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the PULL #146

May 4, 2016

A few weeks ago I participated in a panel discussion on technology and innovation at the Business Record (the story is here behind their paywall and the video is available for free on YouTube). Brian Waller, President of the Technology Association of Iowa, was also on the panel and he brought up the idea of an ongoing "global war for talent" that they are seeing through their members every day.

This week I had a little taste of that when I tweeted this for a friend:
"I have an experienced full stack software engineer friend looking to move to Ames/Des Moines from out-of-state. Who is hiring?"

The response was immediate and almost overwhelming. People sent direct messages on Twitter, Facebook and Slack and I received several emails. The messages came from across the spectrum—startups, Fortune 500 companies, one who had recently gone public and those in between.

The message is clear: if you work in technology and want to be in Iowa, the timing has never been better.

Geoff

PS. This Friday is First Friday at our place (yes, it's on the actual First Friday-of-the-month this time). We have free/open coworking all day and then our community happy hour starting at 4:30. Stop by for an hour or the whole day!

Des Moines startup accelerator lands new backer
Des Moines Register (Matthew Patane, April 29)

Last week the Global Insurance Accelerator (Des Moines) landed its first out-of-state investor, the insurance firm Mutual of Omaha. Previously the 100-day accelerator program was backed by seven Iowa-based insurance carriers. Mutual of Omaha's involvement raises the accelerator's current budget to $800,000, according to the Des Moines Register. The Register also reported that while it was not previously announced, the Omaha company also invested in the 2016 cohort set to graduate in a few weeks.
New law may help some small town pharmacies stay open
Radio Iowa (O. Kay Henderson, April 21)

Beginning July 1, Iowa communities with more than 500 people will be able to take advantage of digital pharmacy technologies thanks to a bill signed into law last month. This new legislation will allow companies like TelePharm (Iowa City) to expand their business across Iowa to qualifying pharmacies that may not be able to justify justify an on-site pharmacist. Founded in 2012, TelePharm currently helps operate remote pharmacies in 12 other states and will now be able to significantly increase its business in Iowa.

TelePharm has previously raised $2.5MM in venture capital from Iowa investors John Pappajohn and Bruce Rastetter and also has backing from San Francisco-based Rock Health according to CrunchBase.

Iowa and Nebraska high schoolers fly quadcopters in Anti-Gravity Games
Omaha World-Herald (Reece Ristau, May 1)

Iowa and Nebraska teens competed last weekend at the fourth annual Anti-Gravity Games, hosted by Iowa Western Community College (Council Bluffs) in partnership with Google. While students competed to navigate quadcopters through courses and obstacles, the overall goal of the event is to encourage youth participation in STEM fields. In November, Google supplied the motors and controllers to student-led teams who then crafted the bodies of their quadcopters and learned how to operate them. The winning team from Iowa's Harlan High School received Chromebooks and the school received $5,000 to put toward STEM-related programs.
Minimum Viable Podcast—Episode 21
Geoff Wood & Matt Patane

Matt Patane, technology and innovation reporter for the Des Moines Register and Geoff Wood, community builder at Gravitate, sit down for an in-depth discussion of the companies, events and ideas making news in the Iowa innovation community.

Topics discussed on this episode: Tourney Machine acquisition, new female investor group in Cedar Rapids, Syncbak nets an additional $3MM and just a bit on Global Insurance Symposium, Smart Cities Conf and Young Entrepreneurs Convention
Gravitate is a community of people who care about startups, technology and innovation in Iowa. We're glad you're here.

The Pull is curated by Geoff Wood and produced with help from Megan Bannister. May the Force be with you.

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