Entrepreneurship
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Inside the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program with Jacki Boldt
In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Jacki Boldt, the Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa. Since its arrival eight years ago, the program has evolved from a “pop-up” initiative into a cornerstone of Iowa’s economic development landscape. More Than Just…
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Insurance in an Era of Possibilities: Julie Pearce on the Global Insurance Symposium
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee welcomes Julie Pearce, co-chair of the 12th Global Insurance Symposium, to preview this year’s event happening April 14–15 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The program is designed by industry executives for industry professionals. Making the theme “Insurance in an Era of Possibilities,”…
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Uniting Iowa’s Private Colleges on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and AI in Northwest Iowa
On this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee sits down with Dr. Paula Kueter, professor at Morningside University and director of the Joan and Larry Arnold Entrepreneurship Center. Paula shares her journey across Iowa’s private colleges and her mission to elevate entrepreneurship beyond the state’s flagship institutions, spotlighting smart, creative students who often…
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A healthcare-focused venture studio based in Iowa
Host Kaylee welcomes Krista Martin, Partner at Novy (Novy Ventures), a healthcare-focused venture studio based in Iowa. Krista shares her path from product management and growth leadership in Iowa and Indianapolis to hands-on company building at a studio—crediting exposure to High Alpha’s model for inspiring Novy’s approach and community mindset. Inside Novy’s model Company’s First…
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Poking Holes in Tradition: ReEnvision Ag’s Seed Spike and the Future of Precision Planting
Jayson Ryner, founder and CEO of ReEnvision Ag and entrepreneurship professor at NIACC, explains the Seed Spike planter—the first ultra–low soil disturbance planter built for the soil-health era. How Seed Spike Works Ryner explains how the simple “poke-and-place” mechanism lets farmers plant earlier with less power, improves emergence and spacing, and thrives in no-till and…
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Building an Entrepreneurial Culture at Drake University with Chase Spencer
Audio version: Host Kaylee welcomes Drake University’s Chase Spencer to the Iowa Tech Podcast from the Jethro’s Barbecue Studio. Chase, a Drake alum and newly appointed program manager for entrepreneurship, shares his journey from aspiring Disney Imagineer to political science student to founder and now ecosystem builder. Chase recounts graduating high school in 2020, pivoting…
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Inside the Digital Transformation of Community Banking with Tara Seible
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams welcomes Tara Seible, founder and CEO of In the Green Marketing, a digital agency that has carved a niche serving community banks. Seible shares her journey from the demanding world of newspaper publishing to launching her own firm, building a specialized team, and now…
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How Iowa’s APEX Program is Shaping Young Entrepreneurs
The Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Micah, features an insightful conversation with Russell Goerend, a key figure in the Waukee APEX program. The episode dives into the innovative educational approaches at the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center (WILC) in Waukee, a rapidly growing suburb of Des Moines, Iowa. The APEX program, which stands for Aspiring…
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A Fellows Perspective of the Iowa Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Gabe Howard
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Micah Walker welcomes Gabe Howard, the third fellow of the InnoVenture Iowa Fund, to discuss his experiences and insights into venture capital and the Iowa entrepreneurial ecosystem. Gabe shares his background, growing up in a small town outside Rockford, Illinois, and eventually attending Drake University in…
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From Dorm Room Dreams to Startup Success: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Spirit at Iowa State with Megan Grettinger
The Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Micah Walker, features a conversation with Megan, the program director of the Cystarters business accelerator at Iowa State University. The podcast aims to provide insights into the Cystarters program and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem at Iowa State. Megan shares her journey into entrepreneurship, which began as a student at…