The Microsoft Datacenter Academy program is adding three credential programs led by CompTIA, a provider of vendor-neutral training and skills certifications, CompTIA announced this week. The programs will be available at the five data center academies supported by Microsoft, including the Des Moines Area Community College in West Des Moines. The new certifications are CompTIA […]

At the morning keynote on June 4, NewBoCo Executive Director Eric Engelmann sat down at his computer with a plastic toy hand-clapper and gave it a good shake. The session’s “pre-standing ovation,” an EntreFEST tradition, would go on as planned — even over Zoom, with a sea of audience microphones muted.  Keeping conference attendees engaged […]

FarmHand App, a member of cohort eight from the Iowa State University Startup Factory, has been awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan from the Iowa Economic Development Authority board for product refinement, market planning and entry activities and other expenses, Startup Factory announced. FarmHand App, launched in 2019, is a De Witt-based startup […]

West Des Moines insurtech startup Benekiva will join Insurtech Hartford’s Innovation Challenge contest on June 18. The challenge hosts more than 20 representatives from across 10 insurance companies, judging the finalists and providing feedback to all of them. Benekiva, which streamlines the claims process for insurers, is a finalist in the Best Emerging category.

Paragon IT Professionals, a locally owned IT staffing and solutions firm, has awarded $1,000 scholarships to nine high school seniors who plan to pursue a technology-related degree at an Iowa university or college, the company announced this week. Over seven years, Paragon’s IT Leadership Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $110,000 in scholarships with support […]

At the morning keynote on June 4, NewBoCo Executive Director Eric Engelmann sat down at his computer with a plastic toy hand-clapper and gave it a good shake. The session’s “pre-standing ovation,” an EntreFEST tradition, would go on as planned — even over Zoom, with a sea of audience microphones muted.  Keeping conference attendees engaged […]

The original Des Moines Securities Map from the 1930s, on display at Undesign: DSM by Polk County Housing Trust Fund. A link to the map’s original descriptions is available here.  A red line runs through the old Franklin Junior High in Des Moines, highlighting what residents of the city couldn’t see for years. When the pandemic […]

Des Moines “smart building” startup Igor is launching Nexos Intelligent Disinfection, an ultraviolet lighting (UV-C) platform offering automated facility disinfection control. Nexos Intelligent Disinfection uses Igor’s Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connectivity to integrate other available disinfection systems, such as intelligent air purifiers or gas vaporizers, into a data dashboard for building managers. The platform can also be configured […]

The West Des Moines school district’s Community Education Department received a $2,670 award from the Microsoft Community Empowerment Fund to support the new CareerUp program. CareerUp will provide workforce development classes tailored to adult English language learners through appropriate cultural and linguistic approaches, and offer workshop facilitation training to community-based organizations. 

Iowa has received $26.2 million in federal relief to fund broadband access for students, the Iowa Department of Education announced this week. Iowa’s grant is part of the nearly $3 billion Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Iowa Department of Education and the […]