EntreFEST is one of Iowa’s largest entrepreneurship and innovation conferences. For the past few years it has primarily focused on high-impact speakers and workshops aimed at entrepreneurs and innovators in existing companies. Previous keynote speakers include Scott Belsky of Adobe, marketing icon Seth Godin, and Warby Parker’s Neil Blumenthal. As we planned the 2019 event for May 16th and 17th, the organizing team noted … Read More
Intrapreneur Academy: Culture Recap
This quarter of Academy was all about how to build a culture that fosters innovation. What are the main factors that impact an innovative culture? A culture based on trust instead of fear A strategic commitment to innovation Shared language for innovation across all levels of the organization The space and resources for all employees to engage in collaboration, creativity, ... Read More
A new year, a new format for 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids
As one of the oldest 1 Million Cups chapters in the U.S., we’ve experimented with a variety of approaches to our mission of helping educate and grow Eastern Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Going into 2019, the team that runs the Cedar Rapids program has some exciting new changes planned. One big change we’re making is to make it easier to access … Read More
Meet the NewBoCo Launch Day Emcee: Eric Hanson
Meet the man behind the mic, Eric Hanson. If you’re like us, you start your day listening to Eric and his cohosts on Z102.9’s “The Morning Scramble” on your way to work. We wanted to put a face to the voice heard ’round the Corridor, so we asked Eric a few questions about this community. Q: How would you describe … Read More
One Year Later: DeltaV Graduate Jason
Jason in the lobby of the UFG building in downtown Cedar Rapids. Meet Jason. He graduated from the inaugural class of DeltaV Code School in 2017. One year later, he’s an application developer at UFG Insurance. He and fellow graduate Dustin were hired by UFG less than two months after graduating from DeltaV. As DeltaV students, Jason and Dustin spent ... Read More
NewBoCo Launch Day Announces Emcee, Presenters
Cedar Rapids, IA, November 28, 2018 – NewBoCo Launch Day is Tuesday, December 11, at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Launch Day is NewBoCo’s annual event that celebrates accomplishments in entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education in Iowa. The emcee for NewBoCo’s annual event is a familiar voice in the Corridor. Eric Hanson, Host of Z102.9’s “The Morning Scramble”, will take the mic … Read More
NewBoCo’s DeltaV Code School Announces New Offerings for 2019 Amid Iowa Workforce Shortage
Cedar Rapids, IA, November 20, 2018 – Iowa is facing a workforce shortage. In October 2018, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.4 percent; there are only 41,200 unemployed Iowans. The Corridor is no exception to this shortage. The Regional Vision, developed by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) and other stakeholders, placed the Corridor’s workforce woes … Read More
Sponsor Spotlight: Meet UFG Developer Vicky
Vicky is a developer at UFG in Cedar Rapids. Meet Vicky. She’s been with UFG Insurance since 1998. In 2004, she took a trainee position and learned how to code. UFG was very supportive of her move, and she’s been working as a coder ever since. To Vicky, UFG means job security. She doesn’t worry about work-life balance because of ... Read More
Women Who Code in the Corridor
Meet the women behind the keyboards of software companies in Cedar Rapids. They have had careers in code for a combined 70 years. They shared their experiences working in the tech industry and why they have stayed. Meet Jennie. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing and Theatre and a Master’s Degree in Business. She used to create worlds through … Read More
One Year Later: Meet Dustin
Dustin, a DeltaV '17 Graduate, works as a Developer at UFG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Meet Dustin. He graduated from the inaugural class of DeltaV Code School in 2017. One year later, he’s an application developer at UFG Insurance. He and fellow graduate Jason were hired by UFG less than two months after graduating from DeltaV. As DeltaV students, Dustin ... Read More