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Jake Slobe named Managing Editor of Clay & Milk

June 18, 2018

Greetings! My name is Jake Slobe, and I’m the new Managing Editor at Clay & Milk.

Like many of you, I’ve been a long-time reader of Clay & Milk. When Clay & Milk first came onto the scene, I was in the process of obtaining my journalism degree at the University of Iowa. As a curious journalism student, I was interested in knowing as much as I could about new developments in my community. And what I quickly discovered was a severe lack of coverage. So when Clay & Milk started, it was a refreshing to have a place to go to learn about the startups, entrepreneurs and new art happening around me.

It’s been a fast-moving couple of weeks. Just a month ago, I was sitting in an Iowa City classroom, nervous and unsure of what my future held, but excited nonetheless. I remember sitting in class, opening up my email and seeing that Clay & Milk was looking for a new Managing Editor. I immediately stopped what I was doing and began to eagerly and hastily (probably a bit too hastily) apply for the position.

In today’s ever-changing, interconnected world, good stories are more urgent than ever. The central challenge for any media company like Clay & Milk is to constantly grow and constantly evolve, but not sacrifice standards and quality.

I’m thrilled to be joining Clay & Milk at a time when the Midwest is exploding with growth, entrepreneurship and fresh ideas in technology, design and culture.

There are great stories ahead of us.

If you have a story that needs to be told or are interested in contributing to Clay & Milk in a freelance capacity let me know! And if you aren’t already, make sure to subscribe to Clay & Milk to get daily news and updates straight to your inbox.

3 Comments

Mary Kelly

Posted June 18, 2018 at 10:31 pm

Congrats Jake!! ( your grandmas Friend, Mary) ..she is very proud of you!!

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Julie Kielman

Posted June 19, 2018 at 5:58 am

HEY Jacob i couldn’t be prouder of you and your accomplishments. Way to go. Love Aunt Julie

0Likes
Laura Kinnard

Posted June 20, 2018 at 7:01 am

Congratulations on your new position. I look forward to reading your work!

0Likes

Comments are closed.

Jake Slobe named Managing Editor of Clay & Milk | 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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