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…
The Office of the Chief Information Officer has issued a Notice of Funding Availability, making available $148,960,000 in new program funds under the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant program. The application window is open until 5 p.m. Aug. 25. More information and application materials are available on the OCIO website.
The Biden administration announced this week $42.45 billion in funding from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program going to all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia, including over $415 million to Iowa. The funding will support grant programs that deploy or upgrade broadband networks ensuring everyone has…
The InnoVenture Iowa Fund has made investments in eight early-stage Iowa startup companies in the advanced manufacturing, bioscience and information technology industries. The companies are Stratafolio, Shaka, PV Pallet, FarrPro, Farmpost, Clayton Farms, the Hummingbirds and Distynct. More information about the companies is available on the InnoVenture Iowa website. Investment Director…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved grants Friday to two initiatives supporting rural entrepreneurs through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program. The program provides financial assistance to service providers that offer technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs and startup companies. Hub712, coordinated by Carroll County Growth Partnership, was awarded a…
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed two bills into law that were priorities of the Technology Association of Iowa this legislative session. House File 553 aims to encourage companies to enhance their cybersecurity measures for safeguarding both their operations and customers against cyberattacks. The law offers an affirmative defense in tort litigation related…
Submitted by Jayne Armstrong, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office America’s strong economy depends on small business innovation. America’s Seed Fund, coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, sparks innovation from the idea stage into commercially viable technologies and products. Established in 1982, America’s Seed Fund…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently opened a window for qualifying entities to seek grants for technical assistance for broadband projects. A total of $20 million has been allocated to these grants, which will deliver broadband technical assistance and training and support the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives, according to…
BrokerTech Ventures announced Tuesday it has partnered with Des Moines-based venture capital investor ManchesterStory to launch the BrokerTech Fund LP. According to a news release, it is the first venture capital fund focused on early-stage insurtech companies developing technology solutions for brokers. Limited partners of the $34 million fund include Holmes…
Iowa-based private equity firm Midwest Growth Partners announced Monday the completion of fundraising for its third investment fund. The firm exceeded its initial fundraising goal with $170 million raised. Midwest Growth Partners has served lower middle market companies seeking succession planning liquidity or growth investment since 2013. The firm focuses…