Twenty-fifth 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 711 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
Actively Raising
🚀Midland Co
Highlights: Shrimp-raising technology (hardware) company that is currently building three pilot farms for farmers across Iowa. With scale in mind, the team expects to convert the pilots to full-scale (>$1M) in 2025.
Raising: $500,000 | HQ: Ames, Iowa
Contact: Jackson Kimle, jackson@midlandseafood.com + Website
🚀ReEnvision Ag
Highlights: Cutting-edge corn, cotton, and soybean planting technology for the soil health era gives a 5-6 day planting advantage for no-till acres over the double-disk planter. Fundraising to plant test plots, implement emergence trials with Iowa State University, and fully launch their product.
Raising: $500,000 | HQ: Mason City, Iowa
Contact: Jayson Ryner, jayson.ryner@gmail.com + Website
🚀UpVote
Highlights: Using the power of AI, the Legible software technology helps automate policy discovery, tracking, and analysis for government relations professionals with a focus on state policy. The product has recently been launched in Iowa and Nebraska.
Raising: $1M | HQ: Des Moines, Iowa
Contact: Zack Krawiec, zack@upvote.com + Website
🚀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!
Have you missed a monthly digest? Check out the Startup Iowa Hot List archives for companies raising here.
Applications are open for businesses!
Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition
The pitch competition hosted by the West Des Moines Chamber is open to minority-owned startups and small businesses across the U.S. where winners have shared a monetary pot of $150,000 and more in prizes.
Creative Entrepreneurship Program
The program is designed to help performing artists, musicians, and songwriters start new businesses. Beginning in February, xBk Live in Des Moines will host monthly business classes and provide microloans for select participants.
Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants
Each year, Choose Iowa (Dept. of Ag & Land Stewardship) awards up to $25,000 to small and medium-sized businesses focused on increasing sales of Iowa ag products through production or expanding markets for value-added projects.
Marion County Red Rock StartUP
The pitch competition is open to startups based in Marion County for the opportunity to showcase their ideas for a chance to receive a business startup grant.
Venture School
The statewide training program is designed for emerging entrepreneurs and established business professionals seeking to drive innovation. Hosted locations include Mason City, Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Quad Cities, and Sioux City.
State Funding Announcements
Iowa Economic Development Authority announced five startups that received financial assistance, including:
Invasive Removal awarded $50,000 for Proof of Commercial Relevance
Renner Ag Solutions awarded $50,000 for Proof of Commercial Relevance
Flete awarded $100,000 for the Demonstration Fund
Upvote awarded $100,000 for the Demonstration Fund
GW Nutrition awarded $100,000 for the Demonstration Fund
Upcoming Events
📅 January 16 - Global Insurance Accelerator Reception (Des Moines)
📅 January 22 - Financing Your Startup (Online)
📅 January 22 - Ag Innovation Forum (Des Moines)
📅 February-April - Venture School (Multiple locations across IA)
📅 February 17 - IDEA Camp for Kids (Mason City)
📅 February 19 - National Civility Summit (Virtual)
📅 March 28 - Techstars Startup Weekend (West Des Moines)
📅 March 29 - Smart Start Workshop (Ames)
📅 April 16-17 - Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (West Des Moines)
Story + Sound Bites
🔊Sola Insurance: Helping People Recover Faster (Startup Stories DSM Podcast)
🔊Zero to Acquired: PicklePlay Story with Blake Renaud (Iowa Tech Podcast)
🔊The Case for Selling Products that Adapt (HBR Podcast)
🗞️North Iowa Entrepreneur Wins 2024 InnoVenture Iowa Challenge (NIACC News)
🗞️Funding recap: IEDA Q4 (innovationIowa)
🗞️ Next Level Ventures launches third venture fund investing in Iowa startups (innovationIOWA)
Looking for writers for Iowa Startup Collective
The Startup Iowa Hot List officially started back in February 2022. Now, with almost three years under its belt, we are looking to use a Substack model to grow the quality of content and geography covered across the state.
With a high five and nod to what the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative has started and grown to, we’re looking to find writers who publish regularly on topics related to entrepreneurship, economics, business, opinion, placemaking, and what makes the Midwest competitive (and what we need to create).
If you are interested in being a contributor, writer, or are already publishing content via a different channel (podcast, blog, articles, etc) please fill out the interest form below or reach out via email.
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.
The Startup Iowa Hot List is produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Want to be featured in the next Startup Iowa Hot List? Reach out to Diana at dwright@dsmpartnership.com.