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,…
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…
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,…
InnoVenture Iowa announced Wednesday the three early-stage startup companies that will compete in the first InnoVenture Challenge pitch competition on Dec. 7 for a non-dilutive $100,000 cash prize. The finalists are Hawkeye Surgical Lighting, which has developed the world’s first voice- and motion-controlled surgical headlight that integrates with an iOS through…
The Global Insurance Accelerator has announced it is adding a new role of alumni director to its staff. “The creation of this role represents a key strategic decision on behalf of the GIA and our board as we look to continually evolve and improve our continuing support model beyond our…
The Iowa Economic Development Board last week approved awards for five companies that will lead to the creation of 266 jobs, and represent more than $200 million in capital investment in the state. The IEDA board also approved awards to two startups: CartilaGen in Coralville received a $125,000 Demonstration Fund award for…
First Iowa Angel Investor Summit aims to educate aspiring investors, unite angel community Tech takeaway: The Greater Des Moines Partnership and ISA Ventures hosted the first Iowa Angel Investor Summit on Nov. 18 as part of an initiative to address gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem identified by the 11-person group…
Jess Louis joined the Global Insurance Accelerator as its program manager this week, the accelerator announced on its blog. She will oversee the GIA’s programming with managing director Dan Israel, who started transitioning into his new role in May. Louis’ most recent role was with the Boys and Girls Club of Central…
A look into the effort to create a vision, plan for entrepreneurship’s future in the region Entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovation ecosystem — terms like these are embedded in everyday conversations happening within the business and technology communities. They help in referring to the broader environment and everything that comes together to fuel…
Nine Iowa startups received a total of $100,000 as winners of the 2022 Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition, which were named on Aug. 12. Continuum Ag received the $40,000 first place award, Farm Story Meats received $25,000 for second place and DenScore received $15,000 for third place. Honorable mention awards of $5,000 or $2,000 went to six…
As part of a refresh of the Business Record’s Innovation Iowa brand, we have created a new landing page on the Business Record website to house all Innovation Iowa coverage and more stories from the Business Record covering innovation and technology.
Visit www.businessrecord.com/innovation-iowa to view all Innovation Iowa stories, including the 2026 Innovation Iowa Magazine, out now.
-Sarah Diehn, Business Record Editor