Nora Springs-based startup ReEnvision Ag was selected Wednesday evening by a panel of judges as the winner of the 2023 InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition co-hosted by InnoVenture Iowa and BioConnect Iowa. ReEnvision Ag is creating a new category of planter for farmers called SeedSpike, which extends the planting window, reduces soil compaction and […]
The studio, Novy, will focus on health care software companies Novy, Iowa’s first venture studio, was officially launched this week by its three founding partners, David Tominsky, Krista Martin and Eric Engelmann. Novy will co-found, fund and grow software companies starting in the health care industry, according to a news release. Each company will receive […]
West Des Moines-based PE firm marking third fund, 10 years in business Midwest Growth Partners, a private equity fund manager based in West Des Moines, is about six months into deploying its latest investment fund, which is the firm’s third fund since opening for business in 2013. At the close of fundraising for Fund 3, MGP announced that it exceeded […]
“It’s been about a year since I’ve been capturing the Startup Iowa Hotlist showing those actively raising companies and just companies to watch, and that subscriber list has grown. Maybe 30% of the list is out-of-state subscribers. For instance, Idea Fund just came to Des Moines. It’s based in La Crosse, Wis., and they’re now actively […]
Plus, meet the startups pitching in Best of the Midwest showcase Supporting active and aspiring Iowa angel investors and continuing to build the state’s connections and presence with risk capital stakeholders across the Midwest is the goal behind the second annual Iowa Angel Investors Summit, a one-day event scheduled for Nov. 14 in Des Moines. The […]
InnoVenture Iowa has announced the 10 semi-finalists for the InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition hosted by InnoVenture Iowa and BioConnect Iowa. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 15 ahead of the event on Dec. 6, where each company will give a live pitch to a panel of judges and be considered for the […]
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 how to become an angel […]
InnoVenture Iowa’s second-quarter update included the announcement of four new portfolio companies. The $30 million fund now has 12 portfolio companies. The four new companies are: The update also shared that applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition, will open Friday. Investment Director Kaylee Williams said in the update that InnoVenture Iowa will be […]
A look at the journey of Iowa’s startup funding ecosystem By the nature of startups, finding funding will always be challenging, especially during companies’ early days. Iowa has seen significant expansion of resources to capitalize startups in the last 10 years, leaders say, but refining pathways to funding must remain a top priority in order […]
Submitted by Donna Harris and Katie Milligan Three in five people have an idea – whether that be for the next technology company, consumer product or social enterprise. Why, then, do the vast majority of people never pursue their idea, and of those that do, a fraction get venture capital funding? In 2022, only 7,261 […]
