Second Edition: Startup Iowa Hot List
Meet the startups to support and watch in Iowa + beyond
Welcome to the second edition of the Startup Iowa Hot List, showcasing startups companies to support and watch in Iowa.
This twice-monthly digest is to better connect Iowa-based startups (and affiliated) to the strong support networks in the Midwest investor and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Investors, entrepreneurs, mentors, corporate-startup champions, economic developers, and educators in and outside of Iowa can dial in on the startup activity happening across the state while finding the next business to support.
If you are a startup that would like to be featured, please fill out the application here.
Feedback or questions? Reach out to Diana at dwright@dsmpartnership.com.
If you know someone that should subscribe to this list, please pass it along!
Actively Raising
🚀deetz
Highlights: Find daily happy hours, live events, and food specials based on what’s happening around you right now. Deetz has over 12,000 users across three cities in Iowa, helping support over 650 businesses reach younger audiences.
Raising: $1,200,000 \ Committed: $430,000
Backed by: Techstars Iowa, IEDA, and John PappajohnÂ
Founded by Raghul Ethiraj; Executive Summary
Contact: raghul@deetzapp.com + web; HQ: Des Moines, Iowa
Can you help? Any intros to University of Iowa’s Admissions and Student Orientation programs. Also looking for intros to business owners in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Iowa City.
🚀Stratafolio
Highlights:Â Stratafolio is a total property management platform for owners and managers in the commercial real estate space that helps streamline operations to save time, increase profits, and reduce manual work.
Raising: $2,200,000 \ Committed:$1,200,000
Backed by: Iowa Startup Accelerator and FIN CapitalÂ
Co-founded by Jeri Frank and Uriel Barillas
Contact: jeri@stratafolio.com + web; HQ: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Can you help? Intros to anyone that has an interest in investing in a FinTech company in Iowa. Also looking for intros to commercial real estate professionals with multi-year, triple-net leases.
🚀Sevelyn
Highlights: Sevelyn is an online therapy platform used to reduce the disparity in behavioral health and increase equity of access for the Latino population. Recently, they launched Sevelyn for Business in Latin America for businesses to bring mental health services to their benefits package. They are finalizing two pilots that represent over 12,000 employees.
Raising: $1M Seed Round
Backed by: Techstars Iowa and Iowa Startup AcceleratorÂ
Co-founded by Carlos Arguello and Uriel Olivas; Executive Summary
Contact: carlos@sevelyn.com + web; HQ:Â Grimes, Iowa
Can you help? Looking for mentors who have experience in the mental health space and technical help for development.
Closed RoundsÂ
💰hC Bioscience closes $24M Series A led by ARCH Venture Partners, Takeda Ventures, and 8VC
Mergers & Acquisitions
+ Eastern Iowa broadband company, ImOn acquired by Goldman Sachs
+ Infinite Group enters an agreement to acquire Ankeny information security company Pratum
On the Horizon: Companies to Watch
Bristola - Provides waste stream management maintenance while reducing the carbon footprint for livestock operations.
Continuum Ag - A soil health intelligence company that helps farmers quantify, improve, and profit using biological and regenerative methods.
Igor - Develops and powers smart lighting and building solutions using Power-over Ethernet (PoE) technologies.
Mazen Animal Health - Develops novel biological animal vaccines and therapeutics using corn maize to bring easier delivery in an edible form.
Roboflow - Gives your software the power to see through easy computer vision modeling and image training, all in an afternoon.
WinPRO Pet - Harnesses blood plasma to help prevent and remedy dog health issues caused by inflammation, offering a variety of soft chew products.
Product Launch
Hummingbirds - expands to launch in Omaha and Milwaukee markets.
Music League - launched on both the Apple App Store & Google Play.
Nebullam - expands lettuce-delivery service to Iowa City and Coralville markets.
Funding News
📰 Iowa Investors Ask for Action: Angel investor tax credits in Iowa are going away
📰 The Iowa Center receives CDFI certification
📰 An entrepreneur’s mission to open Iowa’s only black-owned bank
📰 Fourth round of Iowa Energy Center grant program now open
Upcoming Events
📅 March 11 - Small Business Success Summit in Ankeny
📅 April 7 - Raising Capital for Startups in Des Moines
📅 April 19 - 21 - Global Insurance Symposium + InsurTech Expo in Des Moines