Eleventh Edition: Startup Iowa Hot List
Meet the startups to support and watch in Iowa + beyond
Every month, I write a newsletter for Iowa entrepreneurs to get more connected to the strong networks of support in the Midwest (and beyond). Investors, entrepreneurs, mentors, corporate leaders, economic developers, researchers, and educators in and outside Iowa can dial in on the startup activity happening across the state while finding the next business to support.
Welcome to the 25 new Startup Iowa Hot List members who have joined us since the last edition. Join 405 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
Actively Raising
🚀Camp365
Highlights: Camp365 designs and manufactures a patented award-winning aerodynamic towable camper. The camper is all-season, stores in a garage, and sleeps a large family. The team opened its second manufacturing plant in Albia, Iowa, strategically located next to its aluminum supplier. Camp365 recently announced a multi-million partnership with GoSun, a solar appliance manufacturer, under its latest product launch of the GoSun Camp365. Sales are strong for 2023, with $1M already captured in pre-sold units.
Raising: $2,500,000
Backed by: Chariton Valley Coop, SVEC, REDI, Iowa Economic Development Authority, SBA, and strategic angel investors through the crowdfunding platform, Start Engine
Co-founders: Kevin McGregor, CEO, and Cedar Vandergon, Director
Contact: kevin@camp365.com + web; HQ: Eden Prairie, Minnesota + Albia, Iowa
Can you help? The team wants to connect to accredited investors across the Midwest and strategic partnerships with outdoor recreation and travel companies.
🚀Contiuum Ag
Highlights: Continuum Ag is a soil health data intelligence company and the catalyst for sustainable agriculture. They are on a mission to help one million farmers profit from improving their soil health by differentiating themselves through regenerative practices. The team recently launched the digital Regen Roadmap tool for expert agronomic advice, while the Top Soil platform allows farmers to quantify and visualize their soil health metrics with a return in mind. Continuum Ag’s network covers 42 states and 20 countries to date.
Raising: $2,000,000
Backed by: AgLaunch, Ag Startup Engine, AgVentures Alliance, and Evergreen Climate Solutions
Founder: Mitchell Hora, CEO, and seventh-generation Iowa farmer
Contact: mitchell@continuum.ag + web; HQ: Washington, Iowa
Can you help? The team is currently raising and looking to expand its strategic network. Farmers, agronomists, or company representatives looking to navigate soil health and sustainable ag systems should reach out or check out the software at topsoil.ag.
🚀PVpallet
Highlights: PVpallet’s mission is to promote a circular economy within the solar shipping and packaging industry. They build innovative shipping and packaging products that reduce waste, promote reusability, and improve lifecycle economics. Their flagship product, PVpallet Series X, is the solar industry’s first expandable, collapsible, and reusable pallet. They are on track to reach $1M in total sales in less than a year of its launch and have grown from two to 20 team members.
Raising: $2,000,000; Committed: $675,000
Backed by: ISA Ventures, the US Department of Energy, Iowa Economic Development Authority, and strategic investors
Founding team: Philip Schwarz, Luke Phelps, Steven Kottwitz, and Ethan Wollbrink
Contact: philips@pvpallet.com + web; HQ: Montrose, Iowa
Can you help? The team is firmly committed to the mission of job creation and infrastructure development in the State of Iowa. They are looking for professional referrals to help grow the team and resources to expand facilities for operational needs.
🚀Want to be featured? Looking for more Iowa businesses for investment?
For a list of more startups actively raising (that may not appear in this newsletter) or to be featured in the next edition, reach out!
Missed a monthly digest? Check out the Startup Iowa Hot List archives for companies raising here.
Closed Rounds
💰Moov (Cedar Falls/Colorado) closed a $45 million Series B round led by Commerce Ventures with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Bain Capital, Visa, and Sorenson Ventures.
State Funding Announcements
Iowa Economic Development Authority announced three startups that received financial assistance, including:
Cavergence awarded $50,000 for Proof of Commercial Relevance
Above Par Tech awarded $100,000 for Demonstration Fund
Classroom Clinic awarded $100,000 for Demonstration Fund
Mergers & Acquisitions
+ Igor (West Des Moines) purchased by investors to ensure long-term success in Power-over-Ethernet smart buildings
+ ImOn Communications (Cedar Rapids) purchases internet assets from Comelec Services in Dubuque
On the Horizon: Companies to Watch
Above Par Tech - Builds custom GPS sprayers for golf courses adapted from ag technology for use on turf sprayers, allowing golf courses to decrease chemical usage and improve operator efficiency
CAHill Tech - Offers a training and compliance tool, built for construction crews to help minimize injuries, insurance rates, and claims.
Farmers and Robots - Aims to expand the production of food for human consumption in the Midwest by making advanced automation affordable and accessible to farms
HUDU - Offers a competitive bid marketplace for on-demand services and task-related projects
Navigate Wellbeing Solutions - A well-tech company that helps organizations create more health and happiness in the employees, clients, and communities they serve
Revology - Offers a tech-enabled healthcare revenue cycle management experience to break through conventional barriers and empower healthcare to drive a higher standard of revenue cycle performance
Upcoming Events
📅 February 20 - [Multiple statewide locations] Venture School’s 7-week program
📅 February 25 - Young Entrepreneur Convention
📅 March 22 - Small Business Success Summit
📅 April 3-4 - Iowa Technology Summit
📅 April 20-21 - Black & Brown Business Summit
📅 May 4 - AngelFest
Story + Sound Bites
🔊Five Boroughs Bagels: Serves up bagels while focusing on community partnerships that strengthen their customer base (Small Business & Startup Stories DSM Podcast)
🔊Kaylee Williams: The surprising state of Iowa startups (The Iowa Podcast)
🗞️Inaugural cohort graduates from Veterans in Residence startup incubator (innovationIOWA)
🗞️Techstars Iowa taking a pause after three years (Clay & Milk)
🗞️Iowa City ‘embracing innovation’ in 3D-printed affordable housing (The Gazette)
📚Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America (Beth Hoffman)
What’s in a name? The Startup Iowa Hot List is specially curated with a rush of urgency to read just before the news cools. See a company you are interested in helping? Please act and support entrepreneurs that may be featured on this list and those close by, impacting our local communities and neighborhoods.
Entrepreneurship has always been a community sport.
Want to be featured in the next Startup Iowa Hot List? Reach out to Diana at dwright@dsmpartnership.com.