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Iowa grant program helps medTech industry retain talent in the state
Iowa City-based IDx knows the importance of keeping tech talent in Iowa. The medical device company is entering into clinical trials for their AI technology that automates the detection of diabetic retinopathy in diabetes patients. If the trial is a success and IDx becomes a leader in AI medTech, they’re going to have to scale…
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M25 releases Best of the Midwest: Startup Cities rankings
The Midwest is gaining increased attention as fertile ground for startups and entrepreneurs. Using publicly-available data on such things as number of startups, investor activity and cost of living, Chicago-based venture firm M25 Group has compiled a ranking of 54 cities in the region. “This has been a five-month process,” said Victor Gutwein, M25’s Managing…
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Des Moines’ Global Insurance Accelerator named finalist in international competition
Des Moines, Iowa’s Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) was recently announced as a finalist in the ICC World Chambers Federation’s World Chambers Competition in the category of “Best Unconventional Project.” “The Global Insurance Accelerator has leveraged strong leadership and collaboration to drive innovation in a key industry,” said Jay Byers, CEO of The Greater Des Moines…
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New co-working space for women opens in Cedar Rapids
Co-working spaces are a popular spot for startups to spring out of, and an increasing number of those spaces are catering to women, like The Wing in New York. Iowa’s first women-only co-working space and social club, The Dostal House, recently opened in Cedar Rapids. How The Dostal House works The Dostal House’s founder, Meegan…
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SPN special report: the 2016 State of the Silicon Prairie
We are proud to announce the first ever State of the Silicon Prairie Report. In this report, we ranked fourteen Midwestern startup communities on a variety of factors in order to measure where we are individually so that we might progress as a united region. As part of AIM Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is…
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Nebullam develops aeroponic technology for indoor growers
Traditional agricultural growing methods rely on a growing medium, but Ames, Iowa-based Nebullam is developing an alternative method of growing that doesn’t require a medium. The company’s mission is to provide the art of future foods now and they’re doing that through the development of aeroponics. “With high-pressure aeroponics, we use no growing medium. We…
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MetaCommunications’ new CEO brings Fortune 500 experience
Football fans will likely remember Gregg Hammann from his days as a wide receiver for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The former football player is also the former executive of Nautilus/Coca-Cola/Levi’s and last month, he stepped in to steer Iowa City company, MetaCommunications as CEO and president. How MetaCommunications works MetaCommunication’s primary product is Workgroups…
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Meet the Silicon Prairie Awards judges
The Silicon Prairie Awards are decided by 50% popular vote / 50% judges vote. This year we pulled together an impressive panel judges from across the region. From community builders to serial entrepreneurs to investors, these individuals embody the expansive Silicon Prairie vision that the Awards are all about. Lynn Allendorf, Managing Director at University…
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Meet the 6 finalists for Startup of the Year
As we get closer to the Silicon Prairie Awards on May 2, we still need your help to determine which individuals and companies will take home the trophies. We’re highlighting the finalists in each category so you can get to know the finalists a little bit better. To vote, visit our Silicon Prairie Awards website…
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Mobile game-maker Jam City launches Cedar Falls expansion pack
When it comes to employment opportunities in the video game industry, Los Angeles, Seattle and Austin are the cities job seekers are most likely to head to, but Cookie Jam and Panda Pop mobile game-maker Jam City is bringing gaming to the Midwest. Jam City is run out of Los Angeles, but in 2016 the…