The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) announced that latest companies to win awards from the Demonstration Fund this week. The Demonstration Fund, which is described on the IDED website as “designed to encourage product refinements, market planning and market entry activities of unique products to foster competitive, profitable companies that create high paying jobs and wealth in Iowa,” is structured as a 2-for-1 match of up to $150,000.
This round of grantees includes (grant descriptions courtesy of IDED):
- BuyerCompass (Clive) – $50,000 to assist with design, social media marketing and public relations for their project that enables a better shopping experience. The technology company provides mobile and web commerce platforms targeted at the consumer packaged goods industry, starting with the retail grocery segment. The company has built a one-stop-shop application with both web and mobile components.
- Syncbak (Marion) – $150,000 for development of its Syncbox technology, which allows viewers to see their local television broadcasts over the Internet. Currently, broadcast network affiliation agreements strictly define who can receive broadcast signals. Although local broadcast content can be carried on cable and satellite, legislation does not yet cover retransmission of the same content over the web. Syncbak’s technology gives broadcasters an inexpensive way to authenticate viewers to access live and on-demand broadcast television via broadband enabled devices. The award through the Demonstration Fund will be used to install additional pilots of Syncbak’s Syncbox and build a commercially deployable Syncbox.
- Thinix (Milford) – $50,000 to assist the company in its efforts to market its Thinix Touch software for the Windows-based tablet PC. The company’s plan includes a targeted marketing campaign aimed at adding new manufacturer partners, as well as selling Thinix Touch at selected tradeshows, production of print materials for direct marketing, website development, search engine optimization, online press releases and direct personal selling.
Additional companies working in biotech and advanced manufacturing were awarded funds as well.
Read the full release at iowalifechanging.com.
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