The Iowa Innovation Corp. has hired Jim Register as president and CEO to lead IICorp as the entity transitions into a new Iowa biosciences development center, reports the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Register will bring together partners from research institutions, global companies, entrepreneurs, investors and government to accelerate growth in the bioscience industries in Iowa, the […]

High-growth companies that missed the Nov. 2 deadline can still apply to present at the 2019 InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum in Kansas City. Midwestern companies interested in pitching to investors at the forum, held March 19-20 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, can submit applications until Jan. 4, 2019. InvestMidwest annually attracts around […]

Midwest startup accelerator gener8tor announced a new partnership with Allianz Life Ventures and Securian Financial to establish the OnRamp Insurance Accelerator in the Twin Cities, reports AmericanInno. Five startups will be welcomed into the three-month program each year, with a cash investment of $100,000. The program builds off the existing OnRamp Insurance Conference, which has […]

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has committed $12 million to fund research in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa College of Engineering, reports the Corridor Business Journal. The grant brings the Carver Charitable Trust’s total giving toward the UI department to $15 million; pending approval from the Iowa Board of […]

Established in 2003, the state’s venture capital initiative “Iowa Fund of Funds” is slowly winding down after the Iowa Executive Council voted 4-0 to dissociate the fund with its governing entities, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The program, which was managed under the private, not-for-profit Iowa Capital Investment Corp. and a state Capital Investment Board, is […]

The Ag Startup Engine’s seven initial agricultural startup companies have collectively raised more than $10 million in follow-on investments, the organization announced today. The seven portfolio companies within ASE at Iowa State University Research Park have also created more than 40 jobs since the initiative’s launch. Established in late 2016, the ASE began by looking […]

Cars equipped with “advanced driver assistance systems” may cost twice as much to fix after crashes and fender-benders, costing as much as $5,300 for a minor front or rear collision, according to a study reported by Radio Iowa. Minor damage to sensors, cameras and other devices that assist with operational systems may need to be […]

After two years of piloting in Iowa, FarmlandFinder will debut in 12 more Midwestern states this winter. “We’ve been starting to branch out and build relationships with those people, and showing them early access. We’ve got people that are testing that software right now,” Founder and CEO Steven Brockshus said. “The whole premise of FarmlandFinder […]

Nearly 140 West Virginian citizens living abroad in 29 countries cast their ballots via blockchain on Tuesday, the largest pilot test of blockchain voting ever, reports the Washington Post. Yet, security experts still worry the technology contains vulnerabilities that will risk election integrity in the case of broader use.   IN OTHER NEWS: Microsoft visionair […]