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Middle Bit: Techstars Iowa gears up for demo day

November 20, 2020

Techstars Iowa’s demo day, the culmination of months of business development by 10 startups and their mentors, is set to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 3

Demo Day is your chance to hear from, and connect with, the 10 startups who have completed this year’s program. Rather than pitch live, Techstars participants will record short video presentations that will be available at https://www.youtube.com/user/techstarstv

You’ll hear from Managing Director, Kerty Levy, the program’s University partners, and from each of the 10 founders.

Register for the event here.

CYstarters student accelerator applications open for 2021

CYstarters is now recruiting for its sixth cohort. The 11–week intensive program gives young entrepreneurs the time, funding, network of mentors, and skill-set development to start something while at Iowa State.

Students will receive $6,500 per individual or up to $13,000 per student team for the opportunity to spend the summer dedicated to achieving startup goals and pursuing entrepreneurial aspirations. The program is open to current and recent ISU students.

The deadline to apply is March 8.

ISU Startup Factory applications open until November 30

The ISU Startup Factory is now taking application for its tenth cohort.

The program is located within the ISU Research Park where entrepreneurs in the Startup Factory receive formal training, resources, and access to The ISU Startup Factory is a 52-week intensive program housed at the ISU Research Park, which provides an avenue for students, faculty and staff to create businesses. The ninth Startup Factory cohort is slated to begin on January 19, 2021.

The deadline to apply is November 30.

Middle Bit: Techstars Iowa gears up for demo day | 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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