The University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center announced that Des Moines Area Community College has become a partner institution for its statewide Venture School Entrepreneurial Training Program. In this new role, DMACC will help recruit entrepreneurs, teams and startup coaches, and organize a Local Launch Day pitch event to be held the final night […]
Ag Startup Engine, a seed capital program for agricultural startups, on Wednesday announced Farmwave as the latest company to join its portfolio. According to the news release, Farmwave offers a solution to monitoring and managing mechanical harvest loss. Using AI software, the company has developed a system of cameras that mount on the combine in […]
InnoVenture Iowa announced Wednesday the three early-stage startup companies that will compete in the first InnoVenture Challenge pitch competition on Dec. 7 for a non-dilutive $100,000 cash prize. The finalists are Hawkeye Surgical Lighting, which has developed the world’s first voice- and motion-controlled surgical headlight that integrates with an iOS through Bluetooth; The Hummingbirds, a platform that […]
First Iowa Angel Investor Summit aims to educate aspiring investors, unite angel community Tech takeaway: The Greater Des Moines Partnership and ISA Ventures hosted the first Iowa Angel Investor Summit on Nov. 18 as part of an initiative to address gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem identified by the 11-person group of Central Iowa stakeholders participating […]
A conversation with two immigrant business owners From the first Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit held in 2008 on Drake University’s campus to this year’s event marking 15 years of the volunteer-run event, the organization has widened its reach to a growing immigrant business community. Leaders have grown the summit to unite more immigrant entrepreneurs primarily from […]
The Global Insurance Accelerator has announced it is adding a new role of alumni director to its staff. “The creation of this role represents a key strategic decision on behalf of the GIA and our board as we look to continually evolve and improve our continuing support model beyond our 100-day program,” said Managing Director […]
The Iowa Economic Development Board last week approved awards for five companies that will lead to the creation of 266 jobs, and represent more than $200 million in capital investment in the state. The IEDA board also approved awards to two startups: CartilaGen in Coralville received a $125,000 Demonstration Fund award for product refinement, market planning and […]
Maple Ventures has changed its name to Maple Studios to reflect the startup studio model it has operated under since 2018. A startup studio is defined loosely as a place for early-stage companies and startups to work and receive support from a larger, established company, a news release said. Maple Studios is located within the campus […]
Deere & Co. is entering a partnership as a limited investor in Advantage Capital’s Empower the Change growth fund, which provides entrepreneurs of color access to capital in order to grow their businesses and create community wealth. Advantage Capital is a New Orleans-based investment firm providing financing to established and emerging companies located in communities underserved by conventional […]
Iowa State University and the University of Iowa were ranked in the top 50 undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies by the Princeton Review’s 2023 annual survey. ISU ranked 11th for the third year in a row, according to a news release, and the University of Iowa was ranked No. 22. Among programs in the Midwest, ISU ranked […]