People tend to think that the digital space is synonymous with startup culture and that it has a monopoly on innovation. If you're a young entrepreneur, the assumption is that you're either a programmer or an "idea guy" in a jacket and t-shirt.
But there's a company in Elgin - a thriving, growing one - that's operating in a space that's rarely associated with startups. Compass Automation is disrupting manufacturing and robotics.
Compass' three co-founders are each under 30 and they've grown to 35 employees in 5 years. The company designs, builds, programs, and installs custom manufacturing equipment, which includes everything from high-speed assembly systems to robotic painting cells. Because Compass Automation executes every step of the build - from brainstorming the solution to assembling the machine in the factory - they work within a variety of industries, taking on every size project.
Bill Angsten, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, explained that by functioning as a one-stop-shop for automation answers, they don't need to market to one sector, allowing everyone to come to them. They've worked with Fortune 500 companies including Caterpillar and Johnson & Johnson, as well as local mid-size companies like Prince Castle and Cam Craft.
The key to their success has been their innovative approach to hiring. When Angsten and his partners decided to start a manufacturing business, they didn't exclusively go after experienced veterans in the industry. They went right to MIT.
"To be an efficient, scalable custom manufacturer, you need to get the design right from the very beginning. If your design is off by even a little, you lose a lot of time which is a lot of money. All of our mechanical engineers who initiate the design are right out of MIT."
Obviously, filling your factory with the smartest people in the room is easier said than done. In fact, the city of Chicago just launched a massive campaign this past weekend - titled Think Chicago - where they brought in 150 top STEM students from the coasts to convince them to consider the Windy City as a place to set up shop. If the city needs to spend significant resources to attract this kind of talent - each student was flown in and given a 3-Day Lollapalooza Pass - how is a startup in Elgin going to compete?
"When we went out to our first career fair at MIT, we were next to Boeing, Facebook, and the CIA. But we're really offering an opportunity that few companies can provide. Right out of school, you can design and build your own machine. At Compass Automation, you see these projects through and these machines becomes your babies. The opportunity to tinker and build right away is rare. And we stress that."
This past year, Compass Automation sent out eight offer letters to MIT graduates hoping that they'd get at least one to say yes. All eight agreed.
"We're really proud of the fact that we're getting young, very smart people people into manufacturing. It's seriously a fun field to be in," said Angsten.
On top of providing a fun environment for young engineers to succeed in, their overall goal is a lofty one.
"Our mission is to level the playing field. A lot of manufacturing is going overseas and we're excited that our machines are helping factories in the U.S compete and thrive."
Above all else, it's this ambition that shares DNA with the startup mentality, even when the bones - complicated robotics and a large manufacturing shop - don't look anything like the examples you'd find in a typical incubator or shared-space.
So the next time you picture a successful Chicago entrepreneur, be sure to throw work goggles and a hard hat on that image.
