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ISU awards Covid-19 seed grants to 7 research projects
The Iowa State University Office of the Vice President for Research has awarded COVID-19 Research Seed Grants to seven research projects in an effort to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of the teams will receive $15,000 to pursue projects rapidly for up to six months. The funding will support the initial stages of high-risk,…
Online Events happening this week: May 11 -17
As in-person events around the world are canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of online events are popping up far and wide. Here are some of the online events happening this week that might be beneficial to local businesses and organizations. If you know of any event happening this week that…
Middle Bit: ‘Des Moines Emerge Stronger Virtual Fair’ set for May 14-15
Next Thursday and Friday Curated Growth will be hosting a virtual fair for business to share stories about how their businesses have pivoted and share insight about how they plan to emerge stronger. Throughout the event will be several live sessions including yoga, laugh therapy, business pivot inspiration, in-home fitness training, cooking at home classes,…
New grant program launches for Des Moines area businesses
More than 30 businesses and organizations have partnered to launch the DSM Small Business Recovery Grant program to help small businesses in the Des Moines area that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program will be available to businesses with 0 – 30 employees that have had restrictions placed on their…
Online events happening this week: May 4 – May 10
As in-person events around the world are canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of online events are popping up far and wide. Here are some of the online events happening this week that might be beneficial to local businesses and organizations. If you know of any event happening this week that…
Two Iowa doctors launch Mask of Wellness program
Two doctors in the Iowa City area — David C. Krupp, M.D., an emergency room doctor in Iowa City and Dr. Robbie Schwenker, PharmD, a community pharmacist — have launched Mask of Wellness, a free initiative designed to provide education and tools for businesses to operate in a safe manner during the COVID-19 pandemic. …
Iowa-based website is connecting people with needed face masks
An Iowa tech company has created and launched a website designed to help connect the nation with face masks they need during the COVID-19 outbreak. The website — called "Mask Helpers" — was created by several team members of Des Moines-based company Rocket Referrals and is connecting people in need of non-medical grade, reusable masks with those who are making…
Rantizo is using drone technology to sanitize stadiums
Agtech company Rantizo is preparing to use its drone spraying technology in new ways this spring. The Iowa City based startup has began partnerships with several large venues for sanitization efforts. The efforts will utilize Rantizo’s drone spraying platform to sanitize open areas and seating for the return of spectator events that have been…
Online events happening this week: April 27 – May 3
As in-person events around the world are canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of online events are popping up far and wide. Here are some of the online events happening this week that might be beneficial to local businesses and organizations. If you know of any event happening this week that…
Middle Bit: Principal launches $25 million COVID-19 relief program
Principal Financial Group has launched multiple community-based COVID-19 relief efforts to directly assist those experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic. The two new programs—The Giving Chain and the Principal Foundation Relief Fund—build on previous support Principal has announced for customers accessing retirement funds, requesting payment extensions, and other adjustments to help manage financial challenges due to COVID-19.…
Neapolitan Labs is working with county auditors to create election websites
In response to COVID-19, Neapolitan Labs is working with multiple County Auditors across Iowa to build and launch election-specific county websites. Neapolitan Labs launched its first elections-centric website a little over a year ago in February 2019 with Pottawattamie County. Beginning in March, Neapolitan Labs started receiving attention from multiple County Auditors across the state…
coronavirus Archives | 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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