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A new coworking space hits Des Moines with Levi Cermak at Elevator

Iowa Tech Podcast

Release Date: 03/18/2025

The impact of global tariffs on one Iowa startup with Russel Karim show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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...

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Innovation and Impact: Laney Kraus-Tadeo on Entrepreneurship and the Arts show art Innovation and Impact: Laney Kraus-Tadeo on Entrepreneurship and the Arts

Iowa Tech Podcast

In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Laney Kraus-Taddeo, the founder and CEO of ActRightHere. They discuss Laney's entrepreneurial journey, starting from her participation in a Tech Star Startup Weekend, where she pitched the idea for ActRightHere—a platform connecting writers and actors to collaborate on creative projects. Laney shares her initial struggle to form a team during the weekend event and how her persistence paid off, leading her to win the competition. The success at Startup Weekend propelled her to enroll in Venture School, where she further...

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More Episodes

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 logistics, and how Elevator aims to provide a solution by offering flexible, community-focused spaces. Levi emphasizes the importance of community, collaboration, and learning opportunities that Elevator provides to its members, which extends beyond just logistics support.

Levi and Kaylee also discuss the expansion of Elevator from Omaha to Des Moines and Kansas City, and the positive reception and collaborative spirit they've encountered in the Des Moines startup ecosystem. Levi explains Elevator's approach to community building and how it aims to elevate small businesses by reducing barriers to growth. He describes the planned features of the Des Moines location, emphasizing the intentional design for fostering interactions and community engagement. The conversation wraps up with Levi inviting potential members to explore the space and consider joining their founding member community for additional benefits, while Kaylee reflects on the value of such innovative spaces in supporting entrepreneurial ventures.

Hear the full show: https://iowapodcast.com/levi-cermak-elevator-coworking-des-moines