Iowa Startup Accelerator
Real Tools. Real Coaching. Real Traction.
The Iowa Startup Accelerator (ISA) is a seven-week evening program designed to help founders and their startups strengthen branding, marketing, prospecting, sales, and revenue-growth strategies.
By the end of the program, participants will have a clear growth plan, measurable revenue progress, and a stronger position to pursue additional funding opportunities—whether that’s grants, investors, or bigger programs like Techstars or Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.
Join the Spring '27 Cohort
Evening program
7 weeks
$650
Per Startup or Business
Iowa Based
Companies only
Applications due
January 22
What the Program Includes
- Educational workshops and presentations
- Prescribed readings and homework
- Pitch development and feedback
- Access to JPEC Venture Mentoring Services (VMS) for targeted industry and vertical coaching
- Networking and access to other ecosystem resources (accounting, legal, HR, software development, marketing, etc.)
- Website review and consultation
- Potential access to additional funding resources as qualified
Schedule
(Subject to slight modifications depending on cohort needs)
February 5
9:30 – 4:00 pm
Cedar Rapids
Orientation & Branding
February 11
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Virtual / Zoom
UI/UX – SEO
February 18
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Virtual / Zoom
AI for customer and
market development
February 25
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Virtual / Zoom
Strategic Marketing Planning,
Social Media Marketing
March 4
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Virtual / Zoom
Sales Strategies and Tactics
March 11
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Virtual / Zoom
Exit Strategies, GS 10K Businesses,
Financial Mgt, VC, and Pitch Practice
March 26
4:30 – 7:30 pm
Cedar Rapids
Demo Day and Celebration
To qualify for this program:
- The business must be Iowa-based (no older than 5 years).
- The Founder(s) must have completed Venture School or be able to demonstrate similar customer discovery experience with clear product/market fit.
- The business is generating revenue or has a functional prototype that can be marketed for pre-sales (LOI, MOU).
- Must successfully and thoroughly complete the application process.
Application Process:
- Application deadline is January 22
- Interviews will be scheduled as applications arrive, no later than the week of January 22nd
- Final cohort members will be notified by January 25th
- Payment ($650) must be received by February 5th
Payment is non refundable.