The Global Insurance Accelerator has opened applications for the 2025 cohort of its 100-day program. The accelerator provides seed funding and networking with mentors to pre-seed or seed stage companies with a solution focused on the insurance industry. The program will run from Jan. 8 to April 18. The deadline to apply is Sept. 20. More information is […]
Jason Gross announced on LinkedIn that he accepted a role as chief strategy officer at TruStage, formerly CUNA Mutual. He started the new role Monday. For the last three years, Gross served as vice president – head of investor relations at Des Moines-based venture capital firm ManchesterStory. If you know of other Iowa innovators making career moves, email […]
Mike Rice and Keith Giffney have partnered to launch the Momba Group, a new technology staffing company with a charitable component. For each staffing placement in IT and engineering, the organization will sponsor a child in Kenya to provide “nourishment, education and spiritual guidance until the age of 18 years old,” according to a news […]
Iowa City-based Rantizo, a provider of agricultural spray drone services, has received approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration for advanced drone operations. The approvals include allowing Rantizo service hub operators to swarm up to three drones over 55 pounds and fly at night without a visual observer. Flying without a visual observer and multiple drones at […]
Go behind the scenes of the process, innovations at the Decorah brewery Clark Lewey says the first and most important step in developing a new beer or brewing innovation at Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. is that “we know who we are and we know who we are not.” Lewey started Toppling Goliath in 2009 with […]
The Innovation in Action story format aims to demonstrate that developing, implementing and executing innovative ideas is a process — and not typically a linear one. These stories seek to highlight that throughout the ups and downs of innovation, each move is a lesson for the organization. When Avenue Scholars expanded to Des Moines in […]
Introducing the Central IA Entrepreneurship Coalition For the last two years, a group of 12 stakeholders from Des Moines and Ames participated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program, also known as MIT REAP. MIT REAP is a global initiative that uses frameworks designed by the university to help regions assess the […]
Before entrepreneurs turn their focus to building a business with economic impact, many start with an idea sparked by a passion for a cause or industry. It’s often a driving factor for the innovation and growth their companies can achieve. With so many different influences inspiring entrepreneurs, it’s important to understand what drives people and […]
The Innovation in Action story format aims to demonstrate that developing, implementing and executing innovative ideas is a process — and not typically a linear one. These stories seek to highlight that throughout the ups and downs of innovation, each move is a lesson for the organization. Kreg Tool Co. was born out of an […]
Founder Geoff Wood recounts Gravitate’s journey, early days of Des Moines startup ecosystem To build a startup ecosystem, young companies and founders need infrastructure that allows them to start building and connects them with resources. Geoff Wood, who describes himself as an implementer, was poised to put structural pieces into place from the time he […]