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Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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A pulse on Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

During the recent innovationIOWA panel discussion, panelists provided a pulse on Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, saying the state is in a healthy position with opportunities to double down and continue growing.

Panelists:

Eric Engelmann, general partner,…
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A Closer Look: Julie Iskow

Julie Iskow, who describes herself as being “born, raised, educated and employed” in the San Francisco Bay Area, has traded Silicon Valley for more time in the Silicon Prairie since joining Ames-based Workiva in 2019.…

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Workiva integrates generative AI into cloud platform

Workiva announced today it has integrated generative artificial intelligence across its business reporting platform. According to a news release, generative AI gives users the ability to “author, edit, and rewrite content across the company’s entire …

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Pi515 selected for Microsoft TechSpark program

Pi515, a nonprofit providing tech education and mentorship to underserved and refugee youths, announced it will be working with the Microsoft TechSpark program, which launched five years ago to support nonprofits, create jobs and help …

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Highlights from the 2023 innovationIOWA event

View the full photo gallery from the innovationIOWA event.

Innovation is visible in every industry and every community across Iowa, and with innovative ideas and technologies always evolving, discussions like Tuesday’s innovationIOWA panel aim to help …

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Preview: 5 leaders share what has contributed to innovation in Iowa

Supporting innovation and navigating the constantly evolving effects of technology requires everyone working together within organizations and with partners across communities, from entrepreneurs and risk capitalists to leaders in corporate business, government and education.

At …

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MidAmerican awarded $37.8M federal grant to build ‘middle-mile’ internet infrastructure

MidAmerican Energy Co. has received a $37.8 million federal grant from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration to expand “middle-mile” high-speed internet infrastructure in Iowa.

The NTIA announced June 16 over $930 …

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LightEdge partners with Avant Communications

LightEdge, a Des Moines-based provider of compliant cloud services and colocation, announced a strategic partnership with Avant Communications, based in Chicago. The collaboration is LightEdge’s newest channel partnership and aims to drive digital transformation and …

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State announces more than $148M in Empower Rural Iowa broadband grants

Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer announced Monday $148,960,000 in new broadband grant funding for internet service providers.

The grants are available through the Empower Rural Iowa …

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ABI partners with Kinetic Technologies to host Cobot Automation Event

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry is hosting a Cobot Automation Event in Waterloo on June 27. Local manufacturers, business leaders and talent pipeline specialists will address workforce solutions and automation implementation. Featured speakers …