The Technology Association of Iowa’s 2024 Iowa Technology Summit, scheduled for April 8-9 in Des Moines, is now open for registration. Two Iowa chief information officers — Kathy Kay of Principal Financial Group and Paul Hlivko of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield — will give the keynote presentation on the widespread impact of artificial intelligence. Other […]
The Iowa Economic Development Authority awards funding to startups in the form of low-interest loans through its Innovation Continuum, which includes five funds that are designed to offer companies non-dilutive funding at every stage of business growth. The funds are: Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR), Demonstration Fund and the Innovation Acceleration Fund, which offers Launch, Propel and […]
The agenda for the 2024 Global Insurance Symposium, scheduled for April 16-17, is now available. The content will cover the different aspects of risk facing insurers and innovators. Sessions will feature discussions of risks from AI, climate change, litigation and fraud, as well as panels of insurance commissioners and chief risk officers. The full agenda […]
EO Iowa, a branch of the national nonprofit Entrepreneurs’ Organization, hosted its fourth annual Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), a statewide competition where student entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of judges. The competition has regional, national and international levels that winners of each round advance to. Iowa State University student Cam Reiman, founder of Spock’s Sanctuary, […]
One Voice Des Moines is hosting its annual African Business Fair on Saturday, Feb. 24, to help small businesses in the African diaspora communities network and connect with larger organizations and government programs. One Voice Des Moines is an African-founded nonprofit focused on social impact, youth development, economic progress and collaborative engagement among individuals and communities of […]
Artificial intelligence is seen as a copilot and tool to help employees be more efficient, a panel of chief information officers said at the Technology Association of Iowa’s AI Public Policy Forum on Jan. 24. All three panelists — Kathy Kay of Principal Financial Group, Ryan Schaap of Wells Enterprise and Laura Smith of UnityPoint […]
The Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship has announced the participants selected for the 15th ISU Startup Factory Cohort. The cohort includes 17 members from across Iowa running 10 business ventures, either individually or in teams. The 10 ventures participating are:
America’s Cultivation Corridor is accepting applications from international startups and entrepreneurs for its 2024 Cultivo Virtual Academy cohorts. The next cohort, planned for April-May, will focus on companies in the Americas that are outside the U.S., Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. Future cohorts will focus on Europe, Africa and Eastern Mediterranean regions, […]
Des Moines-based venture capital firm Next Level Ventures (NLV) has announced the promotions of Liz Keehner and Wyatt Powers. Keehner has been promoted to vice president from senior associate. She joined NLV in 2021 and has led investments in several companies, including Tractor Zoom, hummingbirds and iotaMotion. Powers has been promoted to associate from senior […]
America’s SBDC Iowa has announced Melissa Fabian and Dustin Rhoades as the winners of its 2024 special entrepreneur awards. Fabian, owner of Simply Nourished Market & Mercantile in Mason City, is the winner of the 2024 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award. Simply Nourished offers organic, specialty and local food products as well as catering services and cooking […]