NogginLabs, Inc. Wins 2005 INNOVATE Illinois Challenge
1 March 2005
Chicago-based e-learning company NogginLabs won the INNOVATE Illinois 2005 Award/Business Innovation Competition, held Tuesday at Kendall College. The contest, founded by the Chicago West Side Entrepreneurship Center (CWSEC), was launched as a way of recognizing the most innovative small businesses in the 10-county northeast Illinois region. With awards in environmental, service, and manufacturing sectors, the competition was narrowed to eleven finalists that represented the region’s most dynamic companies. NogginLabs, a company with a highly creative approach to custom e-learning software development, is very pleased to win the prize for best woman-owned business. The prize, valued at $20,000 in cash and merchandise, was among five awarded to finalists by a panel of judges following a day of presentations.
Many factors contributed to the NogginLabs victory. The company has experienced steady growth in both profit and workforce since its inception in 1997. Co-owned and founded by Brian and Traci Knudson, NogginLabs is a full-service e-learning software company with a deep knowledge of instructional design theory. Focusing on performance-based training, NogginLabs established themselves as experts in creating distinctive software that uses unique, interactive techniques to yield lasting results for any industry. Their methods led to a diverse client base and facilitated the company’s transformation into an important player in the global e-learning marketplace.
NogginLabs remains dedicated to refining their product during each phase of the company’s growth. Maintaining a highly collaborative work environment and perfecting a development process are key elements of the company’s achievements. Working with powerful, custom-made content creation software that reforms the traditional industry methods, the NogginLabs team aims to surpass client expectations with their delivered products. A talented staff of designers, content producers, project managers and software architects combine to create each element of the projects in-house, increasing efficiency and streamlining communication every step of the way.
NogginLabs’ innovations have garnered them national recognition as well. In 2004, the company took home Gold and Silver Excellence in Learning Awards from brandon-hall.com, a widely respected leader in the e-learning research and consulting industry. They have also won three AXIEM awards, including two top honor Copper awards, for courses developed for Dale Carnegie and Hibernia National Bank. The AXIEM Awards were created recognize exemplary electronic media in all forms.
The founding sponsor of INNOVATE Illinois is the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Other event sponsors include by Microsoft, Chicago Commerce Venture, DePaul University and ComEd.
About NogginLabs
NogginLabs creates custom, performance-based e-learning applications for corporate learning. The company’s e-learning solutions immerse learners in challenging, interactive environments that simulate real work situations. Founded in 1997 and based in Chicago, NogginLabs is a privately held company.
