Iowa Tech Podcast
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Sen. Joni Ernst on Entrepreneurship, AI, and Biotech
At the Ernst Entrepreneurship Expo, hosted at Iowa State University, host Kaylee Williams sat down with Senator Joni Ernst to discuss the state of entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation in Iowa. Ernst opened by pointing to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act as a driver of new investment in small businesses, paired with Iowa’s strong base…
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The Intersection of Security & Creativity: A Conversation with Erin Rollenhagen
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Erin Rollenhagen, founder of People Friendly Tech and author of Love at First Launch, a custom software consulting company that specializes in high-stakes projects requiring both security and exceptional design. With nearly 20 years in business, Erin shares her journey from developing corrections…
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Building Iowa’s Tech Community: Inside TechFuse Des Moines
In this episode, host Kaylee Williams interviews Amy Lindberg and Bo Schatzberg, co-founders of TechFuse Des Moines, a newly rebranded technology conference that merges two decades of community events into one unified platform. What began as separate conferences, Agile Iowa (founded in 2014) and DevOps Days Des Moines (started in 2018), has evolved into TechFuse,…
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The Anti-Marketer Marketer: Building GTI Consulting on Trust & Diagnostics
Sam Andrus, CEO of GTI Consulting, shares his journey from northern Minnesota to becoming one of the state’s most trusted business consultants. Growing up in an entrepreneurial household where his father ran painting, drywall, and log home restoration companies, Sam witnessed both success and catastrophic failure during the 2008 financial crisis – a pivotal experience…
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The Athletic Director’s Secret Weapon: Behind Bound’s Explosive Growth
Kaylee Williams hosts Natalie Merrill, COO and CFO of Bound, a high school athletics scheduling and ticketing platform experiencing remarkable growth. In just one year, Bound expanded from 600 to nearly 1,200 schools across the Midwest and beyond, nearly tripling its user base. The company is now launching its Series A funding round, marking a…
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From Media to Market: Storytelling Secrets for Ag Startups
Kaylee interviews Jeff Caldwell, Vice President of Strategy and Content at Stratovation Group , a research-driven consulting firm specializing in go-to-market strategies for agriculture and ag tech companies. Jeff explains the fundamental difference between successful and failed market approaches: most companies take a “shotgun blast” approach, treating all farmers as identical, when they should instead…
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Why You Should Attend EntreFest 2026
In this episode, host Kaylee Williams speaks with Jan Finlayson, Director of Events at NewBoCo, about EntreFest—Iowa’s 14-year-old entrepreneurship conference. After pivoting through COVID, EntreFest has emerged stronger, offering over 70 speakers across 33 sessions plus 3 keynote programs designed to deliver instant, actionable takeaways for attendees. The conference features diverse programming, including an AI…
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Breaking Down the 7(a) and 504: Inside the SBA Loan Programs Built for Growth
Kaylee Williams sits down with Ryan Lincoln, District Director for the Small Business Administration in Iowa, to explore the SBA’s role in supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. After 21 years serving in the Marine Corps, Ryan transitioned into public service because of his deep belief in American small business—shaped by watching…
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Building for Impact: Matt Ostanik on Startups and Giving Back
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews serial entrepreneur Matt Ostanik about his 20-year journey building four startups and his evolution from chasing profit to creating social impact. Matt begins by sharing his origin story: after studying architecture at Iowa State, he launched Submittal Exchange in 2003 – a SaaS…
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Knowing and Growing Economic Power: Joey Beech on Angel Investing and Financial Literacy
In this episode, Kaylee Williams interviews Joey Beech, the Financial Lit Lady, whose career has been defined by a single mission: helping people know and grow their economic power. From teaching financial literacy at Ankeny high schools to writing A Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance and leading Ankeny Angels, Joey has become a cornerstone of…