Each week, Clay & Milk will curate a rundown of startup, tech and innovation news from “the middle.” Check back every Friday for that week’s Middle Bit.
Colorado
Cloud-based accounting company Xero confirmed it has moved its U.S. headquarters from San Francisco to Denver. Via The Denver Post
The Coloradoan profiled a Fort Collins entrepreneur who has created an app to match people who need storage with those that have the extra space. Via The Coloradoan
Illinois
Blue Sky Innovation is taking the month of February to look at coworking in Chicago, including this piece on how the local spaces have changed. Via The Chicago Tribune
Iowa
The Des Moines Register profiled Dwolla’s return and refocus on Iowa. Via The Des Moines Register
Iowa Women Lead Change, which has organized prior “Invest in She” pitch competitions, has acquired the Quad Cities Women’s Connection. Via The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Uber announced it’s bringing its “UberXL” service to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Via Uber press release
The Technology Association of Iowa will host a new event, the “Iowa Technology Summit,” in late September in Des Moines. Via TAI press release
Michigan
Two Ann Arbor startups, a digital security firm and one that makes warming blankets for premature infants, have notched some milestones after growing out of Michigan’s startup ecosystem. Via The Detroit Free Press
Grand Ventures, a new venture fund based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wants to raise $50 million and plans to target early-stage technology companies in the Midwest. Via TechCrunch
The Middle, broadly
Victor Hwang, the VP of entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation, spoke before Congress to discuss obstacles entrepreneurs often face and said the U.S. is suffering from an entrepreneurship deficit, Startland News reported. Via Startland News
Minnesota
Fargo-based Arthur Ventures has closed on $43 million of a $50 million target raise. Via Tech.MN
In its latest move to boost farming innovation, Land O’ Lakes has started a $150,000 contest around how drones can be used in agriculture. Via The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Missouri
Google Fiber is continuing its expansion in Kansas City, even under speculation of a sale and that Fiber will lose ‘hundreds of employees.’ Via The Kansas City Star/Startland News
EQStl looks at what may be in store for downtown St. Louis and its innovation district. Via EQStl
A Kansas City-based co-founder of a dairy company is branching out into the ag-tech space with TerraManus Technologies. Via Startland News
Grocery delivery service Instacart launched its service in St. Louis to high demand. Via The St. Louis Post Dispatch
Nebraska
Facebook looks to be eyeing a Sarpy County, Nebraska location for a new data center, but officials and the company have not confirmed plans. Via The Omaha World Herald
Lincoln-based software company Don’t Panic Labs is embracing a “dev-for-equity” business model, providing startups with software development and training in exchange for equity. Via Silicon Prairie News
Wisconsin
UberEats launched its food delivery service in Milwaukee. Via The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Journal Sentinel profiled a lab working to develop batteries that are more powerful but also less expensive. Via The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
1 Comment
Aaron Horn (@HornIT)
Uber XL may have launched in Iowa City yesterday, but nobody requested one in the 3 hours I was driving around last night. ;-)
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