Chicago-based web startup Logolance launched its new website, Logolance.com, publicly today. Designed to combat the problems of design crowdsourcing, Logolance.com offers a new and improved tool for linking businesses with top freelance logo designers.

“Right now much of the professional design community simply doesn’t operate online, and rightfully so,” said Michael Siegler, Founder of Logolance. “The web is flooded with inexperienced designers willing to work for next-to-nothing. It’s an extremely competitive market, and it’s very difficult for legitimate designers to differentiate themselves and prove their value. But the market for quality design still exists, and now we provide a way for great companies to find talented designers and the tools to ensure the design process is successful.”

In Logolance’s hiring model, clients will use a process similar to that of many Fortune 500 companies: they’ll be able to create an RFP (Request for Proposal), review designer portfolios, and then hire several freelancers to come up with creative logo designs for their project. In contrast to the “spec-based” logo design websites made popular during the recession, Logolance builds a direct and private relationship between designers and clients; rather than working for free, designers have the power to control and negotiate their intellectual property.

“Our goal is to connect uncompromising companies with the world’s best freelance logo designers,” Siegler said. “Great designers don’t work for free. Crowdsourcing and spec-work are not going away, but now we provide a better option for successful businesses that are serious about their identity.”

Valuable market research technology plays a key role in Logolance’s process. Through the market research module, clients collect data and ask questions of stakeholders, clients, and associates, so they can make informed decisions about finalizing their design and taking it to the market.

According to a recent press release, Logolance has already “received positive early response from many within the design community,” hinting that this new networking tool is definitely on to something.

For more information on this Chicago web startup and its new site, visit Logolance.com.

Edited by Meagan Lopez

According to reports published on Tuesday, Groupon‘s President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Solomon is stepping down.

Despite his departure, Solomon “will remain a friend and advisor to the company,’’ according to spokeswoman Julie Mossler. After working with the daily-deals website for about a year of lightning-fast growth, Solomon is returning to what CEO Andrew Mason called “God’s country in Woodside, California.” Before Groupon, Solomon served as a partner at Technology Crossover Ventures and held leadership roles at Yahoo! Inc. and a few startups.

“Rob has added enormous value to Groupon and we’ll miss having him around,” Mason said in an email. “He’ll remain a friend and adviser to the company.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Solomon said he is “absolutely not” leaving because of a problem at Groupon and has not disclosed the actual cause for his move. While the online coupon site has yet to find a replacement for , it is reportedly “talking to lots of world-class COO types.”

Solomon’s decision comes at the same time as Groupon’s recent push towards hundreds of new cities. While it’s doubled users in the last three months, Groupon also “has held talks with banks about an IPO,” according to sources at Business Week. “The share sale, which would value the company at as much as $25 billion, may happen this year, the people said.”

Eric Lefkofsky, who both co-founded investment firm Lightbank and serves as chairman of Groupon’s board of directors, declined to comment on any plans for a Groupon IPO. He said that for his venture capital firm, “we would love to be affiliated with [Rob Solomon] if we can.”

Technology services firm PC Connection Inc. recently acquired Chicago-based ValCom Technology of Illinois, provider of tech services to medium-to-large corporations, for a total of $11.6 million (subject to confirmation of stockholders’ equity at closing).

PC Connection, which sells technology products and services to clients that include businesses, consumers and state and federal governments, paid the shareholders of ValCom $8.6 million at closing.  They will pay up to $3 million more based on performance over the next 18 months.

“We are very pleased to have ValCom Technology join the PC Connection family of companies,” said Patricia Gallup, chairman and chief executive of PC Connection. “We are expanding our managed services offerings through this acquisition, and we look forward to leveraging the resources of this highly skilled organization over our existing customer base.”

In business for 28 years and with over 200 employees, technology consulting company ValCom Technology generated about $40 million in revenue last year. Due to its new acquisition by PC Connection, it will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Merrimack, New Hampshire-based technology company, while continuing operations in its Itasca, Illinois-facility.

ValCom will still do business under the ValCom, ValCom Technology, and ValCom Technology Management Solutions trade names.

Before making the purchase, PC Connection believed acquiring the Chicago-based tech consultant would serve to directly boost the company’s earnings, and that supposition is proving to be correct already. According to Business Week, “PC Connection shares gained 5 cents to close at $7.93. In after-hours trading, following the announcement of the acquisition, the stock rose another 2 cents.”

For more information about PC Connection, visit PCConnection.com.

Edited by Meagan Lopez

A new entrepreneur-focused web series “Trep Life” launched last month, the brainchild of Scotty Cadenhead and Malachi Leopold. Read the interview here.

Showcasing what it takes to be an entrepreneur through real-life stories of startup success, “Trep Life” gives viewers a unique, 360-degree view of what being an entrepreneur really takes.

Here in the Midwest, there’s a new opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and earn the funding to put those ideas into action: through Funded by Night, a competition that will be held at the third annual FutureMidwest Conference in April. The startup with the best pitch will walk away with a hefty chunk of funding to pursue their dreams: a convertible note of $100,000.

Funded by Night comes from Jeff Epstein, founder and CEO of zferral; Jordan Wolfe of uwemp.com, and Raji Bedi of DoingTonight.com. Epstein originally announced it during a midVentures’ interview, stating it was a bit inspired by midVenturesLAUNCH.

According to the nonprofit startup showcase’s website, competition will be fierce: “There isn’t enough time for your 40-slide pitch decks,” it advises. “Have a working demo, and bring your A-game. Oh yeah, prepare to schedule a few meetings with the investors in attendance too.”

The $100,000 convertible note comes from two of the newest venture capital firms in Southeast Michigan: Ludlow Ventures LLC of Southfield and Detroit Venture Partners LLC, the new firm from Dan Gilbert, Josh Linker, and Brian Hermelin.

“A company will make its pitch and walk out three hours later with a check, which is cool,” said Jonathon Triest, managing partner of Ludlow Ventures. “We hope to make it an annual event.”

To apply to make a presentation, startups should head over to FundedbyNight.com. There is no fee, although applicants have to cover their own travel expenses to FutureMidwest, held April 28-29 at Detroit’s Eastern Market. Of all the applicants, the top 25 startups will get the chance to make their pitches Thursday afternoon in person at the conference, with a winner named the same night.

About 700 people attended FutureMidwest last year, and nearly 1,000 are expected next month. The terms of the convertible note from Funded by Night are posted on its website.