Kris Johansen, manager of industry engagement in the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations (EDIR) and Iowa State University Startup Factory COO, has officially resigned from both posts to join the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE). Johansen will join as director of external relations at NIAMRRE, which is hosted at […]

A third-party service provider to the Iowa State University Foundation experienced a massive ransomware attack, affecting more than 20 universities and nonprofits in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Blackbaud, an international provider of cloud-based fundraising and finance services, notified the ISU Foundation on July 16 that a data breach taking place between Feb. 7 and […]

As broadband providers watched in late spring, the needs of Iowans evolved rapidly, representatives at Mediacom and Minburn Communications said this month. Both companies saw an almost immediate shift in peak activity by residential users from the evening hours — Mediacom customers shifted to 3-4 p.m., and Minburn Communications saw peak use essentially level across the […]

Cardio Diagnostics Inc., a company that assesses genetic and epigenetic DNA markers to monitor a patient’s risk for heart disease, was recently selected as “one to watch” in this year’s inaugural Spinoff Prize, organized by Nature Research and Merck KGaA. Founded in 2017 and based at the UI Research Park in Coralville, Cardio Diagnostics focuses on human health […]

West Des Moines-based payment processing company VizyPay is using its Look Local First initiative to help local businesses rebuild after pandemic-related disruption with free digital marketing efforts, VizyPay announced this week. Look Local First initially launched in 2019 to help small businesses implement a full digital marketing strategy with social media giveaways; the team has […]

Seven statewide professionals have been named to the advisory board for the 2021 Iowa’s IT Leadership Forum, Paragon IT Professionals announced this week. Members of the board of advisors include: Jeremy Comer, Corteva Agriscience; Rachelle Little, John Deere; Todd Parsons, Andy Boerjan and Julie Raveling, Principal FInancial Group; Gina Brown, ARAG; and Stephanie Kempf, Mittera. The […]

A new analysis by Amazon finds that Iowa leads the nation in the per-capita number of small and medium-sized businesses selling through the tech giant’s online platform, reports the Corridor Business Journal. Iowa is home to nearly 10,000 small and medium-sized sellers on Amazon, earning it the top ranking for the most digital entrepreneurs per capita. […]

A $40 million Series B round will help Johnston-based Growers Edge Financial expand its data analytics team and develop new warranties as an incentive to farmers adopting new practices, products and technology.  Founded in 2017, Growers Edge Financial recently closed the Series B round of financing, led by Seed 2 Growth Ventures, Cox Enterprises and […]

Slater-based Gross-Wen Technologies Inc. has received a $240,000 grant from the Department of Energy to develop a next-generation process to remove phosphorus from wastewater. According to a news release, the company will partner on one of 82 projects supported by the grant from the DOE’s Technology Commercialization Fund. The project will be led by the […]