Jess Loren, The FUNDED Modern Business Women

by Leplan on November 12th, 2010 3

Jess Loren is the modern businesswoman from Chicago. She has founded companies like MixMedia LLC and SocialTechPop.

Jess is a aggressive Entrepreneur and has been successful in her career. She has one of her business funded by the investors and is looking for funds for the other.

Her company is incubated in Sync Tech Center, which is located in the heart of down town Chicago.

Jess talks to me about her life, family, and the companies she has started. Enjoy the read.

[Bhupendra] Hi Jess, How are you today? Welcome to GlobalThoughtz

[Jess] Thanks!

[Bhupendra] Now you are 25 and you are an Entrepreneur. How does it feel to be the young Entrepreneur?

[Jess] I always knew I would be an entrepreneur as when I was a child I always wanted to sell anything and everything I could. I would come up with as many ideas as I could to start different businesses. I have never wanted to work for anyone but myself. It has been rough being self employed as of late, with the current economic situation. However, I fully believe in myself and that I will be able to pull through this economy with my company and be a winner!

[Bhupendra] What pulls you to Social Media?

[Jess] When I was in College Facebook came out and it drew me in. When I first joined, it was called “the Facebook” and it was very basic. The functionality of the site was very limited, yet there was something about it that people became addicted to and everyone wanted in. I was one of these people and from that point forward I was “social”. Social media is an easy way to resonate with people and that is really what draws me in.

[Bhupendra] Any reason for choosing Chicago as a base for your business?

[Jess] Chicago is one of the largest cities in the world where business’ can come to flourish. Most would say that Chicago is not ideal for tech companies however I fully believe I can be one of the entrepreneurs to help change that attitude about Chicago not being a tech “hot spot”. With startups like Groupon I think Chicago will find its way within the global tech community.

[Bhupendra] Most of the Tech Business is saturated at California and Bay Area. How is Chicago positioned?

[Jess] As I stated in the last question in my opinion Chicago is really finding its way and new incubators opening here is a great example of this.

[Bhupendra] There are many cities racing to be the next Silicon Valley. Can Chicago become the next Silicon Valley? What do you say?

[Jess] I am not sure if Chicago needs to be “the next silicon valley” Chicago is a HUGE city and people come here every day to discover all the possibilities that are here. Chicago can vie on its own and does not need to take any namesake from Silicon Valley.

[Bhupendra] Now tell us the details of your business.

[Jess] Mix Media Solutions LLC is an agency whose focus is on everything new and digital. We aim to work with clients who have a number of things on their plate that need reworking or also to work with startups to start with fresh new ideas. We work on everything from branding, websites, logos, social media creation as well as management of all of these entities. We really work with our clients to create a plan that will work for their business and then manage the expectations and concentrate on quality design to connect to the brand and the messaging that we create.

I also own Socialtechpop.com which is a premier popular culture and technology blog. The blog is run by a group of homegrown Chicago technophiles. SocialTechPop reports on emerging digital technologies, start-ups, incubators, events, and society’s affects and influences on technology.

SocialTechPop, which is named as a reflection of the bridge that has risen to unite society, technology and pop culture, will be run out of Chicago’s premier technology incubator, the Syncubator. Mike Rhodes, founder of the Sync Technology Center and the Syncubator Fund has echoed the excitement of SocialTechPop. “Chicago is dying for a voice to speak for the growing technology sector we have here. The Midwest has proved itself as a powerful stomping ground for start-ups, and SocialTechPop is the youthful voice this city needs.” Rhodes continued, “Think of it as Mashable for the Midwest. It’s already got a lot of buzz and people are looking forward to help this voice speak.”

It isn’t enough to recognize that technology exists and impacts our daily lives. Rather SocialTechPop detects, uncovers, and explores the fabrics that tie our society together in this emerging digital age. SocialTechPop Founder Jess Loren added, “Chicago is home to some of the most famous and successful tech businesses in the industry. It only makes sense to launch the premier tech blog right in their own backyard.” Buzz is growing, and the city is excited for SocialTechPop.

Society, technology, and popular culture. They all impact one another, and now Chicago will have a voice to infuse excitement into what will soon be the leading city for technology in America.

[Bhupendra] What stage you are in? Are you looking for funds?

[Jess] Mix Media is fully funded by a private investor and does not need further investment at this time. SocialTechPop is also working on securing a private investor so yes STP s looking for further funding to grow the blog.

[Bhupendra] You are incubated at Sync Tech Park. What pulled you there? Are you happy with the incubator?

[Jess] The center is called SYNC Technology Center. In late 2009 I met Mike Rhodes who is the founder of the center and he knew about my previous endeavors in the “Deal a Day” market. He asked me to join the center and then is when I started Mix. What pulled me in were a new opportunity as well as the ability to help startups. It’s great to work with startups as you always have something new and fresh to work with.

[Bhupendra] What do you suggest to the upcoming start-ups on incubation? Why and how to get incubated?

[Jess] It is really all about applying yourself and being dedicated to your project. I have a great article here about getting funded: http://www.socialtechpop.com/2010/10/the-secret-to-getting-your-startup-funded/

[Bhupendra] Have you done any business in India or with Indian Clients or partners? Are you looking to work with one?

[Jess] I have not done business in India or China but for both of my companies we are open to global expansion. We are always open to new opportunities wherever they may be.

[Bhupendra] Given a chance to choose a nation between India and China, where and why would you do business?

[Jess] I really do not have a preference as I do not have any experience with working with either of these nations. Like I said before I am open to working with any nation that has a viable project for us to get involved with.

[Bhupendra] Let us now know you more. Tell us about your background and your family.

[Jess] I hope this cover everything: Hi, I’m Jess. Welcome to my wild and crazy, entrepreneurial world. First of all I believe I am an ever-growing web enthusiast. I grew up with the Internet as a kid, we were the first ones on the block with a Packard bell that had a prodigy internet connection (dial up anyone?), Prodigy was intriguing to me as it opened a new world, one that was mysterious, yet right in your home. Since then back in the early 90’s I have been hooked. There is not a day that goes by that I do not discover something new on the Internet.

To be honest I have always thought of myself as a ChiPreneur, which I derived from Chicago and Entrepreneur. ChiTown has been a nickname for this great city for as long as most of my family members and I can remember. “”Chi-Town” or “Chitown” Pronunciation of this nickname can vary (from chai-town to shy-town). So with ChiPreneur established I thought it was also necessary to add Serial, as I tend to jump from one project to another, which tends to drive my family crazy. I would also like to add that spelling and grammar have never been my strengths, so I apologize and feel free to correct me.

Moving on…I have been a member of Facebook since it was called “The Facebook”, I was so excited to recently find out that my Facebook birthday is October 19th 2004. To say the least I was an early adapter. I believe facebook has changed the world, and it’s so inspiring to know that something that was created in a dorm room, by one college student, could have such power.

I was born in Chicago and as a small child lived in the Elmwood Park area. When I was 5 years old I moved to South Florida for my father’s career at the time, and that’s about when all my entrepreneurial pursuits began.

I want to say my first sign of “the entrepreneurial bug” was lemonade stands when I was 5. Then there was the time when I decided that I no longer wanted to do my house chores. The great thing about this was I had a younger brother and sister. Well, one day I created an entire money system called “Jess Bucks”. I then proceeded to find all of the stuff in my room that I no longer liked/wanted/ was going to throw away anyway, and created a “store” in my closet. I organized the items into price sections based on my perceived value of the items run on the “Jess Bucks” system. After the “store” was put into place and the “currency” was created, I got my brother and sister into my room and told them that if they were to do certain chores for me they would earn these “Jess Bucks” in which they could buy things from my “store” (oh and the “store” also had hours of operation, lol) This system became such a big hit in my house that even my brother and sister’s friends started to want to participate when they would come over to play. From the “Jess Bucks” days the “Serial” side of me spawned into more lemonade stands, chocolate stands, babysitting services with “hired” employees, hot dog stands at my neighborhoods yearly garage sale (of which I would net around $800 yearly which was like a million dollars to me when I was little), Girl Scout Cookies were a big one, basically anything the school gave me to sell I would top everyone because I had to. It was just inside of me… “the bug” that I would have to sell the most and I kept going and going and going and I am still going.

I have always had a passion for the city and the possibilities it could bring to a young entrepreneur. I have had many a sales job in the past after high school, always toping and exceeding my sales goals. I have worked with large companies such as The Career Education Corporation, Nextel Communications and The Cortiva Institute. However, I pride myself with some of my most successful ventures as a child, being when I was selling those hot dogs at 7 and lemonade at 5 on the street corner. Needless to say, my quest for success has grown since my childhood. I use my day-to-day life, the power of asking for things, as well as my dreams, as a sponge for new ideas in the business of visionary creations. I tend to not limit myself, which is why I now have an advisor who was with UPS for 35 years and he now has the task of keeping me grounded.

I am an avid reader of industry related articles, books, and magazines, such as Entrepreneur Magazine and Inc. I fully believe one of my projects will be the main story in a business related magazine one day.

I am educated from Indiana University Bloomington as well as Loyola University Chicago with studies in Advertising and Public Relations. I used to have a full scholarship however, as most entrepreneurs I have yet to finish, but I do plan to do so in the future. Loyola can you hear me…I want back in??? J

I thrive on new ideas and the ability to make them a reality. I am a young individual who truly believes in my entrepreneurial skill set to make my projects nationally recognized powers of innovative and creative ideas. I am told that I am a superior networker and I’m guaranteed to know exactly what you do and how we can connect or connect with someone you know within the first meeting wherever it may be.

Currently, at the age of 25, I am stepping into the role of Blogger/Consultant/Social Media Speaker as well as helping, You, the business owner figure out the landscape that is now the Internet with Social Media. Blogs, Vlogs, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and so on and so on.

[Bhupendra] How is your Entrepreneurial journey been? Can you tell us the toughest moment you faced during this period?

[Jess] I think I am currently in the toughest period in my life with the state of the economy. I really hope that after the holidays things will look up and business will grow. Being an entrepreneur is all about moving forward and onto the next challenge. I am going to continue to move forward and work hard to achieve all that I can.

[Bhupendra] What is the best reward you have achieved so far?

[Jess] Being able to be an entrepreneur is really rewarding and I thank my boyfriend Michael Bianca for that. In the current times he is able to support our lifestyle so I am able to take financial risks.

[Bhupendra] Thanks a lot Jess. Have a wonderful day.