NewBoCo’s inaugural Intrapreneur Academy welcomed six teams to spark innovation within their organizations last week. A mix of nonproft, for-profit and government entities are spending the next year to focus on four competencies of innovative organizations: Agile, Methods, Strategy and Culture. Each quarter will focus on one of the four competencies through workshops, networking groups and other events. Participants in the first cohort include representatives from the Office of Linn
Entrepreneurship & Startups
April 12, 2018
Cambridge Analytica promoted successful advertising for Iowa Congresswoman, records show
A data analytics company that threw Facebook policies into international scrutiny touted the success of digital advertising for an Iowa Congresswoman’s campaign. In a post-2014 election report, Cambridge Analytica promoted successful digital advertising the firm created for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican who successfully ran against Iowa Democrat and incumbent Bruce Braley. The ads were paid for by a political action committee run by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, which
April 11, 2018
Cedar Rapids security firm finds growing demand for cameras at schools, universities
When Marc Meyer founded the video security management startup Inteconnex in Cedar Rapids eight years ago, it was expected that the web-based cameras could serve security needs for systems like Mercy Medical Center, or Lincoln, Nebraska’s traffic surveillance needs. Today, Inteconnex’s biggest growth is with universities and k-12 schools in Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado, CBS2/FOX 28 reports. “We probably have more than twenty school districts that we’re actively working with
April 11, 2018
Terva.Ag rebrands as FarmlandFinder.com
An Ames-based online marketplace for ag real estate is rebranding, Clay & Milk reports. Terva.Ag is now FarmlandFinder.com, and a software update is redefining the product’s two functions for both shoppers and farmland professionals, founder Steven Brockshus said. Users in the market for agricultural real estate can search any property for sale in Iowa, for free, and compare property to other property within the same county. On the other side,
March 28, 2018
Accelerate DSM returns next week
As Executive Director of Entrepreneurial Initiatives, Mike Colwell at the Greater Des Moines Partnership knows what draws an audience to networking and business-building events. “People tend to like t-shirts,” Colwell said. So for Accelerate DSM on April 5, the Greater Des Moines Partnership turned to Mike Draper of Raygun, seeking a nontraditional conference t-shirt. “It’s as snarky as most Raygun t-shirts are,” Colwell said. Draper is one of several panel
