Des Moines-based venture capital firm Next Level Ventures (NLV) has announced the promotions of Liz Keehner and Wyatt Powers. Keehner has been promoted to vice president from senior associate. She joined NLV in 2021 and has led investments in several companies, including Tractor Zoom, hummingbirds and iotaMotion. Powers has been promoted to associate from senior […]
InnoVenture Iowa, the first public venture capital fund in Iowa, has added three new companies to its investment portfolio since the second quarter, it has announced. The fund began co-investing in early-stage, Iowa-based startups in bioscience, advanced manufacturing and information technology in 2023. A list of all of InnoVenture Iowa’s investments to date is available here. The […]
InnoVenture Iowa’s second-quarter update included the announcement of four new portfolio companies. The $30 million fund now has 12 portfolio companies. The four new companies are: The update also shared that applications for the second annual InnoVenture Challenge, a $100,000 pitch competition, will open Friday. Investment Director Kaylee Williams said in the update that InnoVenture Iowa will be […]
The InnoVenture Iowa Fund has made investments in eight early-stage Iowa startup companies in the advanced manufacturing, bioscience and information technology industries. The companies are Stratafolio, Shaka, PV Pallet, FarrPro, Farmpost, Clayton Farms, the Hummingbirds and Distynct. More information about the companies is available on the InnoVenture Iowa website. Investment Director Kaylee Williams shares more updates […]
BrokerTech Ventures announced Tuesday it has partnered with Des Moines-based venture capital investor ManchesterStory to launch the BrokerTech Fund LP. According to a news release, it is the first venture capital fund focused on early-stage insurtech companies developing technology solutions for brokers. Limited partners of the $34 million fund include Holmes Murphy, M3 Insurance, Baldwin Risk Partners, […]
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. […]
BankTech Ventures, a strategic investment fund and ecosystem launched in November to serve community banks and bank technology entrepreneurs, announced the closing of its first fund. More than 100 limited partners, made up almost entirely of community banks, invested more than $115 million in committed capital. Two Iowa-based banks, Bank Iowa and First Citizens Bank, are […]
Mazen, an animal health company developing oral vaccines administered through animal feed, announced the closing of its Series A funding round, in which it raised $11.2 million. According to a release, Mazen’s technology eliminates issues associated with injectable vaccines like higher costs and the need for labor. “Our investors are seeing the tremendous potential of the technology […]
Talage Inc., a provider of digital distribution software products for commercial insurance, has announced $9 million in new venture funding. The round was led by Merus Capital, with participation by Calibrate Ventures, Hallador Financial, Advantage Capital and Reno Seed Fund. The Reno, Nev.-based company said it will use the funding to broaden its reach and increase […]
Payment fintech Dwolla secured a $21 million venture round led by Foundry Group, Dwolla announced Wednesday. Additional investors include Park West Asset Management LLC, Union Square Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Firebrand Ventures and Next Level Ventures. Traeger CEO Jeremy Andrus joined as an individual investor. Global digital payment transactions in 2020 were valued at $5.4 […]