Judi Eyles, the Iowa State University director of Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, recalls taking a career aptitude test. The results? She was destined to be a nurse. That’s not how her life went. Instead, she’s about to celebrate 30 years in 2026 of leading entrepreneurship efforts at ISU. “I didn’t…
The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2026 Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit Pitch Competition. The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. All pitch competition applicants are invited to the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit on April 14-15, at the Sheraton West…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board on Dec. 19 approved grants to three organizations through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program, which provides financial assistance to Iowa-based organizations that directly help entrepreneurs and early-stage startups create, locate or expand a business in Iowa. Those grants were awarded to: Award recommendations for…
One day, Karri Haen Whitmer took her son Ethan, who has autism, to school in Ames. He was crying. He didn’t want to go. And then she saw something that turned into a “lightbulb moment.” “There was a parent taking a wheelchair out of a car for their child,” Haen…
The University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center wrapped up an end-of-semester Pitch Showcase for its startup incubator program on Dec. 12 at Merge Iowa City. A total of $5,000 was awarded in two categories. Savanna Kaczynski and WedGen won first place and $1,000 in the Tech/Student Lifestyle category. WedGen…
The state of Iowa, through its Empower Rural Iowa task force, will provide dollars to expand the number of communities selected in the Iowa Rural Development Council’s Rural Business Initiative grant program. Last month, the council announced the selection of five small-business-focused projects for grants of at least $30,000. That…
The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has opened registration for the sixth annual Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit, presented by Chase Bank. The 2026 event will feature Coach Ken Carter and Reggie Love as the keynote speakers. Carter is a businessman, author and high school basketball coach best known…
Rita Musa, 9, attends Monroe Elementary School and in her spare time likes to draw and read the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series. She’s also the CEO of Musa’s Lemonade, a new brand showing up around Des Moines, everywhere from Lua Brewing, xBk, Lachele’s Fine Foods and Manhattan…
Seven individuals associated with the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center will receive awards from the JPEC at an awards reception April 8, 2026, in the Old Capitol Museum.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority board last week approved assistance for several projects throughout the state, including two innovation companies located in Coralville and Iowa City. IEDA awarded two startups with loans. Coralville’s Pani Clean, Inc. is focused on removing nitrates at the source, converting them to useful products and…