This blog focuses on the Silicon Prairie. As part of this focus, we attempt to tell stories regarding local companies that are doing well – new customers, breakthrough ideas, and venture capital raises. Because of the Silicon Prairie’s success, some national companies have a significant presence in the region by locating offices here. Sometimes this is good – a new company moves into the region because of a unique customer or feature. Sometimes it is less good – a company moves its headquarters to Silicon Valley or New York City. This movement is often a needed or at least a positive momentum generator for the relocating company. On that note, we are providing a quick rundown of some of the big events affecting companies not based in the region but with a significant presence here. • Earlier this year, Farmers Business Network, a company with a significant presence in Sioux Falls, raised $175 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, the famed Silicon Valley venture capital organization. Farmers Business Network is a data management company that helps farmers collect data and learn from each other. This places the company’s post-money valuation into unicorn status – $1.075 B • Toast, which has a significant presence in Omaha, raised $250 million in March. This company, based in Boston, provides restaurant management software. • Matterport raised a $48 million round from a variety of investors, boosting the company’s valuation over $300 million. The company has offices in both Lawrence, KS and Chicago, IL. The firm provides a 3D platform and tools for augmenting the world and laying the foundation for a variety of additional 3D and augmented reality features. • Arch Oncology, a company with a significant office in St. Louis that is building antibodies to attack tumors, raised a round of $50 million in early March. Lightchain, LLC led the round. • Limelight Health, with a significant presence in Des Moines, received $30+ million from Principal Financial Group as a Series C investment. The company, supported by a variety of insurance providers, is building a transformative software platform for quoting employee benefits packages. These companies are important to their individual communities – even though they are based elsewhere – and we recognize the importance of informing the Silicon Prairie of their significant fund raising and growth events. For more information on the companies – check out their websites at: www.farmersbusinessnetwork.com https://pos.toasttab.com/ www.matterport.com www.archoncology.com www.limelighthealth.com]]>