Startup accelerator announces new OnRamp Insurance Accelerator in Twin Cities

Midwest startup accelerator gener8tor announced a new partnership with Allianz Life Ventures and Securian Financial to establish the OnRamp Insurance Accelerator in the Twin Cities, reports AmericanInno. Five startups will be welcomed into the three-month program each year, with a cash investment of $100,000. The program builds off the existing…

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Ag Startup Engine companies surpass $10 million in investments

The Ag Startup Engine’s seven initial agricultural startup companies have collectively raised more than $10 million in follow-on investments, the organization announced today. The seven portfolio companies within ASE at Iowa State University Research Park have also created more than 40 jobs since the initiative’s launch. Established in late 2016,…

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FarmlandFinder prepares inroads to the Midwest

After two years of piloting in Iowa, FarmlandFinder will debut in 12 more Midwestern states this winter. “We’ve been starting to branch out and build relationships with those people, and showing them early access. We’ve got people that are testing that software right now,” Founder and CEO Steven Brockshus said….

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INSIDER: Insurtech investment firm builds up portfolio

In early 2017, Des Moines investment professionals David Miles and Matthew Kinley partnered to launch ManchesterStory Group. The new venture capital firm has established a foothold with initial investments in the insurance technology sector, along with an eye on promising financial technology and health care technology startups. In less than…

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Des Moines-based LenderClose partners with California loan origination platform

LenderClose and California-based MeridianLink are partnering to integrate LenderClose’s platform with the LoansPQ loan origination platform, LenderClose announced on Tuesday. The integration should streamline lender access to all vendors needed to approve, underwrite and close a mortgage or HELOC loan, LenderClose said.

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Iowa-based RosterApps acquired by Ohio software maker ARCOS

Des Moines-based RosterApps, a provider of airline ground crew scheduling software, has been acquired by Ohio company ARCOS LLC, reports Silicon Prairie News. ARCOS will retain RosterApps’ Iowa office and employees. The acquisition will combine RosterApps’ software-as-a-service airline platform with ARCOS resource management to fully automate scheduling, shift-trading, callout and…

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BirdDogHR vice president of marketing named to Top Women Leaders in SaaS

Ann Torry, vice president of marketing at Des Moines firm BirdDogHR, has been named to the SaaS (software as a service) Report’s 2018 Top Women Leaders in SaaS, BirdDogHR announced Tuesday. Torry, who joined BirdDogHR in 2013, is one of 50 women named out of more than 3,500 nominations.

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IDx, Topcon sign exclusive AI platform agreement

Coralville company IDx, the first FDA-cleared autonomous AI diagnostic system, announced a new agreement with ophthalmic device manufacturer TopCon to scale delivery of the IDx diagnostics system for market, reports the Corridor Business Journal. The agreement grants exclusive rights to IDx in the U.S. as the only autonomous AI company…

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