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
Looking for the perfect holiday gifts while supporting small businesses? This curated gift guide highlights unique offerings from local businesses in our Kiva Iowa community
The NewBo District will be shining brighter this holiday season, thanks to the creative coding talents of NewBoCo’s Girls Who Code. In collaboration with The District: Czech Village and New Bohemia, and with the support of Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, club members will spend 10 weeks designing, programming, and
Located at 415 12th Ave SE, inside the Geonetric Building, Vault Coworking & Collaboration Space stands as one of Cedar Rapids’ long-standing hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship. Powered by NewBoCo (The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc.), Vault has been shaping the entrepreneurial landscape for 13 years, predating even NewBoCo’s own
