Catherine Tran has stepped down as executive director of Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit to accept a new opportunity. Her last day was May 8. Tran was the organization’s first executive director and oversaw much of its expansion beyond the national event in Iowa. Justin Hollinrake started as the new executive director…
SmartphonesPLUS, a Hiawatha-based electronics resale business, in partnership with An Enduring Legacy, a Mount Vernon-based business that works with individuals and corporations to design and implement philanthropic initiatives, has announced the launch of Tech for Good, a new initiative designed to transform used electronics into funding for nonprofit organizations. The…
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been named a 2026 Foundry CIO 100 award winner. For more than 40 years, the CIO 100 Awards have recognized innovative organizations that exemplify the highest level of strategic and operational excellence in IT, according to a press release. Wellmark was recognized for…
Tucked in the middle of the Sherman Hill neighborhood in Des Moines is a community kitchen that is nurturing a cadre of food entrepreneurs. The 1,000-square-foot kitchen is located in the Robert Mickle Center, a former nursing home turned community center that has office space for nonprofits and small businesses….
America’s Cultivation Corridor announced that David Cook, president of Iowa State University, was elected to its board of directors, effective April 13. Cook will also serve as secretary of the board, joining the slate of board officers for the 2026-27 leadership term. “At the heart of Iowa’s agricultural strength are…
Lyndsey Mekelburg earned first place and $500 at the University of Iowa IdeaStorm Applied AI Case Competition on April 27 at Merge Iowa City. A total of $1,500 and mentoring sessions were awarded to student innovators. Eleven teams pitched business ideas built around real-world applications of artificial intelligence. Mekelburg’s winning…
The Great Outdoors Foundation has announced the launch of Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator, a pitch competition designed to advance innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Convergence is part of the Athene Watershed26 conference, taking place June 30–July 1. Convergence aims to bring together entrepreneurs, farmers and…
Iowa-based venture capital firm Next Level Ventures has announced the promotion of Liz Keehner to partner. In her new role as partner, she will continue to lead investment strategy in Iowa, manage Iowa investor relations, work with portfolio company founders and help shape the firm’s long-term strategic direction. She joined…
As part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week activities, SBA Deputy Administrator William Briggs will visit Iowa. Briggs is coming to Iowa May 4 to visit Percival Scientific in Perry, which designs and manufactures custom research environmental growth chambers for universities, colleges, government institutions, and businesses…
Four Central Iowa student robotics teams are heading to the FIRST World Championship in Houston this weekend. The teams are from Waukee, Des Moines, Ames and Urbandale. Through FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), students design, build and program robots under real-world constraints, developing skills in mechanical…