Ag Startup Engine announced the inaugural winners of the Ag-tech Founder of the Year and Ag-tech Startup of the Year awards during its 2024 Ag Innovators Unconference on Oct. 3. Kyle McMahon, founder of Tractor Zoom, was named Ag-tech Founder of the Year, and FloVision Solutions, led by Rian Mc Donnell, received the Ag-tech Startup […]

The city of Iowa City has launched a new grant program opportunity for Iowa City-based small business owners and entrepreneurs who fall under the Targeted Small Business definition.  The Targeted Small Business Development Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 in grant funding as well as business coaching and technical assistance services designed to address barriers to […]

EnGeniousAg, a startup focused on advanced nitrogen sensing applications, has been acquired by CropX, a provider of farm management solutions. EnGeniousAg is a spinout from Iowa State University based on research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Its founders are Iowa State University professors Michael Castellano, Liang Dong and Patrick Schnable, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor James […]

The Iowa Center for Economic Success has named Katie Byers director of the Iowa Center Women’s Business Center. Byers will provide training and individual counseling to Iowa women looking to launch or grow their businesses. She is an attorney as well as an entrepreneur. She is a fiber and mixed media artist with a location at […]

The Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) has selected four pilot communities to participate in its new Rural Business Initiative, which was created with a $200,000 grant from Wells Fargo. The rural communities are located within 30 miles of a Wells Fargo branch. Each proposed a plan to support existing small business, enhance entrepreneurship and expand the […]

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa is currently accepting applications for its spring 2025 cohort, which starts in February 2025. The program provides practical business education, access to capital and support services, including a dedicated business adviser. Small businesses located anywhere in Iowa are eligible to apply. The national program launched in […]

The Mahaska Chamber and Development Group and the Center on Rural Innovation are partnering to host an Idea Lab event to provide aspiring business owners guidance and resources to launch their companies. The free event is part of a broader effort to cultivate entrepreneurship in rural areas and address gaps in resources and mentorship, a […]

The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University is hosting the SheTalks event on Oct. 17, featuring the stories of seven women from the Ames community. Their stories will be presented in a fast-paced format inspired by the Japanese presentation style Pecha Kucha. Each speaker will present 20 slides, with only 20 seconds per […]