GW Nutrition, led by President Anita Norian and Research and Development Director Laura Wonderling, received $10,000 for placing first in the Iowa Biotech Showcase, a pitch competition held during the Iowa Biotechnology Association’s Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference in February. GW Nutrition will use the funding to advance its CleanSense technology, which uses a propriety […]

The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) has announced Dr. Frances Johnson, chief innovation officer of Perspective Therapeutics, and Anthony Kinney, research director at Corteva Agriscience, as the recipients of the 2024 Iowa Biotech Leader Award. The awards were presented to Johnson and Kinney during IowaBio’s Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference on Feb. 28. Johnson, a physician, […]

Ag Startup Engine, an Ames-based program that offers seed investment and investor connections to early-stage agriculture startups, announced Feb. 21 it has added Indianapolis, Ind.-based Croft to its portfolio companies. According to a news release, Croft has developed an online Agribusiness Workforce Platform to help address challenges around seasonal labor, worker productivity and farm operations optimization. Croft founders Scott […]

The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Future Biotech Leaders Scholarship through March 11. The scholarship is awarded to Iowa high school juniors and seniors who exhibit the best use of biotechnology. IowaBio has awarded more than 100 scholarships since 2000. To learn more and apply, click here.

America’s Cultivation Corridor is accepting applications from international startups and entrepreneurs for its 2024 Cultivo Virtual Academy cohorts. The next cohort, planned for April-May, will focus on companies in the Americas that are outside the U.S., Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. Future cohorts will focus on Europe, Africa and Eastern Mediterranean regions, […]

America’s Cultivation Corridor has announced its board officers for the 2024-25 leadership term.  Kevin Rasmussen, pictured on the right, is the owner of Owl Lake Production Co. and board member of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, will chair the board of directors. “Across the entire state, we’re seeing state-of-the-art innovation in a diverse range of agricultural […]

The Iowa Biotechnology Association is accepting nominations for the Iowa Biotech Leader of the Year Award through Friday, Jan. 12. The Iowa Biotech Leader Award aims to honor exceptional individuals who have shown leadership within their organizations and the industry, consistently delivered innovative biotech solutions, and actively advocated for Iowa’s biotechnology sector. The winner of […]

Ramco will continue operating Maple Studios, director says Sheffield-based Sukup Manufacturing Co. announced Dec. 15 its acquisition of West Des Moines-based automation distributor Ramco Innovations. According to a news release, the acquisition will form a new entity known as Sukup Innovations, which will oversee Ramco Innovations and Sukup Innovations’ agtech offerings. “This collaboration represents a significant milestone […]

The Iowa Biotechnology Association, in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Bio Nebraska, has announced the launch of Bio Innovations Midwest, a new event designed to “propel the growth of biomanufacturing” in the Midwest. The event will feature prearranged 1-2-1 commercial meetings followed by a conference that will include networking opportunities. The […]

West Des Moines-based PE firm marking third fund, 10 years in business Midwest Growth Partners, a private equity fund manager based in West Des Moines, is about six months into deploying its latest investment fund, which is the firm’s third fund since opening for business in 2013. At the close of fundraising for Fund 3, MGP announced that it exceeded […]