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
The first legislation in Colorado that would regulate driverless vehicles is headed to debate in the state Senate. Via The Denver Post
A new public-private partnership is creating an eight-week course to help visually-impaired jobseekers prepare for high-demand tech jobs. Via The Denver Post
Illinois
Health-tech startup Livongo Health announced a new funding round of $52.5 million. The company provides a cloud-connected glucose meter to help manage diabetes. Via The Chicago Tribune/ChicagoInno
Five Chicago-area universities have joined forces for a program to host foreign-born entrepreneurs. The effort seems to be a way to get around restrictions limiting the issuance of H-1B visas. Via The Chicago Tribune.
Startup Aqualogue is taking a stab at making aquaponics systems suitable for apartments or homes. Via ChicagoInno
Iowa
Clay & Milk is looking for a new managing editor. Via Clay & Milk
Warby Parker co-CEO Neil Blumenthal will keynote this year’s EntreFEST. Featured speakers also include UpCraft Club founder Elizabeth Caven and investor Paul Singh. Via press release
Iowa State University has software that allows students or developers to 3D print models of any location, such as planned development sites. Via The Business Record
Raygun founder Mike Draper indicated he wants to continue expanding his chain of t-shirt stores in a Q&A. Via The Cedar Rapids Gazette
The Middle, broadly
Colorado-based Level 3 Communications will cease to exist as its shareholders voted to sell the company to CenturyLink. The company’s history has ties to a number of Omaha investors. Via The Omaha World Herald
TaskRabbit expanded its home chore service to the Twin Cities, Cincinnati and Kansas City, among other locations. Via The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Missouri
St. Louis startup Better Weekdays won the SXSWedu Launch competition. Via The St. Louis Business Journal
Cultivation Capital’s Bill Schmidt offered some advice for biotech and life sciences startups looking to raise money. Via EQStl
Kansas City VR company EON Sports signed a deal with a Japanese baseball team, making the team EON’s first international customer. Via Startland News
Nebraska
A fintech conference focused on “branded currency” is coming to Omaha in April. Via Silicon Prairie News