BrokerTech Ventures, a new broker-led insurance accelerator launched by Holmes Murphy in Des Moines, announced the hiring of John Jackovin as its new executive director this week. Jackovin most recently managed the Growth and Internal Services Product teams at fintech startup Dwolla in Des Moines. Jackovin previously led the Des Moines startup Bawte, which completed […]

The Global Insurance Accelerator’s sixth cohort will welcome eight insurtech companies to Des Moines for the 100-day term beginning Jan. 14, the accelerator announced this week. The cohort features Caregiven (Oregon), Denscore (Michigan), Gerald Tech (New York), InsureVite (Singapore), Kiwi (New York), Summary Medical (Wisconsin), TCARE (Missouri) and UDoTest (Massachusetts). More information about the startups […]

Strauss Security Solutions is merging with Security Equipment Inc. (SEi) to become Strauss Security Solutions Powered by SEi, the companies announced. Both companies have Des Moines offices, though SEi’s corporate headquarters are in Omaha. Strauss Security Solutions will keep its name and presence in Des Moines, President Chad Breheny said, and existing employees will have […]

At the Technology Association of Iowa’s recent Catalysts event, retiring Executive Vice President Gary Scholten of Principal Financial Group said he has watched the fight for growth in Iowa’s tech scene.  “About 10 years ago TAI commissioned a study, and at that time they determined that about 10% of the jobs in Iowa were linked […]

At the Technology Association of Iowa’s Catalysts Live presentation on Thursday, seven Iowans challenged the audience to continue forward.  2019 is the second year TAI has released its Catalysts interviews, which are published in full at catalystsiowa.com. This year’s honorees are recognized for promoting underrepresented groups in Iowa’s technology industries with policies and advocacy to build […]

Each year the Business Record gets the pulse on key issues affecting the region’s business community from our audience. Back in October we reached out, and Des Moines leaders delivered. Catch a glimpse of what people thought about artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles in Des Moines and cybersecurity below, and look for the Business Record’s annual […]

Startups joining the Global Insurance Accelerator’s 2020 cohort will be the first cohort experiencing a newly revamped funding structure and a recently raised investment.  Startups will receive an investment of $75,000 through a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), which converts to 5% of the startup. It’s an increased investment from the $40,000 the […]

Applications are open to broker-and-agent-centric, early-stage startups for the 2020 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator cohort. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 29, and accepted startups will be notified in early February. The cohort will begin the five-week program in March. Each startup may receive up to $50,000 in seed funding, the accelerator said in a news […]

Igor, a central Iowa startup focusing on turning company buildings into “smart assets,” joined 14 other startups at the 2019 Unreasonable Impact Americas program held in New York. The initiative is a partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group to support high-growth ventures tackling social and environmental challenges to scale. Entrepreneurs in the program were selected […]

Kerty Levy (standing), newly named managing director of Techstars Iowa, at Tuesday’s launch announcement with Jainen Thayer, chief investment officer for Grinnell College, and Claudia Reuter, managing director of the Stanley + Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator. Photo provided Tuesday was a good day for Mike Colwell in Des Moines. It capped off quite the season […]