As of this post, Clay & Milk is on an indefinite hiatus. It’s been a good seven (7!) year-ish run for us. We started in 2016 with a goal of bringing you daily news about the Iowa startup community and our collective role in the future of Iowa’s innovation economy.
I’m proud of what we’ve…

OpenLoop Health, an online platform designed to help match healthcare providers with hospitals and other facilities that require extra staffing assistance, has announced the acquisition of Imaging Panda and the addition of a new diagnostic imaging support service.
This acquisition will allow OpenLoop to continue to expand its suite of innovative solutions and aligns with…

One year ago, Erica Cole appeared on Shark Tank to showcase a concept that she believed would help an underserved demographic in need.
No Limbits, an adaptive apparel brand looking to increase comfort, confidence, and independence for those who struggle with clothing due to a disability, was created in 2018 after Erica lost her…

BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) has announced the 12 insurtech startups that will take part in the 2023 cohort.
1Fort, New York, NY
Adapt API, San Francisco, CA
Boon Health, Bingham Farms, MI
Comulate, San Francisco, CA
Frame Fertility, San Francisco, CA
GOAT Risk Solutions, Buckinghamshire, UK
Insight Risk Holdings, Weston, CT
Irys Insurtech, Tampa, FL
Pagedip,…

Iowa State University Research Park (ISURP) and Alliant Energy announced this week plans to build a new multi-tenant collaboration space to be built this summer.
The Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab will provide more than 85,000 square feet for ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Science’s Digital Ag Innovation team as well as agriculture-based business…

The Iowa Technology Summit will return in-person next month on April 3-4 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. This year’s summit will be divided into four separate tracks—cybersecurity, technology innovation, leadership, transformation, and data.
Kian Gohar has been announced as the keynote speaker at this year's event. Gohar is a bestselling author, keynote…

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded funding to four Iowa startups. In total, $350,000 was awarded to the startups. Here are the startups that received funding.
AxisU
With a focus on apprenticeship opportunities, AxisU of Ankeny connects pre-qualified candidates to local trades-based employers. The platform also provides ongoing apprenticeship training that, when combined with on-the-job…

OpenLoop, a Des Moines-based provider of white-label telehealth support services, raised $15M in Series A funding.
The round was led by Nava Ventures, with participation from new investors UnityPoint Health Ventures and PrimeTime Ventures, and existing investors SpringTide Ventures and ManchesterStory.
The company plans to use the funds to accelerate growth and expand operations.
OpenLoop…

Des Moines-based Pitchly announced this week it has completed a $7 million Series A funding round.
A new investor, Homegrown Capital, led the financing and was joined by additional new investors including Jason Calacanis’ Launch Fund & Syndicate and existing investors Next Level Ventures, ISA Ventures, Great North Ventures, M25, and Cabra.vc.
The…

Clayton Farms (formerly Nebullam) announced last week plans to open a salad and smoothie drive-thru restaurant in Ames at the end of the month.
The new restaurant—Clayton Farms Salads—will be located at 2435 Grand Avenue in Ames and is scheduled to open on March 31. The greens for salads and smoothies will be grown…

Wellness Wear, a clothing brand that promotes mental health in a stylish way, won first place and $1,000 at Startup Games final pitches on March 5 at Hilton Garden Inn in Iowa City.
The spring edition of Startup Games kicked off on March 3 with 35 participants who pitched 28 ideas. Eight teams were formed…

The Iowa Go-2-Market (G2M) Accelerator is now accepting applications for its May cohort.
The program is designed as a "follow-on" support program for Iowa companies developing technology-driven innovative products and services, and is a partnership between BioConnect Iowa, Iowa State University Startup Factory, and VentureNet Iowa.
This is the second of three cohorts the…