IASourceLink Blog

When it comes to educating young people about entrepreneurship and launching new student-led companies in Iowa, the John PapaJohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) is the name to know. This month the entrepreneur spotlight shines on the University of Northern Iowa’s own JPEC scholar in residence who is the founder and CEO of the company CreoJob, Kyle Coogler. Stick around to hear about how he realized entrepreneurship is for him and how the JPEC team at the University of Northern Iowa helped him realize his goals in founding a growing company, and what he working on these days.

A key to entrepreneurial success is to focus on what you love to do best. No one knows this better than Alicia Jaime, president of International Veterinary Supplies, and her partners Jorge Aponte and Jose Samaniego.

After his hometown of Clinton, IA, (population 25,719) was devastated from the International Paper plant closure in 2001, resulting in 355 lost jobs, Bob Simpson saw an opportunity for a niche market business utilizing the experienced professionals who remained in the region.

SwineTech an Iowa-based company located in Cedar Rapids, is bridging the health knowledge gap between producers and pigs through sensor based technologies. Founder and CEO Matthew Rooda, has won several business pitch competitions and garnered investor attention from right here in Iowa and around the world.

Entrepreneurial pitch competitions happen year round all over the world but this month in Iowa, EntreFEST is hosting one of the most exciting pitch competitions for start-ups and early stage entrepreneurial endeavors through a partnership with the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers - the EntreFEST Pitch Competition. So for those start-ups and entrepreneurs pitching, or for anyone soon competing, here are a few tips to get you started and prepared.

With EntreFEST happening later this month, it seemed like a good time to catch up with the event organizers at NewBoCo and get an inside scoop for attendees. Conference scoop they did, but in addition to running the Midwest’s biggest entrepreneurial event, the team at NewBoCo have their hands in a lot of other ‘pies’. In this month’s Resource Partner Spotlight, NewBoCo Director of Marketing, Jessalyn Holdcraft, filled us in on the upcoming conference, as well as the other innovative, educational and entrepreneurial programs and resources they provide.

Your business has won an award! But now what? Unfortunately, many people just sit the award on a shelf and let it get dusty even though there are multiple ways you can share the news that won’t take too much time off your plate. Not to mention it demonstrates an expertise in your industry, boosts your brand image, and even provides a little morale boost to your staff when they see their hard work being recognized.

Along with showers and flowers, April brings us the start of National Small Business Week, recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. This month we visited with 2016 SBA award recipient, Lynn Schrader, co-owner of KHI Solutions with offices in Fort Dodge, Webster City and West Des Moines, to hear more about her business and passion for helping women business owners succeed.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has been in the business of supporting small businesses since 1954. by providing access to capital, opportunity to contract with the government, and no-cost business counseling. With at least one SBA office in every state, they are uniquely positioned to provide these strategic services to grow the nation's economy on a grassroots level.

Every year, the U.S. Small Business Administration honors small businesses throughout the country and 2018 is no different because on April 29 - May 5, 2018, National Small Business Week will be taking place. With the annual traditions of the weeklong celebration also comes honoring 52 small business owners and here at IASourceLink we are always excited to see who the Small Business Person of the Year will be in Iowa.