The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Iowa Rural Development Council to continue its support for businesses, startups and entrepreneurs through its Rural Business Initiative program. The Rural Business Initiative, which started as a pilot program in 2024, will provide grants of at least $30,000 to community organizations…
AgCulture Marketing is hosting She Creates: Rural, a one-day conference for rural women entrepreneurs as well as service providers. The conference is for rural women at every stage of business, whether they are running a Main Street storefront, growing a side hustle, building a service-based enterprise or preparing to take the leap into full-time…
Editor’s note: This is the third in a three-part series of stories about rural innovation in Iowa. See the first story about food carts here and the second story about Native Prairie Bison here. Stephanie Bias was studying event management at Iowa State University when her mom first came up with a big idea: Open an…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority board on Sept. 19 approved awards for startups in Coralville, Iowa City and Waukee. The board also approved assistance from Iowa’s State Small Business Credit Initiative Innovation Fund for one startup in Iowa City. Awards made to three startupsBuilding on 40 years of neuroscience research,…
At the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Regional Summit last week, regional economic expert James Chung shared an assessment of Central Iowa’s ability to compete with other metros for businesses and workers. The event was held Sept. 17 in downtown Des Moines. Chung shared more than 100 slides of data on Central Iowa and how it’s…
The Technology Association of Iowa has announced the finalists for the 20th annual Prometheus Awards. TAI received a record number of nominations in this year, according to the association. The awards aim to honor the year’s most remarkable achievements and successes across Iowa’s technology landscape. The awards are scheduled for Nov….
The World Food Prize Foundation has announced the top three finalists for the inaugural Innovate for Impact Challenge: APOLO Biotech, Capsber Agriscience and Vet Konect. The finalists will be at the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue to pitch their Agritech venture in a “Shark Tank-style” presentation to a panel…
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of three stories about rural innovation in Iowa. Using food carts to spur entrepreneurship in food preparation dates back to 2015 when Lisa Bates, assistant director for community and economic development at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and a colleague…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority awards funding to startups in the form of low-interest loans through its Innovation Continuum, which includes five funds that are designed to offer companies non-dilutive funding at every stage of business growth. The funds are: Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR), Demonstration Fund and the Innovation Acceleration…
This year at the Ag Startup Engine Unconference on Oct. 16 in Ames, leaders will recognize two recipients for their achievements in ag tech with the Ag-Tech Founder of the Year award and Ag-Tech Startup of the Year award. The founder award will recognize a startup founder who best embodies the following qualities: High…