Memorable Moments in Chicagoland Innovation

 

About This Series: The story of innovation in Chicago is best told through the experiences of accomplished local visionaries. All innovators are blessed with imagination, drive and at least a bit of serendipity. In this 10-part series, we will showcase how inspiration turns into execution and the creation of new systems. These stories are only the beginning.
 

Featured Chicago Innovator: Keith Schacht, Founder, Crafted Fun Inc.

 

Keith Schacht of Crafted Fun Inc. reveals the “subtle steps of success” that drive his online inventions.

 

Innovation is just a fancy way to describe problem solving, believes Keith Schacht, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Facebook application developer Crafted Fun Inc.

 

“My approach has always been very methodical,” Schacht explains. “I determine the goal and the constraints and then figure out which ones can move and which one’s can’t.”

 

Not too long after Schacht founded Crafted Fun in 2007, he developed a pioneering online game called “Growing Gifts” The clever application - which allows users to send their friends digital flowers - has been installed by more than 6 million Facebook users. Overall, Crafted Fun has attracted more than 20 million Facebook users.

 

Schacht said he modeled Growing Gifts after the most popular applications of that time, but incorporated just enough original craftsmanship to lure visitors.

 

“When you are imitating somebody else’s success you can copy key identifiers,” he said, adding that it’s also important to have a “surprise factor.”

 

While Crafted Fun has enjoyed modest success with more recently developed applications, Schacht concedes nothing has yet to take off when the company deviates too far from its original formula.

 

Since co-founding breakthrough company Inventables shortly after college, 29-year-old Schacht has been cited by the likes of Business Week and the TED Conference as a visionary who understands digital culture and innovation. An Internet mogul in the making, Schacht has developed a virtual blueprint for seeding online hits.

 

“There are a lot of subtle factors that contribute to success that sometimes you never figure out,” he said.
 

 

 

The "Innovation in Chicago" series features interviews and work by Brad Spirrison. Brad is a local technology writer and media creator. Each week he authors the “Tech Matters” column in the Chicago Sun-Times. He can be reached at brad@chicago.com.