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2022 Prometheus Awards Winners

November 4, 2022

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) revealed the winners of the 2022 Prometheus Awards last night at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The annual Prometheus Awards unites innovators and leaders from technology, business, education, and government organizations across the state to gather to celebrate the year’s most momentous achievements in technology.

This year’s awards were highlighted by a special honor recognizing the inspiring work of five computer science educators who were awarded $2,000 each. “The future of Iowa technology begins in the classroom, and we are so happy to honor these amazing educators that work tirelessly to equip the next generation with future-ready skills and prepare them for successful careers,” said Brian Waller, President of TAI.

The awards were judged by a panel of distinguished technology leaders from across the state.

Here are the 2021 Prometheus Awards winners:

Startup Technology Company of the Year: S5G Therapeutics, Inc.

Emerging Technology Leader of the Year: Katie Jones, EMC Insurance

IT Service Provider Technology Company of the Year: Lean TECHniques Inc.

Software Development Technology Company of the Year: OpenLoop

Agtech & BioTech Company of the Year: SwineTech

Manufacturing Technology Company of the Year: MākuSafe Corp.

FinTech & InsurTech Company of the Year: iEmergent

Creative Technology Solution of the Year: UnityPoint Health

UHY Impact Award: Dave Tucker, Next Level Ventures

Best Technology Company Culture: John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group

Technology Community of Year Award: West Des Moines

Computer Science Educators of the Year (All Winners)

Dominic Audia, Iowa City Community School District
Joel Bundt, MOC-Floyd Valley
Kyle Kuhlers, Waterloo School District
Sarah Diesburg, University of Northern Iowa
Susan Wilson, Indian Hills Community College

CIO/CTO/CISO of the Year: Joe Riesberg, EMC Insurance

CEO of the Year: Austin Mac Nab, VizyPay

Small/Medium Iowa Technology Company of the Year: ProCircular

Principal Large Technology Company of the Year: General Dynamics Information Technology

Tags: Prometheus Awards

2022 Prometheus Awards Winners | 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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