Iowa founders should ‘dream bigger’ Kaylee Williams, investment director at InnoVenture Iowa, Iowa’s first publicly backed venture capital fund, recently shared this advice for startup founders: “I would just say, dream bigger,” said Williams during a panel event at Maple Studios on April 2. “Seriously, my biggest critique of Iowa founders is we don’t dream big enough. … Tell us how you’re going to change the world with your products,
venture capital
November 14, 2024
Seminar on raising venture capital set for Dec. 3
The Greater Des Moines Partnership will hold a one-day Raising Capital for Startups seminar on Dec. 3 in Des Moines. Among the topics covered will be the process of raising capital, the financial model and capitalization tables. “When it comes to securing funds, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution — it’s a process with multiple pathways,” Diana Wright, the Partnership’s startup community builder, said in a prepared statement. “We’re here to help
October 31, 2024
Hummingbirds raises $5.4 million in new venture capital funding
Investor interest in the startup’s recent growth spurred its third funding round, says co-founder Charise Flynn Des Moines-based startup Hummingbirds announced Wednesday it has raised $5.4 million in new venture capital funding for a total of $10 million raised since its first fundraising round last year. Hummingbirds’ platform aims to create authentic word-of-mouth marketing for national and local brands in local communities by partnering them with content creators, whom the
October 24, 2024
4 questions with IdRamp founder Mike Vesey
Editor’s note: IdRamp is the first Iowa company to receive investment from Idea Fund of La Crosse, a Wisconsin-based venture capital firm. The firm announced a new fund this spring that would expand its geography to Iowa. Read more about the new fund and Idea Fund in this story. While Mike Vesey built his other companies over the years, he noticed the lack of security around identity verification processes. But he said
October 24, 2024
Idea Fund director discusses second fund, Midwest startup ecosystem
Plus, meet the fund’s first Iowa portfolio company Wisconsin-based venture capital firm Idea Fund of La Crosse recently made its first investment in an Iowa startup since announcing a new fund in May that would reach more Midwest states. The $31.5 million fund is targeting startups in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin that are pre-revenue or very early-stage revenue. “Our strategy is the earliest money almost always has to come locally. … Our
May 16, 2024
Midwest VC firm raises new $31.5M fund
Fund will support software startups in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota The Idea Fund of La Crosse, a venture capital firm based in La Crosse, Wis., has raised $31.5 million for a second venture capital fund targeting pre- and early-stage revenue startups in the three-state region of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. According to Pitchbook, a resource for data, research and analysis on global capital markets, the fund is one of the three largest
December 28, 2023
InnoVenture Iowa announces three new portfolio companies
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 new portfolio companies are: Coco Coders teaches children aged 6-14 how to code via live
August 31, 2023
InnoVenture Iowa shares second quarter update
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 announcing a new hire and is formalizing a lead investor syndicate, which will provide Iowa
