The ISU Startup Factory has named local entrepreneur Andrew Kirpalani as the newest entrepreneur-in-residence for the incubator program. Kirpalani will serve as a member of the teaching team to facilitate industry connections and provide mentorship for cohort members. Kirpalani’s background includes more than 15 years of entrepreneurial experience. An alumnus of Iowa State, he began working for […]
Bunker Labs Des Moines, a nonprofit supporting veterans and military spouses starting their own businesses, is looking for a new volunteer entrepreneur ambassador. According to the Bunker Labs website, the Entrepreneur Ambassador program includes a 12-month training for individuals who are already established leaders in their community and well-positioned to build their local business ecosystem. Ambassadors […]
Grace CEO Drew Allen shares plans for Quad Cities location A passion for entrepreneurship in Iowa shared by two industrial technology leaders — Drew Allen in Eastern Iowa and Hank Norem in Central Iowa — formed a bond that kindled the idea of a new Maple Studios location. The new branch of the startup studio, a […]
Entrepreneurs’ Organization Iowa (EO Iowa), the Iowa chapter of a global peer-to-peer network of over 18,000 business owners, is inviting business owners and entrepreneurs to its first “A Taste of EO Iowa” event for prospective EO members on Sept. 21. According to a news release, EO Iowa exists to support entrepreneurs to achieve their full […]
Denim Social, a software provider helping elevate how financial and insurance professionals connect and sell on social media, has been acquired by Capacity, a platform that automates customer support tasks. Based in St. Louis, Denim Social was formed in April 2020 with the merger of St. Louis startup Gremlin Social and Des Moines-based Denim. With Denim Social integrated […]
Iowa State University’s Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program will host the seventh annual ISU Innovation Prize. The Innovation Prize is a weekend-long competition for Iowa State students, faculty, staff as well as the local entrepreneurial community. Participants will work in small teams to develop innovative […]
The InnoVenture Iowa Fund has opened applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 winner-takes-all pitch competition featuring three Iowa startup companies from the information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing industries. The three finalists who will present on stage in Des Moines in front of a panel of judges will be announced on Nov. […]
InnoVenture Iowa’s second-quarter update included the announcement of four new portfolio companies. The $30 million fund now has 12 portfolio companies. The four new companies are: The update also shared that applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition, will open Friday. Investment Director Kaylee Williams said in the update that InnoVenture Iowa will be […]
Four Iowa cities were ranked in Midwest Startups’ Startup City Rankings. In Central Iowa, Des Moines ranked No. 27, up one spot from last year, and Ames ranked No. 33, moving up two spots. On the eastern side of the state, Iowa City came in at No. 44, dropping four spots, although several area companies saw […]
The University of Northern Iowa Family Business Center will host a virtual conversation with Mike Wells, retired CEO and family leader of Wells Enterprises, about how Wells Blue Bunny, the second-largest ice cream manufacturer in the country, made the decision to sell to the Italy-based Ferrero Group. The event is on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 8 […]