From ultra-marathons to urban farming: how to build a resilient startup with Clayton Mooney
Iowa Tech Podcast
In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Clayton Mooney, the Co-Founder and Chief Farmer at Clayton Farms, discussing his journey from a small family farm in Iowa to creating a successful indoor farming business. Clayton shares his experience with ultra-marathon training and compares the perseverance required in athletics to that of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of tenacity and grit. He details his career path, including his initial reluctance to return to agriculture and his subsequent ventures like Kinosol, which developed solar food...
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The impact of global tariffs on one Iowa startup with Russel Karim
Iowa Tech Podcast
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Russel Karim, CEO and Founder of SourceEazy, about his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his company. Originally from Bangladesh, Russel has been part of the Iowa startup ecosystem for 14 years, beginning with his first venture, Solver Iowa, during his time at the University of Northern Iowa. Russel's background in the clothing manufacturing industry in Bangladesh inspired him to create SourceEazy, a company that connects fashion design with global manufacturing, particularly focusing on the promotional and...
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Building Iowa startups with Curt Nelson and Ben Clark of the Entrepreneurial Development Center
Iowa Tech Podcast
In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee interviews Curt Nelson, President and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC), and Ben Clark, Entrepreneur in Residence at EDC. The discussion focuses on the role of EDC in supporting Iowa's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Curt, who founded EDC 22 years ago, explains the organization's mission to accelerate the formation and success of new companies, thereby generating economic impact in Iowa. He shares his passion for entrepreneurship, which stems from his lifelong desire to create and innovate. Curt also discusses his book,...
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An Interview with Clair Williams-Vavra, Winner of Startup Weekend DSM
Iowa Tech Podcast
The latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Kaylee Williams, comes to life from the Jethro's Barbecue Studio in the East Village, where Kaylee chats with Clair Williams-Vavra, the Chief Operating Officer at SI Delivery Consulting. Clair, the recent winner of this year's Des Moines' Startup Weekend, shares her eclectic journey from hospitality to technology and entrepreneurship. She reflects on her past ventures, like the B2B mason jar salad company, Green Mason, and her deep-seated entrepreneurial spirit that traces back to childhood endeavors. The discussion takes a heartfelt turn...
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Looking back on the 2025 Startup Weekend Des Moines with co-organizer Colleen Kinsey
Iowa Tech Podcast
The Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Kaylee, is a vibrant exploration of the startup ecosystem in Des Moines, Iowa. Recorded from the unique atmosphere of the Jethro's Barbecue Studio, Kaylee brings listeners into the heart of entrepreneurial innovation by featuring dynamic interviews with key figures, such as Colleen Kinsey, co-founder of SoftVoya and co-organizer of Startup Weekend Des Moines. This episode captures the essence of Startup Weekend, a transformative 52-hour event where individuals from diverse backgrounds unite to brainstorm, develop, and pitch viable business ideas. Listeners are...
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Unlocking the Future of Real Estate: How Emigrait's AI is Revolutionizing Home Buying Predictions
Iowa Tech Podcast
This episode of the Iowa Tech podcast features Ehrich Pakala, co-founder and CEO of Emigrait, a software company based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Join us as we delve into Ehrich's journey from being a pure math major to establishing a tech firm that leverages AI to predict real estate market behaviors. Emigrait initially started as a consulting company for mortgage lenders, aiming to forecast potential home buyers and sellers by analyzing various data metrics. Over time, the company expanded its clientele to include realtors, senior housing companies, and even home service providers. Ehrich...
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A new coworking space hits Des Moines with Levi Cermak at Elevator
Iowa Tech Podcast
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Levi Cermak, the Vice President of Revenue at Elevator, a new co-warehousing space in town. Levi shares his journey from Hastings, Nebraska, through the entrepreneurship center at the University of Nebraska, to joining Elevator. He discusses Elevator's unique business model, which focuses on co-warehousing for small businesses dealing with physical goods, as opposed to traditional coworking spaces. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by small business owners who operate from home, such as storage and...
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Unlocking the Future: Dive into Crypto, Blockchain, and Decentralization with Scott Herren on the Iowa Tech Podcast
Iowa Tech Podcast
Kaylee Williams, the host of the Iowa Tech podcast, welcomes Scott Herren to the studio, who is a notable figure in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Iowa. Scott, a third-generation Iowa native, has been deeply involved in the startup scene, starting with his time at Startup City in Des Moines. He is currently the Founding Engineer at a company called Hats. With a background in finance and marketing analytics, Scott's journey has taken him through various cities, including San Diego, Texas, and St. Louis, before returning to Iowa. He's particularly passionate about the intersection of...
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From Bootstrapping to Big Business: Levi Rosol's Journey with We Write Code
Iowa Tech Podcast
Levi Rosol, the CEO and Founder of We Write Code, has had a remarkable journey in the tech industry, spanning over 20 years. His experience encompasses a diverse range of environments, from corporate to startups, and a significant stint at a marketing agency. With a foundation as a developer, Levi transitioned into leadership roles, culminating in the creation of We Write Code, a software development agency that has evolved from a startup-centric focus to working with larger, enterprise-level clients. We Write Code not only provides technology solutions but also offers mentorship and guidance...
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Building a MedTech Giant in Iowa with Dr. Melissa Bates
Iowa Tech Podcast
In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Melissa Bates, CEO and founder of LSF Medical Solutions. Dr. Bates shares her journey from being a faculty member at the University of Iowa to pioneering a groundbreaking medical device, Pnumero, aimed at transforming lung disease care. Pnumero is designed to bring advanced lung function monitoring into patients' homes, providing vital data that can preemptively indicate worsening conditions long before symptoms appear. This innovation not only enhances patient autonomy but also...
info_outlineThe Iowa Tech Podcast episode features host Kaylee Williams discussing the upcoming Innoventure Challenge with two distinguished judges, Adrienne Greenwald from VentureNet Iowa and Bernie Stone, an angel investor and mentor. The discussion revolves around the evaluation criteria for the Innoventure Challenge, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market, presenting a clear and compelling business model, and the critical role of the management team. Both judges stress the significance of genuine engagement with the business plan, advising against relying solely on AI for application completion and highlighting the value of clear, concise, and honest responses.
Additionally, the episode provides practical advice for applicants, such as the importance of following instructions meticulously and being prepared to explain complex ideas in simple terms. Bernie and Adrienne note common pitfalls, such as vague financial projections and over-reliance on polished pitches without substantive backing. They encourage founders to do thorough homework, seek mentorship, and focus on the real-world application of their ideas.
Hear the full show: https://iowapodcast.com/greenwald-and-stone-innoventure-challenge-judges