Idaho-based Valley Agronomics announced Sept. 1 that it will collaborate with Growers Edge and use its technology and data analytics to create a fully digital lending platform for Valley Ag customers. Valley Ag Platinum Financing will be hosted on Valley Ag’s Grower Portal, a customer service platform created and supported by AgVend. According to a news release, […]

BankTech Ventures, a strategic investment fund and ecosystem launched in November to serve community banks and bank technology entrepreneurs, announced the closing of its first fund. More than 100 limited partners, made up almost entirely of community banks, invested more than $115 million in committed capital. Two Iowa-based banks, Bank Iowa and First Citizens Bank, are […]

Cambio, a personal finance startup co-founded by Iowan Justin Dwyer, has been chosen to participate in the Y Combinator, a nationwide startup accelerator based in California’s Silicon Valley. The accelerator program lasts three months and invests $500,000 in every company that participates. According to a news release, Cambio’s platform is aimed at helping the 40 million […]

The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Association of Realtors has announced the inaugural Iowa Homeownership Incubator, which will challenge Iowa lending institutions and real estate professionals to consider innovative ways to advance financial literacy around homeownership. A lending institution or real estate company must partner with a community organization or business to participate. The winning […]

The Global Insurance Accelerator is now accepting applications for its ninth accelerator program, incoming Managing Director Dan Israel announced in a blog post. “While change is occurring in the leadership of the GIA, our 100-day program, our mentors, and our insurance carrier investors all remain focused on helping amazing founders, teams, and insurtech companies reach their […]

Jon Dlouhy and Amanda Werts have joined fintech LenderClose, both as vice presidents of marketing. Dlouhy’s role is leading LenderClose’s product marketing and brand strategy, developing strategies for product innovation, digital acquisition and managing the LenderClose brand’s creative direction. He was most recently director of marketing and communications for Kingland Systems, and brings 15 years […]

Rural artists seeking more awareness and resources In the economic recovery from the pandemic, the arts and culture industry was one of the hardest hit — the arts economy was responsible for 4.2% of the GDP in 2020 but contracted at nearly twice the rate of the economy as a whole, according to new data […]

Iowa Media Co. brings its influence to Des Moines, other diverse businesses seek accessibility In 2017, an “influencer marketing company” was unheard of by the majority of people, but it’s what Iowa Media Co. co-founders Bryce Bortscheller and Darian Jones were building. The seed for the idea was planted more than 10 years ago when […]

Jackie Mosier has joined Growers Edge as vice president of mortgage lending, the agricultural fintech company announced on June 30. Mosier will help Growers Edge build a digital mortgage platform that simplifies farmland valuation by providing real-time data for farmers, investors and real estate professionals. “As a farmer myself, I know how difficult it can be to […]