#DEVTO 24 - "Stay Calm & Integrate All" and "Critique in Modern Startups"

Creating the Perfect Product or Your Idea Is Awful: Critique in modern startupsKerry Morrison & Karim Awad

Discussions on the ideation, discussion, direction, creation, design, development and launch of a new app, product or startup.

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Kerry Morrison - CEO Endloop Mobile

During a nearly 20 year career in the digital marketing world, Kerry has worked for some of the biggest brands and with a number of the largest ad agencies in North America. He’s worked for advertising agencies, startups, telcos, media conglomerates, dot-coms and one of the worlds largest consulting companies. He ran a consulting company called Reason Intelligent Design before becoming the CEO of Endloop Mobile. Over the years, Kerry has led the development of projects for a number of agencies (including TBWA, Cossette, Rethink, DDB, Blast Radius, MacLaren McCann and Wasserman Partners) and clients such as HSBC, Electronic Arts, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Concord Pacific, Earl’s, SFU, US Department of Health, and the World Junior Hockey Championship.

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Karim Awad - Founder / Director Big Time Design and Communication Inc. Karim founded big time design and communication inc. in 2001 and continues to be the director of the digital design and development studio. He has worked with clients ranging from local artists and musicians to some of the largest brands in the world. Karim has worked and partnered with a number of startups and new ventures.

Karim has a Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo and has shown his art in Canada, USA, Japan and Great Britain. He has a wife and cat.

Stay Calm & Integrate All
Dane Drotts, Co-Founder & President GeneXus USA

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Dane Drotts is the Co-Founder and President of GeneXus USA, a Chicago based Software Company that specializes in the rapid prototyping and development of Smart Device and Web applications. Over the past 20 years, Dane has developed a reputation within the Chicago IT industry, and startup community as a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship lending his expertise, network and services to assist in the growth and development of bold and innovative new software and technology solutions.

In addition to working with several Fortune 500 companies, Dane spends a considerable amount of time working with local area startups to assist in the development of competitive technology and marketing strategies. Among these startups are companies such as GlobalTap, SpotHero, CheekyChicago, FRUSA, and ZealousGood where Dane provides advisory services on technology and business model optimization. Dane and his team are also busy working with AgileHealth, KickButts, Metropolitan Planning Council, Center for Neighborhood Technology, and TechCocktail to develop customer centric iOS and Android apps and, at Evanston based L2T Media, they are engaged in a year’s long project to build a customized digital marketing platform that encompasses a range of online media, e-mail, and social components with Google. Dane also works very closely with the Democratic Governors Association, as his company is the preferred App vendor.

Dane is a member of the Democratic Governors Association, State's Invest Illinois Venture Fund Program (IIVF), Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Chamber of Commerce, Young Presidents Organization, User Experience Network, Built In Chicago, Chicago Startups, i. c. Stars, Startup America, Illinois Technology Association, IPRO – Illinois Institute of Technology Advisor Board