The InnoVenture Iowa Fund has opened applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 winner-takes-all pitch competition featuring three Iowa startup companies from the information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing industries. The three finalists who will present on stage in Des Moines in front of a panel of judges will be announced on Nov. […]
Iowa State University’s Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program will host the seventh annual ISU Innovation Prize. The Innovation Prize is a weekend-long competition for Iowa State students, faculty, staff as well as the local entrepreneurial community. Participants will work in small teams to develop innovative […]
Entrepreneurs’ Organization Iowa (EO Iowa), the Iowa chapter of a global peer-to-peer network of over 18,000 business owners, is inviting business owners and entrepreneurs to its first “A Taste of EO Iowa” event for prospective EO members on Sept. 21. According to a news release, EO Iowa exists to support entrepreneurs to achieve their full […]
InnoVenture Iowa’s second-quarter update included the announcement of four new portfolio companies. The $30 million fund now has 12 portfolio companies. The four new companies are: The update also shared that applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition, will open Friday. Investment Director Kaylee Williams said in the update that InnoVenture Iowa will be […]
Four Iowa cities were ranked in Midwest Startups’ Startup City Rankings. In Central Iowa, Des Moines ranked No. 27, up one spot from last year, and Ames ranked No. 33, moving up two spots. On the eastern side of the state, Iowa City came in at No. 44, dropping four spots, although several area companies saw […]
BrokerTech Ventures announced it has hired Emily Schultz as its new managing director. Schultz will be responsible for setting and executing on the strategic direction of BTV to help advance innovation within the broker technology industry. Schultz will also be responsible for leading BTV’s five towers of operation — early-stage investments, innovation, capital, media and communications, and […]
The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is partnering with Kemin Industries for the 10th year of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. A PreK-12th grade teacher in each of Iowa’s six STEM regions receives the award for fostering students’ interest in STEM fields in and outside of the classroom. The six […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3,987,550 investment in a Linn County communications company to expand reliable, affordable high-speed internet. Prairieburg Telephone Company Inc. received a $1,993,775 USDA loan and a $1,993,775 USDA grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. The funding comes from the USDA’s ReConnect Program, which is funded by the federal Bipartisan […]
The Iowa State University Pappajohn Center has announced the members selected for the 14th ISU Startup Factory cohort. The cohort includes 19 members running 10 business ventures, either individually or in teams. The Startup Factory is an 18-week program open to technology-based, scalable ventures led by ISU scientific faculty and community members across Iowa. Participants leave prepared […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced the launch of two new resources on its online DSM Small Business Hub, which is aimed at supporting local small business owners and entrepreneurs. The Resource Compass is a searchable tool that provides information about organizations that can serve as resource partners for small businesses and startup companies. Business counseling services are […]