The Iowa Biotechnology Association has opened applications for the 2024 Iowa Biotech Showcase pitch competition, which awards one biotech startup with $10,000 and a one-year membership to IowaBio. The 2024 showcase will focus on embracing the diversity of biotech industries in the state. The pitch competition will be held during the annual Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference […]
Denim Social, a software provider helping elevate how financial and insurance professionals connect and sell on social media, has been acquired by Capacity, a platform that automates customer support tasks. Based in St. Louis, Denim Social was formed in April 2020 with the merger of St. Louis startup Gremlin Social and Des Moines-based Denim. With Denim Social integrated […]
The InnoVenture Iowa Fund has opened applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 winner-takes-all pitch competition featuring three Iowa startup companies from the information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing industries. The three finalists who will present on stage in Des Moines in front of a panel of judges will be announced on Nov. […]
Tech takeaway Each quarter, the innovationIOWA newsletter will share a funding recap of the startup companies that received funding from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and a recap of the companies raising money according to Form D filings through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If there is other startup funding data you’re interested in […]
iotaMotion Inc., an Iowa City-based company developing advanced robotic-assisted systems for cochlear implant surgery, has announced the company has oversubscribed its $12 million Series A capital raise. The company closed the round with support from a select group of venture capital firms, private investors and current shareholders. The lead investor was Research Corporation Technologies, Inc. (RCT) with participation […]
Fund represents new service to angel investors, startup community Angel investor group Plains Angels, working with the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program cohort and Brown Winick Law Firm, has launched the Plains Angels Investment Fund. Tej Dhawan, co-founder of Plains Angels, is managing the fund, which is designed so members can pool funds together to fund […]
Applications are now open for the Global Insurance Accelerator’s 2024 hybrid accelerator program. The program will follow the same 15-week hybrid model the GIA has used for the last two years. Companies that join the GIA’s program are typically early stage (pre-seed to seed) insurtech companies with one to two founders who are looking to solve […]
Establishing multiple banking relationships most likely effect for Iowa startups Leaders in Iowa’s startup community say the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the weekend were isolated incidents, but they are likely to affect how Iowa startups and investors approach and evaluate banking relationships. Next Level Ventures, ISA Ventures and ManchesterStory Group […]
The InnoVenture Iowa Fund, the state’s first publicly funded venture capital fund, has announced the members of its investment committee, who will decide which early-stage Iowa-based companies the fund invests in. Leigh Parker (left) and Anita Norian (right) have joined Tom Trone, Martina Bockenstedt and Shane Larson, who started on the committee after the fund’s launch last year. […]
2023 will bring Iowa’s innovation stakeholders some of the first opportunities to see the infusion of $96 million from the U.S. Treasury Department’s State Small Business Credit Initiative in action. Announced in October 2022, the funding is distributed across four new programs, each taking a different angle on increasing funding access. Anna Lensing, innovation team project manager at […]