Seventeenth 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 27 new Startup Iowa Hot List members who have joined us since the last edition. Join 552 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
Spotlight Event: Iowa Angel Investor Summit @Landus Innovation Connector
The Iowa Angel Investor Summit is a one-day summit on Tuesday, November 14, for active and aspiring angel (startup) investors to help accelerate the entrepreneurs who are changing the world.
The summit experience will share topics around:
How to Become an Angel Investor, a workshop led by Tej Dhawan
A case study with Groove Capital, Minnesota’s First Check Fund
Understanding rolling fund structures with Network Ventures
Speed reading term sheets with founder Ben Milne
Conversation with Caregiven founder and their early-stage angel and corporate investors around the relationship as a ‘first believer’
Bringing back The Best of the Midwest, a special investor pitch event featuring Midwest startups actively fundraising where angel investors and fund managers can jointly invest through a special investment fund created for just this event
Sponsored by Iowa Economic Development Authority, InnoVenture Iowa, UHY Advisors, Dentons, BrownWinick Law, Network Ventures, and the Iowa Venture Capital Association.
Only 20 tickets remain, register here!
Actively Raising + Companies to Watch
This month’s actively raising section spotlights the nine companies participating in the Best of the Midwest investment showcase as part of the Iowa Angel Investor Summit on November 14 in downtown Des Moines. Interested in seeing the pitches? Register above!
🚀CodeBuddy
Highlights: CodeBuddy helps software developers complete complex coding tasks five times faster and cheaper by combining the power of crowdsourcing and artificial intelligence.
Raising: $750,000 | HQ: Omaha & Lincoln, Nebraska
🚀Dhakai
Highlights: Dhakai is the first tech-enabled factory direct supply chain solution for promotional brands and manufacturers through the first operating system designed for the industry.
Raising: $1M | HQ: Des Moines, Iowa
🚀Elevator
Highlights: Elevator is a community-focused, co-warehousing concept designed to support small and medium businesses that value flexibility, logistics support, and community.
Raising: $2M | HQ: Omaha, Nebraska
🚀Foundations in Learning
Highlights: Foundations in Learning is the developer of WordFlight, our flagship product, that brings the science of learning to reading curricula and instruction.
Raising: $1.1M | HQ: Coralville, Iowa
🚀Idem Irrigation
Highlights: Idem Irrigation is at the forefront of agricultural innovation, providing advanced irrigation solutions that combine state-of-the-art technology with sustainable farming practices.
Raising: $750,000 | HQ: Gering, Nebraska
🚀Inseer
Highlights: Inseer leverages computer vision to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to enhance workplace safety, improve ergonomics, and boost productivity across various manufacturing environments.
Raising: $4.5M | HQ: Iowa City, Iowa
🚀Midland Co
Highlights: Midland Co. is a land-based seafood company dedicated to raising sustainable, ethical, and delicious seafood. Using innovative Algae-Based RAS™ (recirculating aquaculture systems) technology, Midland Co. strives to be stewards of the environment.
Raising: $500,000 | HQ: Ames, Iowa
🚀MOGL
Highlights: MOGL is the leading NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) software company and the #1 influencer marketing platform connecting athletes to brands and fans for endorsements, appearances, and more.
Raising: $1.8M | HQ: Palm Beach, Florida/ Notre Dame & Irish Angels-backed
🚀ReEnvision Ag
Highlights: ReEnvision Ag is creating a new category of planter for farmers: the Ultra-Low Disturbance Planter. Farmers care about the land and It is becoming increasingly important to ecosystem markets to take care of the soil, sequester carbon, reduce CO2 emissions, and improve water quality.
Raising: $1.5M | HQ: Nora Springs, Iowa
Upcoming Events
Note: This section continues to grow, and I encourage all to support and show up, as there are many great community organizers behind the events who would appreciate it! If I missed one, please share it for the next edition.
📅 November 8 - Entrepreneur Field Day: Lola’s Fine Hot Sauces (Altoona)
📅 November 13-19 - Global Entrepreneurship Week
📅 November 14 - Iowa Angel Investor Summit (Des Moines)
📅 November 14 - ProductTank (Des Moines)
📅 November 14 - An Evening with KIVA (Cedar Rapids)
📅 November 15 - Business Transition Planning Workshop (Mason City)
📅 November 15 - Founder Fireside (Cedar Rapids)
📅 November 15 - web3dsm (Des Moines)
📅 November 16 - Entrepreneur Field Day: VizyPay (Waukee)
📅 November 18 - Immigrant Entrepreneurship Summit (Ankeny)
📅 November 18 - Creatives’ Breakfast Club (Des Moines)
📅 December 1 - Jingle & Mingle Holiday Market (Ames)
📅 December 5 - ISU Startup Factory Demo Day (Ames)
📅 December 6 - The InnoVenture Challenge (Des Moines)
Story + Sound Bites
🔊 Iowa A.I. Startup CEO shares pros and cons on Biden executive order (The IowaPodcast)
🔊 Russel Karim: Passion and knowledge of the apparel industry leads to the creation of Dhakai (Small Business & Startup Stories DSM Podcast)
📚 This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See (Seth Godin)
🗞️ BrokerTech Ventures shares results of report on accelerator alumni (innovationIOWA)
🗞️ Check out these Des Moines events for Global Entrepreneurship Week (DSM Partnership)
🗞️ World Food Prize Foundation Announces New $500,000 Prize Amount for Award (World Food Prize)
🗞️ The Golf Stimulator Industry is Worth Over A Billion Dollars (Perfect Putt Substack)
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.