Nineteenth 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 26 new Startup Iowa Hot List members who have joined us since the last edition. Join 594 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
We would love your input!
Please let us know if you’re interested in expanding what you know about angel investing, aka investing in startup and early-stage businesses.
The team behind the Iowa Angel Investor Summit seeks feedback as they explore opportunities to strengthen the Iowa startup investor community!
State Funding Announcements
Iowa Economic Development Authority announced six startups that received financial assistance, including:
Rise Energy awarded $50,000 for the Proof of Commercial Relevance
PicklePlay awarded $50,000 for the Proof of Commercial Relevance
Tumbleweed awarded $50,000 for the Proof of Commercial Relevance
Upstream awarded $50,000 for the Proof of Commercial Relevance
Spanton Dynamics awarded $100,000 for the Demonstration Fund
Inseer awarded $250,000 for the Innovation Acceleration Launch Fund
Mergers & Acquisitions
+ Aureon acquires cloud and managed IT clients from Northwest Communications
+ Big Grove Brewery purchased a majority stake in Climbing Kites with Lua Brewing
+ Businessolver announces key acquisition of The Capstone Group
+ Hy-Vee becomes joint owner of Exemplar Care
+ Lashier Group acquires Des Moines window and film tint provider Solar Solutions
+ Tractor Zoom acquires Anvil App Works
+ Wright Service Corp. family of companies acquires Impact7G
🚀Want to be featured? Looking for Iowa businesses to invest in?
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!
Have you missed a monthly digest? Check out the Startup Iowa Hot List archives for companies raising here.
On the Horizon: Companies to Watch
Big Data in a Box - Builds technology solutions to manage data and decision needs of organic farmers, easing record-keeping, compliance, and certification, and empowers farmers to improve their operations
Charlie Golf Co. - Offers a new way to introduce toddlers to the game of golf with the Sunday Golf Bags collection designed for the perfect first golf bag
PicklePlay - Offers a comprehensive pickleball resource, including how to find pickleball courts and events, engage with players and groups, and organize player schedules
Rise Energy - Designs modular energy systems that convert biomass into liquid renewable fuels and biochar, improving soil productivity and sequestering carbon
TdVib - Designs and manufactures technology-driven, high-value systems based on electromagnetics, including magnetostrictive smart materials
YRIKKA - Offers platforms that enable the integration of trustworthy AI into the workflow of users to enhance their decision-making
Upcoming Events
Note: This section continues to grow, and I encourage all to support and show up, as many great community organizers are behind the events.
📅 February 29 - Hardware Hangout (West Des Moines)
📅 March 1 - Tippie Women Summit (Virtual)
📅 March 19 - DSM Artificial Intelligence Meetup (Des Moines)
📅 March 23 - Smart Start Workshop (Ames)
📅 March 28- UI Ventures Startup Funding Seminar (Iowa City)
📅 April 2 - Reiman Entrepreneurial Speaker Series (Ames)
📅 April 4 - Raising Capital for Startups (Des Moines)
📅 April 8-9 - Iowa Technology Summit (Des Moines)
📅 April 11-12 - Iowa Rural Summit (Ames)
📅 April 18-19 - Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (West Des Moines)
📅 May 2 - Angel Fest (Minneapolis)
Story + Sound Bites
🔊 Sam Summers: Growing Des Moines into a Music City in the Midwest (Startup Stories DSM Podcast)
🔊 Shelby Smith: Building In A Small Town Podcast
✏️ Iowa roots musicians to rally for Bryon’s (IPR Studio One)
✏️ Signals: Why is there so much idea recycling in fintech (This Week in FinTech)
📚 Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future (Cornelia Mutel)
🗞️ Iowa Entrepreneur Seeks To Corner The Toddler Golf Market (Forbes)
🗞️ Croft: Latest Addition to Ag Startup Engine Portfolio (ASE)
🗞️ 2024 SXSW Pitch Finalists Announced: Iowa startup, UpVote (SXSW)
🗞️ USDA Rural Development Invests $45 Million in 18 Projects for Small Business and Public Works in Rural Iowa (USDA Rural Development)
🗞️ ISU Startup Factory announces cohort fifteen (ISU Pappajohn Center)
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 who 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.