Twenty-sixth 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 48 new Startup Iowa Hot List members who have joined us since the last edition. Join 759 intelligent, curious, and supportive startup champions by subscribing below.
Actively Raising
🚀TruVue
Highlights: TruVue helps companies predict their customers' next move before it happens. Their SaaS platform delivers advanced customer behavior insights with zero manual effort, allowing businesses to get ahead of churn and prioritize growth.
Raising: $750,000 | HQ: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Contact: Alyssa Nolte, alyssa@truvuex.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.
Closed Rounds
💰Genvax (Ames) closed a series seed funding round, led by United Animal Health with support from Next Level Ventures, Johnsonville Ventures, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Rural Vitality Fund, Iowa Corn Growers, and more.
Genvax is developing mRNA + nanoparticle animal vaccines.
Applications are open for businesses!
Cultivator Grant for agriculture & food startups
Funded by Ag Startup Engine, this program is designed to empower agriculture and food startups with grants of up to $2,000, giving entrepreneurs the boost needed to move their ideas forward.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business
The statewide entrepreneur program provides business education for existing small business owners to take their business to the next level and develop an actionable growth plan. The deadline for the upcoming fall program is May 23.
Innovate for Impact Challenge
The pitch competition hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation is open to startups around the world working on breakthrough technologies aimed at revolutionizing agriculture. Winners receive up to $50,000 and have the chance to present at the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines.
Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
The pitch competition hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers opens soon (March 12) for early-stage Iowa companies. Winners receive up to $40,000 for their business venture, with a total of over $100k in funding to be awarded.
Spark DSM Business Incubator
Applications are open for small, food and retail businesses in Iowa interested in selling into the Downtown Farmers’ Market, World Food & Music Festival, and other DSM Partnership events. Program participants have access to educational series and vendor opportunities across multiple events to help build their customer market.
State Funding Announcements
Iowa Economic Development Authority announced two startups that received financial assistance and one rural startup via the SSBCI funds, including:
Reality Wave (Coralville) awarded $50,000 for Proof of Commercial Relevance
Tumbleweed (Des Moines) awarded $100,000 for the Demonstration Fund
Continuum Ag (Washington) awarded $500,000 for Innovation Acceleration Propel Fund
Upcoming Events
This section continues to grow. Support and show up, as there are many great community organizers behind these events. See something missing? Please share it for the next edition.
📅 March-April - Pi515’s Girls Entrepreneurship Incubator (Des Moines)
📅 March 26 - Thrive Table Entrepreneur Meetup (Jesup)
📅 March 28 - Techstars Startup Weekend (West Des Moines)
📅 March 29 - Smart Start Workshop (Ames)
📅 April 2 - Funding Your Startup in Iowa (West Des Moines)
📅 April 3 - Marketing Essentials: Entrepreneurship Series (Virtual)
📅 April 4-6 - Follow-up Weekend Hackathon (Iowa City)
📅 April 7-8 - Iowa Technology Summit (Des Moines)
📅 April 10-11 - Iowa Rural Summit (Ames)
📅 April 16-17 - Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (West Des Moines)
📅 April 17 - Entrepreneurs’ Organization: Founders’ Fast Track (West Des Moines)
📅 April 24 - Thrive Table: Delaware Economic Development (Manchester)
Story + Sound Bites
🔊Entrepreneurial Journey & Triumphs with Repaint Studios (Iowa Tech Podcast)
💡Wander Women: Pitch a Tent, Explore the Midwest and Connect with Other Women on These Guided Outdoor Trips (Midwest Living)
✏️ George Washington’s Distillery: Opportunities in Alcohol - Then & Today (Kevin Kimle’s Substack)
✏️ Are Startups Only for Young People? Can Older Founders Succeed? (Sree Nilakanta’s Substack)
✏️ Iowa Startup Collective Roundup (Substack)
🗞️How Des Moines’ new small business support staff helps owners ‘cut through noise’ (DSM Register)
🗞️Maple Studios Davenport sponsoring two spring Venture School teams (innovationIowa)
🗞️Next Level Ventures raises more than $15M for third Iowa fund, announces first investment (innovationIowa)
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.