A new Des Moines-based company is looking to fill a gap in marketing leadership by creating a Marketing Leadership-as-a-Service model for midsize businesses and venture-backed startups.
The new company — called Propel — provides fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services to mid-size companies and venture-funded startups who need a marketing strategy and the leadership to deliver…
Startup Profiles
For the past two years, Ames startup PeachPay has been working to streamline the online checkout process for both merchants and customers.
Founded by Aaryaman Anerao, John Jago and David Mainayar, PeachPay is a plugin that WordPress users can add to their website. The PeachPay button will appear on the website's product, cart, and checkout…
This story is part of a series titled “EdTech In Iowa,” an exploration of startups, individuals and trends in Iowa’s edtech ecosystem. The series is sponsored by Iowa EdTech Collaborative, a network of internationally-known education companies, successful edtech startups, educators, and economic development leaders working collectively to grow human-centered K-12 and lifelong learning in Iowa.
Virtual…
This story is the first in a series titled “Innovation in Cedar Valley,” an exploration of startups, individuals and innovative trends in the Cedar Valley. The series is sponsored by Launch Cedar Valley, a nonprofit connecting the starters, creators, and builders in the Cedar Valley.
For the past several years, Ehrich Pakala and Stephen Bowser have…
This story is part of our “EdTech In Iowa” series, an exploration of startups, individuals and trends in Iowa’s edtech ecosystem. The series is sponsored by Iowa EdTech Collaborative, a network of internationally-known education companies, successful edtech startups, educators, and economic development leaders working collectively to grow human-centered K-12 and lifelong learning in Iowa.
Parametric Studio,…
Steel Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on increasing access to compounded drug therapies.
Founded in 2020 by Matt Stahl and Robbie Schwenker, the company hopes to take compounding drugs through the FDA approval process, making them more widely and easily available.
"Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. The downside of that is they aren't…
Carlos Argüello started Sevelyn with the goal of bringing on-demand healthcare to patients regardless of insurance coverage or a language barrier. Initially, Argüello focused on providing primary care, but with too many logistics to navigate as a startup, he quickly pivoted to focusing on mental health.
"We started diving more into our customer discovery, went back…
For Russel Karim, Dhaka, Bangladesh, is his home roots. It also happens to be home to the second-largest exporter of apparel in the world.
So after developing two other tech companies, Karim decided he wanted to pursue something in the fashion industry. Karim quickly discovered a lack of accessibility and sustainability within the industry. The…
While farms are no rarity in Iowa, Shelby Smith's operation stands alone.
Her farm, Gym-N-Eat Crickets, is the state's first insect farm growing crickets for the purposes of human consumption. Smith founded the Ames-based company in 2018 with a clear vision: “to provide a sustainable source of cricket-based protein that maximizes nutritional value while minimizing the…
Nora Crosthwaite is on a quest to disrupt the staging industry.
After spending 17 years in IT, Crosthwaite made a sudden shift in career paths and decided to start her own real estate business in 2015. It did not take her long to discover that having to constantly schedule in-person staging consultations for her listings…
This story is the first in a series titled "EdTech In Iowa," an exploration of startups, individuals and trends in Iowa's edtech ecosystem. The series is sponsored by Iowa EdTech Collaborative, a network of internationally-known education companies, successful edtech startups, educators, and economic development leaders working collectively to grow human-centered K-12 and lifelong learning in Iowa.…
Southridge Mall will soon be home to a new gaming business that will host e-sports leagues and tournaments, along with casual play hours and watch parties.
The new gaming arena, DSM Gaming Club, will have ten gaming PCs and several gaming consoles, along with a lounge area for hosting watch parties for different e-sports events.…