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The September Iowa Startup Community Power Rankings are out this morning recognizing the big month that our community had in August. The top spot goes to a recent acquisition—which seems to be something we're seeing slightly more often in 2016 than in previous years—and three companies make the list for the very first time.
We're keeping an eye out on all the important moves being made in our community this month and will recognize the top ones in our October Power Rankings post. If you see an Iowa startup or startup-affiliated organization doing something that you think should be highlighted, let us know!
Geoff
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This week's edition is supported by the University of Iowa’s Venture School:
Are you an entrepreneur with a great idea but aren’t sure how to turn it into a successful business? Then the University of Iowa’s Venture School program is for you! Venture School increases your likelihood for success and reduces the risk of starting your business! Learn more or apply today.
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What 5 Pappajohn entrepreneurial centers accomplished
Des Moines Register (Matt Patane, September 11)
For two decades now, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers across the state of Iowa have helped "plant the seed of entrepreneurship" in the state's college students. Today the five centers have "helped start more than 6,100 businesses and had more than 237,000 participants since their inception," according to the Pappajohn centers' own reporting.
"When we first started talking about entrepreneurship, working with economic developers, they thought what we were doing was cute and nice and kind of ‘go about your business and leave us to recruit the businesses to come to north Iowa,’" Tim Putnam, the director of North Iowa Area Community College's center, told the Des Moines Register. "Today, we see communities talking, living and breathing how they can help develop and grow their own entrepreneurs."
See also: The DMR wrote a profile on the JPEC's namesake: At 88, John Pappajohn still works harder than you
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Casting a Wi(Fi)der net
The Daily Nonpareil (Mike Brownlee, September 8)
Earlier this week, the second phase of Council Bluff's public internet access initiative went live. The project, which is called BLink, is a partnership between the City of Council Bluffs, the Council Bluffs Community School District, the Iowa West Foundation, Google, and other partners, according to the Daily Nonpareil. The first two phases of the project include a two-square-mile area of downtown Council Bluffs with the hopes of providing free wifi access to a 20-square-mile area over the next five years.
According to the Daily Nonpareil, David Fringer, chief technology officer with the school district, said “when this is all complete, we’ll have the largest free outdoor public Wi-Fi in the world.”
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More technology startups open Detroit offices
The Detroit News (Michael Martinez, September 8)
Global Insurance Accelerator alum DriveSpotter (Omaha/Des Moines) announced that it will be opening an office in Detroit after participating in Techstars' Mobility accelerator which wrapped with a Demo Day on Thursday. The company, which still holds offices in Des Moines, was one of 12 companies to participate in the second class of the specified three-month incubator program, and received $120,000 seed funding from Techstars.
Drive Spotter announced a $750,000 investment round in March lead by Iowa investors Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company (Grinnell) and Voss Distributing (Des Moines).
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Iowa Startup Community Power Rankings—September
Geoff Wood
As promised, it's early, well, mid-September and the Iowa Startup Power Rankings are back for their fifth iteration, this time covering the good works of the people, institutions and companies that make up the Iowa startup community throughout all of August.
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