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Middle Bit: Uber Eats launches in Des Moines

Uber Eats

March 16, 2018

Uber Eats started its first Iowa location in Des Moines on Thursday, offering delivery from over 40 restaurants to downtown Des Moines, Urbandale, Windsor Heights and the Drake neighborhood.

The Des Moines Register reported the story on Tuesday.

According to the story, Uber Eats is offering two free deliveries from now until March 29. The delivery fee is typically $5.99.

To use Uber Eats, download the app on a mobile device or computer and view the restaurant menu to place an order. The app allows customers to track their order and choose where to have it delivered.

Uber uses its same ride-sharing drivers to deliver food.

More: Cedar Valley Food Runner: Delivery in 2018

What else happened…

Colorado

Faction, a Denver-based provider of multi-cloud storage solutions, raised $18 million in Series B funding – BuiltinColorado.com

Boulder’s Inscripta raises $55.5 million to advance its gene editing technology – The Denver Post

Illinois

LandscapeHub, a Chicago-based provider of an online B2B marketplace to connect buyers and suppliers raised $4.4m in seed funding and $1 million in venture debt – FinSMEs

Hazel Technologies, Inc., a Chicago-based agricultural technology company closed $3.26 million in Series A funding – FinSMEs

Figo Pet Insurance, a Chicago-based Insurtech startup for pet owners raised $4 million in funding – FinSMEs

Foxtrot, a Chicago-based next-generation corner store, secured $6 million in Series A funding – FinSMEs

Iowa

How he did it: Confessions of a lottery scammer – The Des Moines Register

Missouri

Arch Angels report $11 million in 2017 investments – STLtoday.com

Middle Bit: Uber Eats launches in Des Moines | 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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