This guest blog was written by Fatima Torres, a Girls Who Code participant. To learn more about her journey, check out NewBoCo: From Club to Hackathon – A Student’s Journey to Empower Peers Through Tech. When I was a kid, I encountered the harsh discouragement of entering areas where people
Mari Hunt Wassink is the founder of Black Earth Gardens, a local farm that specializes in producing—using sustainable practices—premium quality vegetables, herbs, and fruits that are culturally important to Black communities in Eastern Iowa. They grow over 30 varieties, including okra, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, and specialty hot peppers,
NewBoCo’s Computer Science Development WeekBuilding Confidence, Curriculum, and Community in Computer Science Education Ames, Iowa — 06/27/2025 — The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc. (NewBoCo) is thrilled to be leading K-12 educators, from rural and urban schools throughout Iowa in the annual Computer Science Development Week. The event will be
The EntreFEST Pitch Competition, presented by Hy-Vee, brought together community leaders, founders, investors, and supporters at Big Grove Brewery in Cedar Rapids on June 13th, 2025, to hear from five entrepreneurs and their solutions to real-world problems. Out of over 40 applicants, the five finalists for 2025 were: Black Earth
Cedar Rapids, Iowa — After a two-year hiatus, the Iowa Startup Accelerator is officially returning this fall with a renewed focus on helping Iowa-based startups sharpen their branding, marketing, and sales strategies. Applications for the seven-week program—set to begin in September—are now open and will be accepted through August 15.
At NewBoCo, we’re thrilled to celebrate an exciting milestone for Kiva Iowa—we’ve now supported more than 100 small business borrowers across 36 unique Iowa cities, ensuring that business owners from diverse backgrounds have access to capital through the power of crowdfunding! Since launching in late 2021, Kiva Iowa has facilitated
February 11th marks an important day on the global calendar: the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day stands as a reminder of the vital role women play in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Here at NewBoCo Education, we believe this day is
For Black History Month, we are excited to shine a spotlight on the incredible Black-owned businesses supported by Kiva Iowa. From international grocery stores to healing skincare products, these entrepreneurs exemplify creativity, resilience, and innovation. Supporting these businesses not only celebrates their achievements but also strengthens our communities. Let’s dive
Since 2017, NewBoCo has recognized teachers’ pivotal role in student success, espeically when it comes to computer science education. In the last eight years over 2,200 educators have participated in a NewBoCo professional development program, bringing computer science to more than 100,000 K-12 students across Iowa. The latest partnership with
Meet entrepreneur, Galen Saturley, part owner of Breadtopia , located in Fairfield, Iowa. Galen’s parents moved from Oregon to Fairfield, IA when he was five years old. Galen spent his entire childhood in the Fairfield community until leaving for college studying photography at the University of Iowa – after two
