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Workiva named a top workplace in 2017

June 12, 2017

The Ames based company Workiva was named one of the best places to work in information technology by Computerworld Magazine Monday, according to a news release.

According to the release Workiva ranked 13^th out of 20 midsized companies in 2017. It was selected for its continuing education opportunities, state-of-the-art collaboration workspaces, flexible work hours, telecommuting and top quality office amenities.

“Workiva is honored to be recognized by Computerworld for our extraordinary workplace for IT professionals,” Workiva Chairman and CEO Matt Rizai said. “Our culture is built on close-knit teams of people who truly care about each other and our customers.”

Scott Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld, said the organizations on this years list excel at creating a dynamic and satisfying IT work environment.

“In a competitive market for tech talent, these outstanding employers are able to attract highly skilled IT pros by offering great benefits, new learning opportunities, access to cutting-edge technologies and challenging business critical projects,” Finnie says.

Workiva was founded in 2008 under the name, “WebFilings” to change the way corporations were managing and reporting business data. They released their first cloud solution in 2010 and now is used by 70 percent of the Fortune 500 companies.

The company changed its name to Workiva in 2014, according to their website.

Today the Workiva product, “Wdesk,” a data management system engine powers more than 2,800 organizations.

Workiva employs more than 1,200 people with offices in 16 cities.

Workiva named a top workplace in 2017 | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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