A Veteran of the Des Moines’ Startup Community, John Jackovin

In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews John Jackovin, Executive Director of BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator, about his extensive experience in the Des Moines startup ecosystem. John recounts his journey from founding his first company in 2000 to his current role, including the lessons learned from his ventures, such as the importance of solving urgent problems and understanding the market. 

John shares insights into the success of the BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator, noting that only three out of 58 companies have gone out of business and many have gone on to raise substantial funding. He emphasizes the importance of solving real problems for customers and the benefits of an industry group working together pre-competitively. The conversation also touches on the challenges and adaptations made during the pandemic, including shifting to a fully virtual model and later creating a hybrid approach to maintain the quality of engagement.

Williams and Jackovin discuss his side project, Fluid, a custom software development agency he co-founded in 2022. Fluid aims to solve the common problem of traditional software development by adopting a truly agile development process. This approach allows for iterative releases and feedback, resulting in better products in less time and at a lower cost. John explains that Fluid works on a low volume but high-quality basis, ensuring that projects are handled personally by experienced developers.

Finally, John reflects on his commitment to the Iowa startup ecosystem, citing family ties and a belief in the state’s potential despite political challenges. He stresses the importance of community involvement beyond just startup founders to create a vibrant ecosystem. He shares a few personal insights, including his favorite smoothie and his morning routine, highlighting his disciplined and methodical approach to life and work.