Small businesses report increased difficulty accessing capital, concern over proposed Fed rule in new Goldman Sachs survey

A new Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices survey finds that America’s small business owners are struggling to access capital needed to operate and grow their businesses, as interest rates rise and banks continue to tighten lending standards. Of the small business owners who have applied for a new business…

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Second angel investor summit to include return of Best of the Midwest pitch competition

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Plains Angels and the Ag Startup Engine are partnering to hold the second Iowa Angel Investor Summit in Des Moines on Nov. 14. The one-day summit is for active and aspiring angel investors to come together to help accelerate entrepreneurs. Sessions will include discussions of…

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Reflections on a decade of the Global Insurance Accelerator

In 2014, the Global Insurance Accelerator was a first for Iowa in many ways, including how it brought together seven local insurance companies to partner and invest in an accelerator dedicated to advancing innovative ideas for the insurance industry. Those founding investors were Principal Financial Group, Delta Dental of Iowa,…

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VizyPay, Clear Lake Bank & Trust form strategic partnership

Waukee-based payment processing company VizyPay has announced a strategic partnership with Clear Lake Bank & Trust. Through this relationship, Clear Lake Bank & Trust’s small business customers will be connected directly with VizyPay’s team and technologies that are designed to help “mom-and-pop shops that are often left behind or overcharged by other…

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BrokerTech Ventures hires managing director

BrokerTech Ventures announced it has hired Emily Schultz as its new managing director. Schultz will be responsible for setting and executing on the strategic direction of BTV to help advance innovation within the broker technology industry. Schultz will also be responsible for leading BTV’s five towers of operation — early-stage investments, innovation,…

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Ben Milne appointed to Commodity Futures Trading Commission committee

Ben Milne, founder and CEO of Brale, a startup combining aspects of centralized and decentralized finance, was appointed in March as a member of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee. The Technology Advisory Committee was created in 1999 to advise the commission on complex issues at the intersection…

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