Twenty-fourth 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 8 new Startup Iowa Hot List members who have joined us since the last edition. Join 685 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
Spotlight Event: Iowa Angel Investor Summit in Des Moines
The Iowa Angel Investor Summit is a one-day summit on Tuesday, November 19, for active and aspiring angel (startup) investors to help accelerate the entrepreneurs who are changing the world.
The summit experience will share topics around:
Fundamentals on Angel Investing
Developing an Investor Strategy
Fireside Chat with The Sofia Fund
The Midwest Advantage
Impact Investing
Investing in Consumer Package Goods
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 Aureon, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Dentons, UHY Advisors, and BrownWinick Law. Registration closes soon!
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 19 in downtown Des Moines. Interested in seeing the pitches? Register above!
🚀Empower Independence
Highlights: Empower Independence enhances the quality of life for seniors and individuals with limitations through innovative products that promote independence and safety.
Raising: $500,000 | HQ: Bemidji, Minnesota
🚀FBB Biomed
Highlights: FBB Biomed has developed a blood test using an AI-enabled alternative to the spinal tap for neurologic health
Raising: $450,000 | HQ: Coralville, Iowa
🚀LEAH Labs
Highlights: LEAH Labs is building living therapies for pets first and their people next. They focus on CAR-T cell therapy for dogs with B cell lymphoma, the naturally occurring clinical analog of human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Raising: $1M | HQ: Eagan, Minnesota
🚀MedDefend
Highlights: MedDefend provides an AI-powered tool that cuts down on diagnostic timelines and clinician burnout and improves patient outcomes.
Raising: $750,000 | HQ: West Des Moines, Iowa
🚀Motortango
Highlights: Motortango connects car sellers with qualified car buyers in an online marketplace, ensuring a safe, anonymous, and profitable transaction.
Raising: $500,000 | HQ: Lincoln, Nebraska
🚀STRATAFOLIO
Highlights: STRATAFOLIO is a SaaS-Based company focused on companies that own and manage commercial real estate and use QuickBooks as their accounting system.
Raising: $1M | HQ: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
🚀Tether RE
Highlights: Tether RE is a cutting-edge real estate safety platform designed to empower agents through innovative technology and proactive safety solutions.
Raising: $2M | HQ: Twin Falls, Idaho
🚀Tumbleweed
Highlights: Tumbleweed provides comprehensive legacy planning tools to guide users through the stages of aging, dying, and death.
Raising: $350,000 | HQ: Des Moines, Iowa
🚀UpVote
Highlights: UpVote is rewiring how government affairs professionals find, understand, and communicate policy information.
Raising: $1M | HQ: Des Moines, Iowa
Closed Rounds
💰Hummingbirds (Des Moines) closed a $5.4 million round led by Allos Ventures
💰AcreShield (Des Moines) closed a $2.5 million round led by West Des Moines-based VC firm Vertical Ventures
Applications are open for startups!
BrokerTech Ventures
The accelerator offers broker-centric insurtech startups direct access to BTV’s network of partners and over $500,000 in seed funding to each cohort.
Iowa Biotech Showcase
Each year, Iowa Bio selects up to six startup companies to pitch their biotech-related product or service for a chance to win the grand prize of $10,000.
Novy Venture Studio
Novy, a first-of-its-kind venture studio in Iowa, is looking for very early-stage startup ideas to put through ideation this month.
World Food Prize
The World Food Prize Foundation, in collaboration with America’s Cultivation Corridor, is launching the Innovate for Impact Challenge, a pitch competition for early-stage agricultural technology startups.
Upcoming Events
📅 November 16 - Immigrant Entrepreneur Summit (Ankeny)
📅 November 16 - Look Local First Day (Des Moines)
📅 November 19 - Iowa Angel Investor Summit + Best of the Midwest (Des Moines)
📅 November 19 - The Journey to Your Vision (Manchester)
📅 November 21 - Marketing Essentials (Mason City/Virtual)
📅 November 23 - Creatives’ Breakfast Club (Des Moines)
📅 December 3 - Raising Capital for Startups (Des Moines)
📅 December 5 - InnoVenture Challenge (Des Moines)
📅 December 6 - Jingle & Mingle Holiday Market (Ames)
📅 December 10 - ISU Startup Factory Demo Day (Ames)
📅 December 18 - Business Growth Series: Leverage AI (Cedar Rapids)
Have an event to share that would be great for the entrepreneur community to know about? Reach out!
Story + Sound Bites
🔊Exploring Iowa’s Food Culture with Marvin Azzopardi (The Iowa Podcast)
✏️ 52 Tiny Venture Lessons (The Generalist)
🗞️ InnoVenture Iowa names 2024 InnoVenture Challenge semi-finalists (innovationIOWA)
🗞️ Winners revealed for the 2024 Prometheus Awards (Technology Association of Iowa)
🗞️ Winners for REV, small business pitch competition announced (TS Bank)
🗞️ The Innovation Lab Announces $10,000 in Seed Funding for Latino Entrepreneurs (Innovation Lab)
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.