Iowa Tech Podcast
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Building Iowa startups with Curt Nelson and Ben Clark of the Entrepreneurial Development Center
This episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Kaylee, features a conversation with Curt Nelson, President and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC), and Ben Clark, the Entrepreneur in Residence at EDC. The discussion takes place at the Jethro’s Barbecue Studio in East Village, with the focus on the role of EDC in…
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An Interview with Clair Williams-Vavra, Winner of Startup Weekend DSM
In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Clair Williams-Vavra, the COO of SI Delivery Consulting and winner of Des Moines’ Startup Weekend. Clair shares her eclectic journey into entrepreneurship, which began in the hospitality industry and transitioned into technology and entrepreneurial ventures like her Mason jar salad…
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Looking back on the 2025 Startup Weekend Des Moines with co-organizer Colleen Kinsey
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee interviews Colleen Kinsey, co-founder of SoftVoya and co-organizer of Startup Weekend Des Moines. They discuss the recently concluded Startup Weekend event, highlighting its significance and the impact it has on participants. Colleen shares her journey into the startup ecosystem, initially unaware of what Startup Weekend…
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Unlocking the Future of Real Estate: How Emigrait’s AI is Revolutionizing Home Buying Predictions
In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee engages in a conversation with Ehrich Pakala, co-founder and CEO of Emigrait, a software company based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Emigrait specializes in predictive analytics for the real estate market, leveraging AI to anticipate potential buyers and sellers. The company initially started as a consulting…
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A new coworking space hits Des Moines with Levi Cermak at Elevator
In the recent episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Levi Cermak, Vice President of Revenue at Elevator, a new co-warehousing space in Des Moines, Iowa. Levi shares his background, which includes experience at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s entrepreneurship center and involvement with the Maverick Venture Fund, which led him…
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Unlocking the Future: Dive into Crypto, Blockchain, and Decentralization with Scott Herren on the Iowa Tech Podcast
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Scott Herren, a notable figure in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, to delve into the fascinating world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. Scott, who is currently the founding engineer at Hats, shares his journey from a finance and marketing background into the complex yet…
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From Bootstrapping to Big Business: Levi Rosol’s Journey with We Write Code
In a recent episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviewed Levi Rosol, the CEO and founder of We Write Code. Levi, who has over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, shared insights about his career journey and the evolution of his company. Initially, Levi’s company focused heavily on startups due…
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Building a MedTech Giant in Iowa with Dr. Melissa Bates
IIn this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Dr. Melissa Bates, CEO and founder of LSF Medical Solutions, about her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the development of her flagship product, Pneumero. Dr. Bates, originally from Los Angeles, recounts her academic path, which included studying at the University of California…
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Innovation and Impact: Laney Kraus-Tadeo on Entrepreneurship and the Arts
In a lively episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams engages with Laney Kraus-Taddeo, the innovative founder and CEO of Act Write Here. Laney shares her fascinating journey, starting with her participation in a Techstars Startup Weekend, which was pivotal in the birth of her company. She recounts how she stumbled upon the…
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Navigating Entrepreneurship in the Iowa Tech Scene with Force Fitters
In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Justin Schoen, the CEO and co-founder of Force Fitters, a company specializing in corporate and safety apparel. Justin, a native of West Des Moines, has been part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Des Moines for over a decade. He began his career in…