The current hiring landscape is on nearly every business leader’s mind. The Ag Startup Engine’s fifth annual Ag Innovators Unconference sought to inform and support agricultural startups in their hiring journeys and working to attract tech talent to Iowa. Ag Startup Engine co-director Joel Harris moderated a panel discussion titled “Crap. I just raised a bunch […]
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced more than $5.4 million in funding through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program to 44 awardees, including Iowa State University. FAST provides small businesses and startups, particularly those in underserved communities, with specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance for research and development. Grant awardees qualify for award […]
The Iowa Biotechnology Association’s 2023 Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference has been scheduled for March 7-8, 2023. Presentation proposals and applications for the showcase are now open and are due by Nov. 11. The showcase is a pitch competition for emerging biotech companies judged by a select group of IowaBio members and industry professionals. Multiple companies will be […]
Tech takeaway: This week’s story is the last of two profiles on the Iowa-based startups participating in the 2022 cohort of Techstars Iowa. MetaFuel is a Des Moines-based startup started in January 2022 that aims to help trucking companies leverage telematics data, which is automatically collected by a device installed in the truck. Neither Danny […]
An Iowa State University research team is a partner on an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will fund a project meant to spur more farmers to plant cover crops and perennial prairie grass through both direct payments and a demonstration of how harvested winter-hearty crops and grass can be processed […]
In partnership with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, the Rural Ideas Network has been awarded a $412,105 grant from the Economic Development Administration to expand its efforts to support rural entrepreneurs across Iowa. The Rural Ideas Network has piloted two services to support entrepreneurs in rural communities since 2020: a coworking accelerator program and a virtual […]
Tech takeaway: This week’s story is the first of two profiles on the Iowa-based startups participating in the 2022 cohort of Techstars Iowa. Emigrait is a Cedar Falls-based startup creating machine learning models that can identify likely homebuyers and sellers. Ehrich Pakala and Stephen Bowser likely couldn’t have predicted their chance encounter during a math class at […]
CareSource, a nonprofit managed care organization, announced Wednesday the launch of the CareSource Iowa Opportunity Investment Fund through a partnership with ISA Ventures, which will manage the fund. According to a news release, this new fund will provide capital for Iowa-based startups that seek to improve health care outcomes, promote health equity and generate positive social impact, especially […]
Des Moines-based specialty beverage company BLK & Bold announced it is holding its first community-centered event on Oct. 1 to celebrate National Coffee Day and International Coffee Day. In partnership with Minneapolis-based Mill City Roasters, the “BLK & Bold Coffee Celebration” will be open to the public and include a roastery tour, food trucks and music. Five percent of […]
Three chief information security officers of Iowa companies spoke to cybersecurity professionals during Pratum’s Secure Iowa conference on Sept. 21 about the role of a CISO and their approaches to making information security decisions. Speakers included:Meg Anderson, CISO, Principal Financial Group.James Johnson, CISO, John Deere.Ben Schmitt, CISO, Mary Greeley Medical Center. Here are three takeaways from the panel’s […]