High-end chocolates, low-cost energy audits, and more
"New in Chicago" is just that: a listing of businesses getting off the ground in and around Chicago. Please send us your startup announcements. Email is best: newchicagobusiness@gmail.com.
Crain's contributor Robert Loerzel brings you news of fresh local startups every Tuesday on Crain's blog for Chicago entrepreneurs.
Verde Sustainable Solutions: This Chicago firm recently released the Verde iPad app, which helps people perform an energy audit of their home. The app, which sells for $4.99, shows how to save money with energy efficiency upgrades and behavioral changes. Founded in 2010, Verde Sustainable Solutions is a social venture that works with small and medium-sized businesses to lessen their environmental impact. The firm helps other businesses to use renewable power sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels, at rates competitive to local utilities. The firm's lead consultant is Jamie R. Johnson.
TopstepTrader: This Chicago company, a scouting agency that discovers and develops futures traders, recently launched a program inspired by the world of sports. Taking a page out of the NFL's playbook, it's called “The Combine,” and it's a two- or four-week program that provides anyone the chance to become a live trader by mimicking the actual trader experience with a real-time trading simulator. “Just like the NFL, we use our Combine to find and develop talent, with the ultimate goal of making them profitable,” said President and CEO Michael Patak. TopstepTrader is a division of Patak Trading Partners LLC, a boutique proprietary trading group and member firm of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Acadia: Chef-owner Ryan McCaskey's restaurant, which opened last week at 1639 S. Wabash St. in the South Loop, is an homage to the rustic woods of Maine. On his blog, Mr. McCaskey explained that he has loved Maine ever since he visited there as a child. Later, he worked as a sous chef, pastry chef and baker at Goose Cove Lodge in Deer Isle, Maine. “And now for Acadia restaurant I'll source some of the world's best seafood and shellfish from the very area in which I had spent my youth,” he wrote. Chris Walker is Acadia's sous chef, Jason Prah is sommelier, and Chris Gerber is creative consultant.
KC Chocolatier: This new chocolate shop at 545 W. Diversey Parkway in Lincoln Park is the first local store affiliated with the Belgian company Kim's Chocolates. Owned by Karin Lovelady, the local KC Chocolatier shops makes chocolates in all shapes and sizes to suit the needs of its customers, including small boxes of chocolates, bars, tablets and pre-wrapped boxes.
CHECKProz: Quarasan, a Chicago company that develops content for publishers of educational materials and products, has launched this new sister company. CHECKProz offers copy-editing, proofreading and fact-checking services for content developers and publishers. “When accuracy checks are important to your success, CHECKProz will deliver quickly,” Quarasan President Randi Brill said in a press release. While Quarasan announced CHECKProz's launch, the companies said they will operate as separate entities to protect confidentiality of the clients for each. John Lindner is president of the new company.
Regulus Coffee House Company: This locally owned coffee shop opened recently at 6032 W. Irving Park Road in the Portage Park neighborhood, close to the Patio Theater. “With the theater reopened and a few other new shops, we are excited to open what we thought was missing,” Regulus' owners say on their website. “We aim to be your neighborhood coffee house.”
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