[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]NewBoCo started out as just the Iowa Startup Accelerator, but we knew early on that it would take more than a startup accelerator to fulfill our mission: accelerating world-changing ideas, from Iowa. Startups need more than an accelerator to succeed, and ecosystems need more support than
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Guest blogger: Nate Matherson It seems like we’re always hearing stories about young entrepreneurs launching startups or starting their own small businesses, but are young people really starting more businesses now than they were ten or twenty years ago? According to the Kaufmann Foundation, they’re not. In
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Aaron Warner, a mentor for the Iowa Startup Accelerator and CEO and Lead Security Strategist at ProCircular, Inc. You can view the original post here. [/text_output][text_output]In the world of startups, cybersecurity is often an afterthought. Not because budding entrepreneurs
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Stop Wasting Time in Mentor Meetings Strong mentor relationships can be the key to success for many startups. Programs like the Iowa Startup Accelerator connect startups to incredibly well connected and knowledgeable mentors, but the effectiveness of meeting with mentors depends on the teams. “As a
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]This was the last full work week before Launch Day for the Iowa Startup Accelerator 2016 cohort. While all of the teams continued to build their businesses, they mainly focused on creating their Launch Day pitches. Andy Stoll, one of the founding members of the Iowa
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]With only one more full week remaining until Launch Day, the Iowa Startup Accelerator program focused intensely on pitch preparation and life after launch this week. Week 12 began with the program’s final Founder Fireside. Ravi Patel, President of Hawkeye Hotels, shared his entrepreneurial journey with
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px”][text_output]There’s less than one month until Launch Day! This week, the Iowa Startup Accelerator 2016 Cohort focused on community building and Launch Day pitch prep. Over the past few weeks, the cohort and Iowa Startup Accelerator staff have traveled to other startup and business communities to build
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]During the past month, the Iowa Startup Accelerator hit the road to build stronger connections across the nation. From San Diego to Baltimore to Denver, they’ve put on the miles. Some of the many highlights: Streamweaver traveled to San Diego for TwitchCon to connect with leading
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Startups thrive when they adapt quickly. On Thursday, flood predictions made the Iowa Startup Accelerator’s 2016 cohort adapt very, very quickly. Enormous efforts by volunteers and the city of Cedar Rapids mitigated extreme damage in the New Bohemia district. Teams in the accelerator pitched their businesses
[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Like most accelerators, the Iowa Startup Accelerator is mentor driven. A strong mentor network is the linchpin in a successful accelerator because it provides the bulk of the actionable information for the teams. This year, the ISA mentor network grew to include over 160 mentors in
