Iowa Startup Collective Roundup
Entrepreneurship through the lens of Iowa writers and creatives
Shifting to Solve: Give Entrepreneurs a Problem
During my time at the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, I had the opportunity to create a new program based on the xPRIZE incentive model. We called it the ISU Innovation PRIZE, and it still exists today!
After looking at the UN’s 17 Global Goals, we selected three focus challenges that align with Iowa State’s mission, leaving a field of possibilities open.
AgTech: How do we increase the productivity of the global agricultural system with a less negative impact on land, energy, water, and Mother Earth?
EdTech: How do we design & reinvent learning for a better experience (quality & value) in an age of accelerating technology?
Global Impact: How do we improve the quality of life and continue to help solve urgent issues all around the globe?
The experiment: 1) Bring together curious minds and problem solvers from the university community, 2) expose them to a specific problem, 3) create a cash prize, and 4) encourage action by shifting to solve problems with new ideas and solutions.
Not only does the above recipe encourage cross-disciplinary, problem-solving, but the byproduct can spur hundreds of ideas on how to solve something. Simultaneously, it provides a new cluster of breakthroughs, where you don’t have to just bet on one.
Why do I bring this up today?
All one has to do is look at the news. We are reading a lot about water quality in Des Moines right now, and therefore Iowa. Yet, where in the comments of Substack and news media are we shifting to solve?
Entrepreneurs, we have a problem. Here’s a call to help us shift and solve. Phone a scientist, nonprofit, utility, farmer, conservationist, philanthropist, you name it. We all have reason to come together.
Is it time we need a new prize competition in the name of water to catalyze Iowa forward? Reach out and leave a comment!
Would you still build it… | Story link
Tej Dhawan spotlights a startup founder, now circled back reshaping banking again in Downtown Des Moines.
Mike Ferrari’s journey from advertising to fintech founder showcases how liberal arts curiosity, creative thinking, and startup grit can reshape banking. From launching SmartyPig to building CorePro’s fintech infrastructure—and now leading innovation at Austin Capital Bank in Des Moines—his career traces the evolution of Iowa-grown fintech that’s quietly influenced national players.
Venture’s Dirty Secret: How Funds Win Even When Startups Lose | Story link
Taken straight from Mikayla Mooney’s post:
In the glitzy world of Patagonian vest-wearing venture capitalists, where billion-dollar valuations and unicorn founders dominate headlines, an unspoken reality lurks behind the term sheets and fund announcements.
Venture capital isn’t always about building great companies. Often, it’s about looking like you did.
If you follow Mikayla, you know she writes from a founder-first perspective. I’d encourage you to read on and hear what needs to change in the established investor and venture capital game. Continue reading!
“F***! What? Cool.” | Story link
That raw, jarring moment when a product breaks your mental model?
That’s the spark. The best ideas often start off weird, confusing, and uncomfortable—before curiosity sets in, users show up, and eventually, it just works. Mikayla Mooney explores why the earliest stage—chaotic, risky, and often dismissed—is where the biggest upside lives, especially in today’s fast-moving AI landscape.
From Movie Buff to Award-Winning Filmmaker: A Year of Grit and Gratitude | Story link
For the up-and-coming creative, success leaves clues
From festival screenings to award wins, The Negro Artist has had an incredible year. In this post, filmmaker Nik Heftman reflects on the journey of creating his first documentary, celebrating recent achievements, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, and offering advice to fellow creatives navigating the pressure and passion of independent storytelling.
Fractional Workforce: How Iowa Startups Can Access Specialized Talent | Story link
Adam Viet speaks from his own experience as a fractional recruiter
In Iowa’s fast-growing startup scene, founders face a common challenge: finding top-tier talent without breaking the bank. Enter the rise of fractional hiring—bringing in executive-level experts on a part-time or project basis. Keep reading!
Customer Discovery is not supposed to be torture | Story link
Jay Cooper delivers practical advice for the entrepreneur seeking truth
Why do so many entrepreneurs avoid customer discovery if we know it makes or breaks building successful businesses? Jay points to why the fear of rejection, social anxiety, worrying about idea theft, or overconfidence in a product can be the biggest mistake you make.
Birthplace of the computer: I wish Iowa had pride | Story link
Get ready for a call to action, Iowa!
Tej Dhawan points out how Iowa should boldly celebrate John Atanasoff and the invention of the first digital computer, created at Iowa State in the 1930s. While the world recognizes others, it's time Iowa claims its rightful place in tech history—louder than a website or a plaque.
Visit Iowa’s tech history here!
IOWA PODCAST CORNER
From Dorm Room Dreams to Startup Success: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Spirit at Iowa State with Megan Graettinger
Megan shares her entrepreneurial journey at ISU, now leading the CYstarters summer accelerator and running her flower business, Rosie Days Flower Farm in Ankeny
Join the Iowa Startup Collective! If you are interested in being a writer or are already publishing content via a different channel (podcast, blog, articles, etc), please fill out the interest form here.
Proud to be a partner of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative
Jay Cooper: We Are All EntrePartners
Tej Dhawan: A cultural record of Central Iowa’s technology
Nik Heftman: The Seven Times
Kevin Kimle
Mikayla Mooney: Ag Startup Engine
Clayton Mooney: Open Clayton
Sree Nilakanta
Adam Viet: Iowa’s Startup Silo
Kaylee Williams
Diana Wright: Startup Iowa Hot List and Iowa Startup Collective
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Substack are my own and those of each writer. The views do not reflect my employer or place of work.
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