Iowa Tech Podcast

Welcome to the Iowa Tech Podcast, your gateway to the vibrant world of technology and innovation right here in Iowa. Each week, we dive into the dynamic landscape of Iowa's tech industry, showcasing the brilliant minds, groundbreaking startups, and transformative ideas that are shaping the future.

Join our host, Kaylee Williams, as we sit down with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are driving change and pushing boundaries in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agtech and clean energy. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding innovator, or simply tech-curious, the Iowa Tech Podcast offers insider insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to keep you at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Tune in to explore how Iowa is making waves on the global tech stage and discover how you can be a part of this exciting journey.

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Tuesday · 33 min
From NFL Running Back to Tech Founder: Trevor Bowlers on Belief, Pivots, and Product-Market Fit
Former NFL running back and University of Iowa Hawkeye Trevor Bowlers joins host Kaylee Williams to share his journey from immigrant kid in Guyana to professional athlete to founder and CEO of Letter B Global Technologies. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/trevor-bollers 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Trevor talks about the "impossible" moments that shaped him—from his father's leap of faith moving their family to Canada, to grinding four years on the bench before finally starting for the Hawkeyes and earning a shot in the NFL. He connects those experiences to entrepreneurship, emphasizing belief in yourself, relentless preparation, and surviving in a world where someone is always being groomed to take your spot—just like in pro sports.
August 18 · 33 min
How Local Conversations, AI, and Basic Hygiene Protect Every Iowan
How does cybersecurity affects everyday Iowans? Doug Jacobson, professor of cybersecurity at Iowa State University, and Corey Munson, Vice President at PC Matic share a decades-long mission to "teach every Iowan to be safe online" and explains how cybersecurity has evolved from a niche, tech-only concern to a people-centered challenge that touches schools, churches, small businesses, critical infrastructure, and families. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/CyberSafe-Communities 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Munson complements this perspective by describing how PC Matic approaches security from home users all the way to the federal government, and why hyper-local, trusted relationships are essential to helping people feel safe enough to ask "basic" questions about cyber risks without shame or fear.
August 11 · 24 min
Building in the Age of AI: Grant Jameson on Startups, Apps, and Experimentation
Grant Jameson, an AI engineer and entrepreneur from Des Moines, traces his journey from a curious kid obsessed with coding and hacking to a career in software, cybersecurity, and ultimately AI engineering. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/grant-jameson 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Jameson talks about growing up in Johnston, Iowa, studying computer science at the University of Iowa, and earning security certifications before moving into his current AI role. He shares candid takes on the true costs of AI, including how token-based pricing models are reshaping the industry, and why he believes AI is powerful but far from an existential threat (at least, not yet).
July 28 · 32 min
Building Startups in Iowa: Alex Taylor on Entrepreneurship, Growth & Community
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, Kaylee Williams sits down with Alex Taylor, Director of Entrepreneurship at NewBoCo, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful business in Iowa. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/alex-taylor 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Alex shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, offers practical advice for early-stage founders on customer discovery, financial discipline, and building the right advisory team, and explains why Iowa's collaborative startup ecosystem is one of its greatest competitive advantages. The conversation also explores AI, startup funding, small business growth, and the resources available to entrepreneurs across the state.
July 28 · 16 min
Building Iowa's Future: Senator Joni Ernst on Entrepreneurship, AI, and Biotech
At the Ernst Entrepreneurship Expo, held at Iowa State University, Senator Joni Ernst discussed why Iowa is well-positioned for entrepreneurship right now, citing the Working Families Tax Cuts Act's incentives for small businesses and the state's pipeline of skilled workers. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/joni-ernst-working-families-tax/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Enrst emphasized building a workforce that can analyze problems and create solutions, starting early in education. On AI, Ernst rejected the idea of moratoriums, arguing they'd let adversaries pull ahead, and instead favored flexible "guardrails" that protect consumers and national security while allowing innovation—pointing to Iowa examples like precision agriculture (targeted herbicide spraying) and cancer research advances.
July 14 · 33 min
The Intersection of Security & Creativity: A Conversation with Erin Rollenhagen
Erin Rollenhagen, founder of People-Friendly Tech (formerly Entrepreneurial Technologies), sits down with host Kaylee Williams to discuss 20 years of building custom software for startups and enterprises. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Erin-Rollenhagen 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq From her early days developing corrections software to creating a 3D educational game for Iowa State, Erin shares the philosophy behind her company's "sweet spot" - the intersection of things that need to be really secure and really beautiful. The conversation covers her journey starting the company in 2007 on the cusp of the Great Recession, early sales lessons about proposal speed and close rates, and how she's grown her team from zero to 20 employees while maintaining a focus on meaningful projects. As AI reshapes the software development landscape, Erin offers a nuanced perspective on how her team uses AI tools to reduce costs and improve user experience, while cautioning against intellectual laziness. Rollenhagen reflects on how her creative pursuits - painting and writing - inform her approach to building products, and shares hard-won wisdom about the importance of understanding your business finances from day one. Erin also explains the logic behind her company's recent rebrand and discusses how diversity of thought and creative problem-solving drive better outcomes in tech.
July 7 · 27 min
Building Iowa's Tech Community: Inside TechFuse Des Moines - Amy Lindberg and Bo Schatzberg
Join host Kaylee Williams as she sits down with Amy Lindberg and Bo Schatzberg, co-founders of TechFuse Des Moines, to explore the evolution of Iowa's premier technology conference. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/tech-fuse 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq What started as two separate events, Agile Iowa (2014) and DevOps Days Des Moines (2018), has merged into TechFuse, a unified conference designed for IT and technology practitioners in central Iowa. Amy and Bo share how community feedback shaped the event's transformation, the introduction of new workshop tracks, and the conference's commitment to blending national speakers with local talent. They discuss the 4.5 tracks covering engineering, product leadership, AI, and hands-on workshops, all designed to give practitioners actionable insights they can take back to their jobs. Beyond the logistics, this episode dives into why Amy and Bo volunteer their time to run this nonprofit event, how AI is reshaping the tech industry and the conference's programming, and whether in-person events are making a comeback post-COVID. With nearly 200 early bird tickets already sold for a 500-person capacity, TechFuse is on track to be a major success. Whether you're an engineer, developer, architect, product manager, or simply curious about the future of AI in your career, this conversation offers valuable perspective on building community and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. TechFuse Des Moines takes place October 15-16 at the Community Choice Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.
June 30 · 34 min
The Anti-Marketer Marketer: Building GTI Consulting on Trust & Diagnostics
Sam Andrus, CEO of GTI Consulting, shares his journey from northern Minnesota to becoming one of the state's most trusted business consultants. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Sam-Andrus-GTI-Consulting 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Growing up in an entrepreneurial household where his father ran painting, drywall, and log home restoration companies, Sam witnessed both success and catastrophic failure during the 2008 financial crisis - a pivotal experience that shaped his understanding of business resilience. After high school, he joined the Air Force for six years, working in fuel logistics and aircraft maintenance. This military background proved foundational to his consulting philosophy: before implementing solutions, diagnose the problem methodically. GTI Consulting, co-founded with Gary (an aircraft maintenance officer Sam met in the University of Iowa's Executive MBA program), helps small businesses under $50 million run their operations more efficiently. Rather than hiring traditional consultants, Sam and Gary serve as fractional COOs, CFOs, and CMOs: addressing the reality that blue-collar business owners never trained to be financial forecasters or marketing strategists. Remarkably, 90% of their clients come through referrals, and they maintain an 85-90% retention rate. A self-described "anti-marketer marketer," Sam challenges the conventional wisdom that businesses should simply throw money at marketing problems. Instead, GTI evaluates each client holistically, often discovering that what looks like a marketing issue is actually a pricing, operational, or financial forecasting problem. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your P&L intimately, leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for business analysis, and building authentic relationships with clients: even if that means taking 2 AM calls when payroll is in jeopardy. The episode concludes with details about GTI's upcoming July 23rd "Lunch and Learn" event at Glen Oaks Country Club, where Sam and Kaylee will host a candid conversation about cutting through marketing nonsense and building sustainable, profitable businesses.
June 23 · 27 min
The Athletic Director's Secret Weapon: Behind Bound's Explosive Growth
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Natalie Merrill, COO and CFO of Bound, to discuss the company's explosive growth trajectory. Bound, a scheduling and ticketing platform for high school athletics, has nearly tripled its school adoption in the past year—jumping from 600 schools to nearly 1,200—and is preparing to launch its Series A funding round. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Natalie-Merrill 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Natalie shares her unique perspective as someone who's navigated the full spectrum of startup and corporate life: building a renewable energy company that went public, experiencing a Fortune 100 acquisition by Chevron, and now operating as a key executive at a rapidly scaling scale-up. The conversation digs into the operational and financial lessons she's learned along the way, from managing cash flow and forecasting to balancing the tension between perfection and progress. Beyond the business metrics, Natalie and Kaylee explore what makes Bound resonate with its customers—a combination of smart product features, deep relationships with athletic directors, and a mission-driven culture focused on helping student-athletes. They discuss how AI is transforming both Bound's product and Natalie's own work as a CFO, the surprising correlation between athletic participation and executive success, and the grit required to thrive in the startup world. As Bound prepares for its next chapter, Natalie offers candid advice for founders and operators: done is better than perfect, policies exist to protect people, and sometimes the best leaders come from unexpected places.
June 16 · 37 min
From Media to Market: Storytelling Secrets for Ag Startups
In this episode, Kaylee sits down with Jeff Caldwell, Vice President of Strategy and Content at Stratovation Group, to explore what separates winning go-to-market strategies from failing ones in agriculture. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/jeff-caldwell 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Jeff breaks down the difference between a "shotgun blast" approach—lumping all farmers together—and a precision "sniper shot" strategy that accounts for geography, farm size, financial standing, and individual farmer psychology. Through his 15+ years in ag media and current work consulting early-stage ag tech companies, Jeff reveals why most startups struggle: they either fail to clearly define the problem they're solving, or they can't communicate their solution in a way that resonates with their target customer in seconds, not paragraphs. The conversation dives deep into the art of selling to farmers, a uniquely challenging market because farmers are sellers and buyers every day, and they have finely tuned "bullshit detectors." Jeff shares actionable storytelling frameworks drawn from author Stephen King's narrative techniques, explains why word choice and industry language matter more than most founders realize, and challenges the conventional wisdom around AI adoption in agriculture. Whether you're building an ag tech startup, raising capital, or simply curious about how to win in one of America's most competitive industries, this episode offers hard-won insights from someone who speaks both the language of innovation and the language of the farm.
June 9 · 24 min
Why You Should Attend EntreFest 2026
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, we dive into what's new and exciting at EntreFest, Iowa's premier entrepreneurship conference. Hosted in Iowa City's vibrant pedestrian mall, EntreFest is celebrating its 14th year with an expanded lineup of 70+ speakers across 33 sessions and 3 keynote programs. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/jan-findlayson ⚖️ Hurt at work? Talk to Nate Boulton for free: https://workerslawyers.com 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Our guest, Jan Finlayson, Director of Events at NewBoCo, walks us through a packed agenda that goes beyond traditional business talks—from an AI roundtable with practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, to a sports entrepreneurship panel featuring current and former University of Iowa athletes, to an intimate discussion on women, work, and entrepreneurship in rural Iowa. Whether you're an early-stage founder or an established business owner, EntreFest promises hands-on workshops, unexpected "surprises and delights," and plenty of networking opportunities designed to help you leave with real connections and actionable insights. But EntreFest isn't just about the content: it's about the experience. With complimentary lunches, coffee, and cocktail hours strategically built into the schedule, plus three pitch competitions offering up to $20,000 in prize money, the event is meticulously designed to foster genuine human connection. Jan shares her philosophy of being the "hostess with the mostest," ensuring attendees feel taken care of while uncovering the stories and innovations happening across Iowa. We also explore NewBoCo's broader vision of bringing entrepreneurial support and events like EntreFest to smaller communities across the state, recognizing that incredible ideas and entrepreneurs aren't limited to its metropolitan hubs. Whether you're building in rural Iowa or a major metro area, this episode reminds you why you should be tuning in, and why you should plan to attend this one-of-a-kind conference.
June 2 · 28 min
Breaking Down the 7(a) and 504: Inside the SBA Loan Programs Built for Growth
Ever had a great business idea but didn't know how to fund it? In this episode, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Ryan Lincoln, the District Director for the Small Business Administration here in Iowa, to decode the SBA's most popular loan programs—the 7(a) and 504—and why so many entrepreneurs don't even know they exist. 🗞️ Subscribe for free: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe 📱 Offiicial episode page: http://iowapodcast.com/ryan-lincoln 🐖 Get $30 from Jethro's BBQ w/ purchase of $100: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Lincoln breaks down how these programs work, who they're designed for, and the real first step you should take if you're serious about scaling your business. Plus, we dig into his background as a 21-year Marine Corps veteran and how his experience serving his country connects directly to his mission of supporting Iowa's small businesses today. But there's more: Ryan reveals that Iowa currently has zero submissions for the SBA's inaugural Patriot Pitch Competition—a nationwide $1 million prize pool happening this summer to celebrate American innovation. Kaylee explores what it takes to apply, why small businesses should pay attention, and why the SBA's partnership with local Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) is the "front porch" every entrepreneur should walk through first. If you're thinking about starting or scaling a business in Iowa, this conversation is your roadmap.
May 27 · 38 min
Building for Impact: Matt Ostanik on Startups and Giving Back
In this inspiring conversation, host Kaylee Williams sits down with serial entrepreneur Matt Ostanik to explore his 20-year journey through the startup ecosystem. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Matt-Ostanik 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Matt shares his origin story - from architecture school in Iowa to launching Submittal Exchange, a SaaS platform that revolutionized commercial construction document management. He walks through the full arc of his entrepreneurial career: the early wins (selling Submittal Exchange to Textura, which later became part of Oracle), the front-row seat to a major IPO, and the painful failure of FunnelWise, a marketing analytics platform he shut down in 2018. Through it all, Matt reflects on hard-won lessons about product-market fit, capital strategy, and the importance of doing right by employees and customers, even when things fall apart. But the conversation takes a meaningful turn as Matt reveals what drew him away from traditional for-profit ventures: a deep desire to create social impact. He introduces Grateful Giving, a nonprofit tech platform (and his first charitable venture) that makes giving easier and more gratitude-driven, already supporting over 3,300 charities across all 50 states and raising more than $1 million for causes. Matt and Kaylee dig into the concept of "generativity"—that universal human desire to give back—and discuss how the next generation of businesses will be measured not just by profit, but by their impact on people and planet. It's a conversation about failure, redemption, and building technology that genuinely makes the world better.
May 19 · 31 min
Knowing and Growing Economic Power: Joey Beech on Angel Investing and Financial Literacy
In this episode, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Joey Beech, aka the Financial Lit Lady, an author, speaker, and one of the driving forces behind Ankeny Angels. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Joey-beech 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Joey shares her journey from teaching financial literacy at local high schools to building a thriving angel investment group that's backing some of Iowa's most promising startups. In their conversation, Joey shares what she looks for in founders and pitches—spoiler alert: it's less about the perfect financial projections and more about founders who've solved a problem they personally understand. Joey also opens up about her own financial mistakes, including overspending on a car, and explains why emotion plays such a huge role in our financial decisions, no matter how much we know about spreadsheets. But the real heart of this conversation is about Iowa's untapped potential. Joey makes a compelling case for why the state's "doer mentality" and tinkering culture give local startups an edge, and she challenges the ecosystem to stop playing small. She argues passionately that Iowa's biggest opportunity lies in engaging younger people—starting in high school—in entrepreneurship and innovation, rather than waiting until college to expose them to real-world business. By connecting students with local companies, breaking down silos between startups and established businesses, and investing in early-stage talent, Iowa can not only retain its best minds but build the next generation of founders right here at home.
April 28 · 51 min
The Kid from Mitchellville: Nick Leeper on Startups, AI, and Betting on People
Nick Leeper has spent the last two decades building meaningful products in Iowa's tech ecosystem—from the Obama campaign's fundraising systems to Dwolla's real-time payment infrastructure to Hummingbirds' creator platform. In this episode, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Nick to explore how a kid from Mitchellville ended up in rooms with the Federal Reserve, the Gates Foundation, and some of the brightest minds in fintech. 💡 Find this show on every app: https://iowapodcast.com/nick-leeper 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Nick shares the origin story of his friendship with Derek Brooks and their leap to Chicago for the 2008 Obama campaign, a pivotal moment that led him to Dwolla, where he spent nearly 11 years helping design systems that process billions of dollars. Along the way, he reflects on what it means to work at venture-backed startups: the exhilarating opportunities to work on problems you never thought you'd touch, the heartbreak of shipping projects that get shelved, and the importance of people and community in tech. Today, Nick leads engineering at Hummingbirds, a woman-founded creator platform where he's building his own team and setting culture from the ground up - something he always wanted to do. But as the conversation evolves, Nick and Kaylee dig into a bigger question: what does the future of tech look like in the age of AI? Nick explores how artificial intelligence is rewriting the venture playbook, the risk that the "people in the middle" of their careers face as AI disrupts how we work, and why human creativity and problem-solving (not just code) remain the true bottleneck in building great products. Tune into this thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about ambition, mentorship, and what it takes to leave a mark in tech.
April 14 · 36 min
Best of the Midwest: Why Iowa's First-Ever Startup Week Is a Big Deal
In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee sits down with co-organizers Safiya Lee-Evans and Tej Dhawan to introduce Iowa's first-ever Startup Week — a multi-day event celebrating and platforming entrepreneurs from across the state and the broader Midwest. 💡 Find this show on every app: iowapodcast.com/iowa-startup-week 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq The trio breaks down the vision behind the event, including four days of programming spanning tracks in biosciences, advanced manufacturing, and IT/SaaS, all woven together with an AI thread. From fireside chats and workshops to an expo showcasing Iowa founders and their innovations, Iowa Startup Week is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and corporate partners in one place — because as Tej puts it, a thriving ecosystem requires not just energy, but persistence over 20+ years. The centerpiece of the week is the Best of the Midwest pitch competition, culminating in a grand prize on the main stage at Hoyt Sherman Theater on October 1st. Startups from Iowa and neighboring states can apply across three categories, with top finalists earning the chance to pitch in front of a curated room of venture and angel investors — making the opportunity valuable well beyond the cash prize. Early bird tickets are available at $149 through July 1st, and sponsorship packages are open for organizations looking to get involved. To learn more or buy tickets, visit www.iowastartupweek.com.
March 24 · 33 min
Building products people touch (and having fun doing it) with Derek Brooks
Des Moines-based technologist and builder, Derek Brooks has a career that spans Fortune 100 roles, scrappy startups, and high-stakes political tech for the Obama campaign. Broox, as his friends know him, traces his path from growing up in eastern Iowa and discovering software at Cornell College to early work at Pioneer (now Corteva), a pivotal stint at Red 5 Interactive, and becoming a remote engineer before it was cool. 💡 Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/derek-brooks 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Brooks shares inside stories from the Obama 2012 campaign—building integrations and the high-pressure Call Tool used for millions of voter contacts—and how that experience led to a post-campaign startup in "contextual commerce" that was acquired by PayPal. He pulls back the curtain on acquisition realities, his time across PayPal/Braintree/Venmo, and why seeing products people actually touch fuels his work. Chapters: 00:00 - Meet Derek Brooks 01:57 - Midwest Roots to Remote Work 05:00 - Obama Campaign to PayPal 16:06 - Early Web Hustles 17:34 - Sabbatical Reset 20:12 - Rocket AI Advice
March 17 · 31 min
Building Siouxland's Startup Ecosystem with Anastasia Williams (Iowa's West Coast Initiative)
Host Kaylee welcomes Anastasia Williams, the entrepreneurial community navigator at Iowa's West Coast Initiative, for a candid look at building a rural startup ecosystem across Monona, Plymouth, and Woodbury counties. Anastasia describes her "concierge" role connecting founders to resources, and how she's catalyzing a grassroots, founder-led community that now meets weekly to share roadblocks, surface values, and co-design support. They spotlight impressive student pitches at Morningside—supercharged by AI—and unpack West Coast Iowa's unique challenges: dispersed geography, tight-knit dynamics, and the need to lean into local strengths rather than copy larger hubs. Anastasia discusses integrating college talent, addressing brain drain through holistic community building (schools, wages, amenities), and draws inspiration from Norfolk, Nebraska's comprehensive retention playbook. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-west-coast 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Anastasia also shares her entrepreneurial journey—from a dog bakery and tutoring company to a yarn venture—where she discovered a passion for relationship marketing and collective success. Her core advice for rural founders: don't be your own labor. Prioritize revenue-generating hires, partner creatively, and consider bartering expertise within the founder network to offload key functions. Most of all, come out of the "basement"—community is a force multiplier. To connect, learn about events, or get involved, visit iawestcoast.com (and find Anastasia out in the ecosystem).
March 10 · 21 min
Inside ISU's Startup Continuum: From Startup Factory to Iowa G2M with Hannah Kirkendall
Host Kaylee Williams welcomes ISU Startup Continuum program manager Hannah Kirkendall to the Iowa Tech Podcast from the Jethro's Barbecue Studio (yes, the giant Jethro cutout still looms). Hannah breaks down ISU's "continuum" of founder support under the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship: the ISU Startup Factory (an incubator focused on commercialization plans and milestone mapping), the ISU Venture Mentoring Service (team-based mentorship modeled on MIT's VMS with mutual opt-in mentor teams), and the Iowa Go-to-Market Accelerator (G2M), a tailored, cohort-based program helping companies tighten messaging, pitches, finances, and either land first revenue or raise initial capital. The programs are industry-agnostic but tech-enabled and scalable by design; they're open to any Iowa startup (no ISU affiliation required), are delivered almost entirely virtually, and are free—founders invest time and effort rather than cash or equity. Key timelines: Startup Factory cohorts align with semesters (next starts in early August), VMS onboards on a rolling basis, and G2M runs two six-month cohorts annually (next starting mid-April, then October), in partnership with VentureNet Iowa and BioConnect Iowa. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/ISU-startup-continuum-program 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Hannah shares her path from nonprofit development in Portland to Techstars Iowa and Techstars Anywhere, then home to Iowa to help build founder-focused programs. She highlights trends like AI permeating new solutions and exciting deep-tech from ISU in materials and battery technology, while celebrating Iowa's collaborative culture—founders paying it forward and programs coordinating behind the scenes. Her advice to early-stage founders: be candid about what you don't know, ask for help, and engage—"you get out what you put in." Links to apply and connect with Hannah are in the show notes, and there may still be time for founders ready to jump into the upcoming G2M cohort. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction 00:56 - Startup Continuum Overview 01:58 - How Programs Progress 03:36 - Venture Mentoring Model 05:28 - Who Can Participate 07:27 - Standout Startup Tech 08:51 - Go To Market Accelerator 10:54 - Program Cost and Equity 11:28 - Virtual Pivot and Reach 12:08 - Applications and Key Dates 13:41 - Hannahs Startup Journey 15:42 - Skills from Nonprofit Work 16:15 - Trends AI and Founder Culture 18:13 - Wrap up and Closing
March 3 · 39 min
Building Rural Iowa's Startup Ecosystem: Iowa SBDC's Kelly Prickett on Community Colleges, Venture School, and AI
On this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee welcomes Kelly Prickett, Regional SBDC Director and Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at Indian Hills Community College. Kelly shares her winding path through tourism, Main Street, and higher ed, and how her blended role lets her build rural entrepreneurial ecosystems across 10 southeast Iowa counties. She explains how SBDCs provide no-cost, one-on-one counseling across the entire business lifecycle—formation, growth, and exit—and how Iowa's 15-center network shares specialists to help with everything from marketing plans to QuickBooks and business valuations amid the "silver tsunami" of retirements. Kelly spotlights the vital role of community colleges in workforce development, citing real outcomes like CNC Machinery's growth from a small shop to 180 employees, and underscores how rural Main Street businesses create the culture and heartbeat of their communities. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/rural-entrepreneurial-ecosystems 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Kelly and Kaylee dig into the distinct challenges and opportunities of rural entrepreneurship: trusted relationships, the power of connectors, and the need to find real customers—not just friendly compliments. Kelly helped bring University of Iowa's battle-tested Venture School to Ottumwa—the first rural cohort outside the Pappajohn Centers—pairing five startups with nine local mentors to deepen customer discovery and sharpen their pitches. They discuss AI's rapid evolution, SBDC's new AI-certified counseling, and how rural founders can leverage tools while keeping "human in the loop." Kelly sees promising student-led innovation (including AI-assisted "vibe coding") and urges founders to share their ideas, ask for help, and define success on their own terms. Her closing message: don't be afraid to reach out, explore your idea, and tap Iowa's uniquely supportive network. To connect with Kelly or your local center, visit iowasbdc.org and request counseling (she's at the Ottumwa/Indian Hills location). Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction 00:24 - Kelly's Iowa Career Path 01:40 - Inside the SBDC Role 03:33 - Why Rural Entrepreneurs Matter 06:26 - Common Small Business Challenges 08:14 - Main Street vs High Growth Startups 09:50 - How the SBDC Network Helps 13:02 - Community Colleges and Workforce Impact 15:48 - Defining Success for Founders 18:22 - Venture School in Rural Iowa 20:00 - Pitch Anywhere Anytime 20:44 - Venture School Basics 21:12 - Bringing It Rural 21:55 - Cohort Mentors Network 22:22 - Real Customer Discovery 24:11 - First Cohort Results 26:29 - AI Counselor Training 28:49 - Vibe Coding In Rural 32:26 - Advice And Resources 35:04 - Human Soul Over AI 37:19 - Wrap Up and Conclusion

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