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Middle Bit: Startups are for net neutrality

Net Neutrality

November 24, 2017

More than a dozen Kansas City-area firms have joined a nationwide alliance of startups supporting net neutrality, according to a story Tuesday in StartlandNews.com.

According to the story, 1,000 tech startups represented by Y Combinator, Techstarts and Engine also disagree with the proposed plan to repeal regulations from 2015 that prohibit internet service providers from interfering with consumers’ access to content on the web.

The plans were announced Tuesday in a Wall Street Journal editorial written by FCC Chairman Ajiit Pai.

Pai proposes the FCC require internet service providers be transparent so consumers can buy the best plan for them. The FCC would then police internet service providers, protect consumers and promote competition, Pai says.

The FCC will vote on this proposal Dec. 14; A list of the Kansas City firms that disagree with the proposal was not found.

What else happened…

Colorado

Lone Tree girl named America’s Top Young Scientist – The Denver Post

Illinois

How to argue about net neutrality (and why you should) – Chicago Tribune

Iowa

Des Moines challenges downtown businesses to cut energy use – The Des Moines Register

Kansas

Governor-in-waiting talks startup funding, Amazon… – StartlandNews.com

Minnesota

New book reminds readers that in Silicon Valley, tension drives innovation – StarTribune

Vigilant Diagnostics wraps seed round with Chinese investment – TCBmag.com

Ohio

As Silicon Valley gets ‘crazy,’ Midwest beckons Tech investors – The New York Times

Middle Bit: Startups are for net neutrality | 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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