Futurist Mike Bechtel visited Des Moines Tuesday to speak at an event hosted by Holmes Murphy and Bankers Trust Co. Bechtel recently left his role as chief futurist for the business consulting firm Deloitte. He held it since 2019. At Deloitte, he and his team worked to make sense of…
The Iowa Center has expanded its small business class offerings with the release of “Elevate,” a five-class series designed for existing small businesses that are ready for the next step in their growth. The new class series will provide content around the essential strategies necessary for sustainable growth for small businesses. The…
America’s Iowa Small Business Development Center has announced that Mark Thalken is the new regional director for the Iowa Western SBDC at Iowa Western Community College, located in Council Bluffs. Thalken will advise and train entrepreneurs and existing business owners in Pottawattamie, Shelby, Harrison, Page, Mills, Cass and Fremont counties. Thalken started his new…
The Iowa Biotechnology Association, or IowaBio, is now accepting proposals from potential speakers for the 2026 the Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference. The conference is scheduled for March 3-4, 2026, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. This year’s theme, “Adaptation to Change,” invites professionals from industry, government and academia to share success…
Data centers are no longer just infrastructure; they are a “backbone of our digital economy,” said Iowa Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer during the Technology Association of Iowa’s Iowa Data Center Summit. The summit, held Oct. 2 in Ankeny, convened various stakeholders related to data centers. “Every state is having a…
Among the recommendations of a new white paper published by Des Moines-based nonprofit Pi515 is that the Iowa state legislature pass a law to fund artificial intelligence integration throughout K-12 schools. That includes measurable goals and accountability for K-12 integration, the report said. The white paper, which is available online, also recommends launching an AI…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority awards funding to startups in the form of low-interest loans through its Innovation Continuum, which includes five funds that are designed to offer companies non-dilutive funding at every stage of business growth. The funds are: Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR), Demonstration Fund and the Innovation Acceleration…
The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is partnering with Google for the 2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Award. Now in its 12th year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PK-12th grade teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology,…
innovationIOWA to feature three rural entrepreneurs across the state In recent years, encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in rural Iowa has been a priority for state leaders and other innovation stakeholders. It was the subject of a recent conference at Iowa State University and of keen interest to state leaders in Iowa that want…
Finalists for the Innovation in Homelessness Incubator, Rental Innovation Set-Aside and Iowa Homeownership Incubator pitch competitions will take the stage at the HousingIowa Conference in Cedar Rapids hosted by the Iowa Finance Authority on Sept. 3-4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Convention Center, 350 First Ave. N.E., Cedar Rapids. They…