Pictured above, Members of the On With Life team at its Ankeny campus. Pictured from left: Sam Williams, director of nursing; Emily Theisen, occupational therapist; CEO Jean Shelton; Pat Stilwill, executive director of programs and services; Lindsay Maltas, physical therapist; and Megan Ihrke, speech language pathologist/team lead. Photo by Duane…
Entrepreneurship takes many forms, but there is a growing recognition of an entrepreneurial mindset that students and professionals alike can develop to think more innovatively, whatever their career. As president of Iowa State University since 2017, Wendy Wintersteen has strived to instill a campuswide entrepreneurial mindset and cultivate a culture…
Angel investors are individuals who provide seed capital to new businesses or startups, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. They are often one of the first sources of funding that founders seek out when starting their companies. The requirements to qualify as an accredited investor, according to…
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…
West Des Moines facility invests in second 12-laser NXG XII 600 printer Approaching the one-year anniversary of its $14 million, 9,000-square-foot expansion, Collins Aerospace’s West Des Moines facility continues to ramp up its additive manufacturing capabilities. The company recently added a second 12-laser NXG XII 600 printer. The printers boast…
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….
Submitted by Jim Chaffee, executive director of learning innovation and technology, University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business Virtual reality is changing the world and changing business, two points driven home when I participated in a virtual roundtable in December with Facebook’s technology boss and leading global technology thinker Sir…
By Candi Karsjens, director, NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center John Pappajohn (July 31, 1928 – April 22, 2023), a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist from Iowa, had a profound commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, especially among students. His vision was rooted in the belief that young people possess innovative ideas and the…
How Drake’s business college is focusing on social impact Across the country, business schools are integrating conversations into their curriculum about corporate social responsibility, sustainability and empathetic leadership. The markets, and the next generation of leaders seeking a business education, are prioritizing corporations that think closely about conscious capitalism. Drake…
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…