innovationIOWA Award

Help us recognize innovation happening across Iowa! The Business Record presents the innovationLEADER Award, which honors an organization or company.

Nominations are accepted year-round, but only nominations submitted before the February 27, 2026 deadline are considered for the 2026 awards.

This award is given to an organization or individual that best meets the following criteria:

Originality of innovation(s): Is this a completely new concept/idea/process or the reimagining of an existing one? Was it developed independently or in cooperation with others?
Impact of the innovation(s): Did this innovation meet an unmet need? How has it affected a specific industry and/or the public at large? If internal, what impact has it had on processes and efficiencies within the organization?
Culture of innovation: Does the company promote an atmosphere conducive to innovation? Has the company consistently been seen as a leader in its field when it comes to innovation?
Commercial impact of innovation(s): Has the innovation gone to market? What financial evidence or market acceptance information does the innovation have to support new value for the end user? What is the quantifiable evidence of success?

2025 | Great Outdoors Foundation | READ MORE

2024 | On With Life | READ MORE

2023 | Colorbiotics | READ MORE

2022 | VizyPay | READ MORE

2021 | BrokerTech Ventures | READ MORE

2020 | EMC Insurance Cos. | READ MORE

2019 | Workiva | READ MORE

2018 | Sukup Manufacturing | READ MORE

2017 | Global Insurance Accelerator

2016 | Harrisvaccines

2015 | NewLink Genetics

2025 | Emily Steele | READ MORE

2024 | Dr. Wendy Wintersteen | READ MORE

2023 | Jeff Reed | READ MORE

2022 | Nancy Mwirotsi | READ MORE

2021 | Kevin Maher | READ MORE

2020 | Lisa Schulte Moore | READ MORE

2019 | David Kingland | READ MORE

2018 | Bob Riley | READ MORE

AWARDS