needs.  Just this year they launched Time IQ, a web-based application for employee time tracking (www.timeiq.com).  “Time tracking is an essential business need for companies of all sizes, yet it is hard to find a simple and cost effective tool.  We hope that Time IQ can help small businesses get ahead,” says Scott.  Currently over 200 companies are using Time IQ worldwide.

While working for a Madison area advertising agency in 2005 Scott had a desire to do more interactive web development work. He thought about it for a week and decided to form his own company – IQ Foundry. In 2006 he moved into the Madison Enterprise Center – Common Wealth Development’s business incubator at 100 S Baldwin Street. This gave him a physical presence and a place to assemble his creative team.  Scott now has four full time employees and finds himself turning business away. “Growth and the demand for our services has been our greatest challenge,” says Scott.

Scott has college degrees in both Art and Computer Science, which is a rather unusual combination. In high school when other kids were out doing things with their friends, he would tinker with technology and computers.  This was his passion and still is. But it now includes a larger passion for creatively designing websites and running his business. “I love having the freedom to do what I want to meet my business goals, to create a work environment that my team likes to work in, and to lead great work for great clients,” says Scott. He feels that his business is successful because they come through for clients where others have failed. They have a well thought out approach which is well received by clients. Their work comes in on time within budget. 

Scott has the following advice for would-be-entrepreneurs. It’s more important to do something than to just think about it. In that sense he mimics the Nike slogan of Just Do It. “Make up your mind what you want to do and do it,” he says. Scott deliberated about one week about starting a business and then he did it. He never looked back and he’s never been happier.

Perfect Business Focus

Chris laughs when she thinks back to 2002 when she started her photography business in the Madison Enterprise Center, Common Wealth Development’s business incubator. “That first studio space! It was very industrial and needed a lot of work.” Chris spent days pulling up the glued down carpet and painting the walls. To facilitate the painting, she rented a paint sprayer which became harder and harder to operate. She realized that the sprayer was becoming clogged but not soon enough - the sprayer blew up, covering Chris in red paint.  Chris needed to clean-up and return the sprayer before driving to Chicago to catch a plane. On the way to the rental store her car broke down. Exhausted, drained, and exasperated she called her fiancé and said “What have I done going into business on my own?!”

Now that she owns a thriving photography business -Chris Hynes Photography and Noir et Blanc Photographie, Chris can laugh about the rocky start. Chris Hynes Photography specializes in commercial product photography and clients include Land’s End, Wintersilks, and American Girl. Noir et Blanc Photographie specializes in romantic black and white photos & wedding photography.

Chris thrives on risk and owning her own business. “I don’t have to answer to someone above me”, she says, and “I don’t have to explain why something is a good decision. I’m a creative person and I love having the creative freedom to run my business”.  Her photography business is her passion.   She smiles and says that if she was independently wealthy she would “have the nicest coolest photography studio in town” and she would be doing exactly what she’s doing now.

Does Chris feel that starting her new business in The Madison Enterprise Center was helpful? “Yes” she says, “It was huge. We needed a big space with high ceilings and there are a very limited number of spaces like that in town. Most were very expensive with longer term leases.” The application process to get into The Madison Enterprise Center required that she write a business plan and Chris found that process to be an important step in developing her business. Chris states “I love Common Wealth Development as a landlord. You provide flexible leases, you are very accommodating, and you understand the needs of start-up businesses.” She finds the staff at Common Wealth Development a pleasure to work with.

Chris’ business “graduated” from The Madison Enterprise Center in 2004 and she moved into Main Street Industries, Common Wealth Development’s second stage business incubator. Chris appreciates the synergy and the networking atmosphere in the incubators; she has done business with many of the other companies, shared resources and gotten useful advice. “I can run next door to Michelle Rutta-Wahe with any weird little business questions and she helps me out.”

When asked what advice she has for would-be-entrepreneurs, Chris laughs and says “Don’t finance your new business with credit cards like I did unless you want a lot of fear!”. But her serious advice includes the following two points. The first is to know your business and know it well. The second is to start small and grow as you need to. That way you will not overextend yourself.

And for those thinking of starting a business but hesitant to take the leap? Chris suggests that you ask yourself “Can it be any worse than what you are doing now?” Some folks will never be comfortable with starting a business and the risk that entails and that is ok. Starting a business is not for everyone.

A Vision Seven Generations Out

When the Iroquois tribes convened their consul meetings, they invoked this declaration:

In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

Conservation was, thus, the very foundation upon which their culture was built.

David Blecker spent 4 years in the military on a nuclear submarine and  3 years in the corporate world doing work for General Electric working on defense systems. After obtaining a degree in electrical engineering David became increasingly interested in social justice and in working to create a peaceful sustainable future.

David formed a company focusing on sustainable locally produced energy and named it Seventh Generation Energy Systems. Seventh Generation Energy Systems is an engineering firm providing clean energy solutions including wind and solar energy systems design, installation and service for homeowners, farmers, and businesses.

“Our customers are committed to the environment” says Blecker. “Some say they want to help Mother Earth and some are primarily concerned with improving their bottom line (economics) but the fact is that these are both benefits for the consumer.”
 
Just a few months ago David and his team were scattered all over Dane County. Now his operation is consolidated into one large industrial space at The Madison Enterprise Center (MEC), Common Wealth Development’s business incubator located at 100 S Baldwin Street, which provides affordable rent and business support services to its business tenants. Locating in the MEC gave Seventh Generation greater visibility, greater confidence in their business and a location in the heart of Madison’s environmentally aware Near-Eastside.  “Moving into the MEC has allowed us to grow, consolidate, invest in inventory, and hire new employees – all under one roof. We are now much more confident in our business.” Says Blecker.

David is passionate about the work he does and it shows. “I am the luckiest guy in the world. I have more fun than should be allowed. I get to help people realize that their ideas and dreams are achievable”.  He’s seen the look of joy on a homeowner’s face when the power is turned on for the first time and they are producing their own power. At a wind turbine install in Southwest Wisconsin a party developed when neighbors and friends helped to deliver lumber for the project. “This is so community based, local and environmentally friendly.” Says Blecker “If you contrast these stories to a new power line coming through town or a new coal plant there is really no comparison.”

Right now Seventh Generation is scrambling to keep up with the demand.  “It’s chaos. It’s insanity” says David, after a laugh.  It’s been a challenge for the company to keep up with the demand for its services. They’ve added four full-time employees since moving into the MEC. “By bringing in the right people –dedicated and passionate folks- and by moving into the MEC we’ve become much more effective in getting things done”.

David finds owning his own business wilding exciting. He loves the creativity involved in creating something out of nothing.  David is a cheerleader for entrepreneurship “ I encourage folks to jump in. I have no regrets”.  For folks interested in starting a business but afraid to take the leap, he chuckles and quips “You have nothing to fear but utter destruction!” He confides that there are a thousand reasons not to do it, but insists that the rewards are very worth the risk. He also cautions that you must be prepared to live it.  “Owning a business is a lifestyle but one I wouldn’t trade for anything” says David who regularly works 60+ hour workweeks and brings his kids (2 and 3 years old) to many work related outings.

In a serious moment David is philosophical. “Society has some very hard choices to make. How do we produce energy into the future? Do we want fossil fuels and the pollution they create? Do we want power lines stretched across the countryside? These things seriously diminish our quality of life. We now have the option to create clean energy at local level. The decisions we make today affect the quality of life of people seven generations down.”

Indeed - What could be more true?