New tool identifies struggling readers

Educators in Cedar Rapids are testing a new reading screener and diagnostics tool that can change the way middle school students are supported in their reading skills, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The Iowa Assessment of Skills and Knowledge platform – called iAsk – was developed by the Coralville-based Foundations in…

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IEDA approves financial assistance for four startups

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved innovation funding for four startups based in Iowa, the IEDA announced on Friday. The startups include an international company with global headquarters in Ames, two agtech startups and a software-as-a-service application used to store proprietary information. Awardees are Automed ($300,000 loan from…

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Dwolla’s new HQ will host a community meeting room, free of charge

A new home and anticipated hiring of 75 additional team members are in the near future for Dwolla, a Des Moines money-transfer startup that is starting to grow beyond the initial startup-phase. In Monday’s blog post, founder Ben Milne wrote that Dwolla’s new 22,000-square-foot office at 909 Locust will include…

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NewBoCo, Code.org taking applications for 2018 Computer Science Education Week Kickoff

NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids and Code.org are taking applications to send representatives from two Iowa school districts on a trip to Seattle for the 2018 Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) Kickoff event on Dec. 3. District representatives will have airfare, hotel and food covered for the trip, and will attend…

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Digitization of banks disproportionately hurts women entrepreneurs, study finds

We think we know what’s at stake when banks prioritize digitization over maintaining local bank branches, but there may be more to it than previously thought. A study recently published by the Harvard Business Review found that when fewer local bank branches are available to support entrepreneurial financing, women entrepreneurs…

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IowaBio, TAI team up for candidate forums in governor’s race

Members of the Technology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Biotechnology Association have two chances to hear candidates for Iowa’s governor office speak on issues around the state’s technology and bioscience industries. TAI and IowaBio will host both forums – one with Fred Hubbell on Sept. 21, and one with…

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