Iowa’s innovation ecosystem had another busy year that made for plenty of news to report and stories to tell across the state.
Some highlights from the year include the announcement of a new $6 million early-stage VC fund, Iowa City-based Merge Coworking renovating and expanding services and the launch of the Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute.
Also, we covered memories of John Pappajohn, Gravitate Coworking turning 10 years old, Hummingbirds raising $5.4 million in its third round of venture capital financing, and the recent InnoVenture Challenge where Hampton-based Repaint Studios took home the $100,000 prize.
Here are the five innovationIOWA stories that were viewed the most in 2024.
- John Deere: ‘We’re a technology company’: John Deere Des Moines Works Factory Manager Rosalind Fox and other John Deere leaders sat down with the Business Record in 2023 to discuss Deere’s evolution as a technology company.
- DSM in Legos: Local architect designs, builds Des Moines skyline Lego set: Joe Feldmann of OPN Architects shared about designing a set of Legos that features iconic Des Moines architecture and what inspired him to do it.
- Eileen Gannon: From executive to entrepreneur: In 2022, the former Workiva executive shared her journey to launching her own business, Sunday Night Foods, selling premium chocolate sauces.
- Insights into Kreg Tool’s path to driving innovation with an ‘owner mentality’: The Business Record followed Ankeny-based Kreg Tool as the company sought to instill an innovation mindset and culture across its office and warehouse operations teams. Leaders share the successes and lessons they experienced along the way.
- Going beyond ChatGPT: Des Moines nonprofit Pi515 held its first AI Challenge to encourage students to explore AI and develop a solution. Several of the teams pitched their solutions at Pi515’s Day of Innovation.