Roundup from the Iowa Startup Collective
The following writers publish stories about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship from across Iowa via the Substack platform. Their stories are available for free via the various links below:
Diana Wright: Startup Iowa Hot List and Iowa Startup Collective
Jay Cooper: We Are All EntrePartners
Tej Dhawan: A cultural record of Central Iowa’s technology
Mikayla Mooney: Ag Startup Engine
Clayton Mooney: Open Clayton
Adam Viet: Iowa’s Startup Silo
NVCA model documents
To reduce the cost of early-stage venture financing the National Venture Capital Association (“NVCA”) provides a set of model legal documents for early-stage companies. This document set includes incorporation documents, founder agreements, term sheets and financing agreements for various stages of angel and institutional equity investment.
Understanding angel investors
The Angel Capital Association provides valuable resources to better understand angel investors and how to find an angel investor.
State assistance
The State of Iowa provides strong financial and operational assistance to local early stage businesses and startups.
Iowa Economic Development Authority provides financial assistance.
The EDC and Greater Des Moines Partnership provide operational assistance.
Accelerators and incubators
The following organizations are fostering homegrown Iowa startups and assisting out-of-state startups move to Iowa.
Global Insurance Accelerator
Lorenzen Student Hatchery program at Drake
Ag Startup Engine
Gravitate provides co-working space and long term office space for startups in downtown Des Moines area.
Vault Coworking offers prototyping and shared co-working space in the NewBoCo district of Cedar Rapids.
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosts venture school to accelerate startups through customer development, testing and prototyping.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has an incubator and accelerator program for early stage companies and small businesses.
Startup events in Iowa
The Iowa startup community is thriving. The list below highlights just some of the events and activities for early stage businesses and startups.
Technology Association of Iowa calendar and list of events is a summary of large technology conferences and roundtables
Gravitate in Des Moines promotes local startup events.
1 million cups in Des Moines and eastern Iowa is a great place to tell your company story or idea on stage for feedback.
EntreFEST celebrate and educate startups.