Iowa Tech Podcast

The latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Kaylee Williams, comes to life from the Jethro's Barbecue Studio in the East Village, where Kaylee chats with Clair Williams-Vavra, the Chief Operating Officer at SI Delivery Consulting. Clair, the recent winner of this year's Des Moines' Startup Weekend, shares her eclectic journey from hospitality to technology and entrepreneurship. She refl...

The Iowa Tech podcast, hosted by Kaylee, is a vibrant exploration of the startup ecosystem in Des Moines, Iowa. Recorded from the unique atmosphere of the Jethro's Barbecue Studio, Kaylee brings listeners into the heart of entrepreneurial innovation by featuring dynamic interviews with key figures, such as Colleen Kinsey, co-founder of SoftVoya and co-organizer of Startup Weekend Des Moines. This...

This episode of the Iowa Tech podcast features Ehrich Pakala, co-founder and CEO of Emigrait, a software company based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Join us as we delve into Ehrich's journey from being a pure math major to establishing a tech firm that leverages AI to predict real estate market behaviors. Emigrait initially started as a consulting company for mortgage lenders, aiming to forecast potential...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Levi Cermak, the Vice President of Revenue at Elevator, a new co-warehousing space in town. Levi shares his journey from Hastings, Nebraska, through the entrepreneurship center at the University of Nebraska, to joining Elevator. He discusses Elevator's unique business model, which focuses on co-warehousing for small business...

Kaylee Williams, the host of the Iowa Tech podcast, welcomes Scott Herren to the studio, who is a notable figure in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Iowa. Scott, a third-generation Iowa native, has been deeply involved in the startup scene, starting with his time at Startup City in Des Moines. He is currently the Founding Engineer at a company called Hats. With a background in finance and marketin...

Levi Rosol, the CEO and Founder of We Write Code, has had a remarkable journey in the tech industry, spanning over 20 years. His experience encompasses a diverse range of environments, from corporate to startups, and a significant stint at a marketing agency. With a foundation as a developer, Levi transitioned into leadership roles, culminating in the creation of We Write Code, a software developm...

In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Melissa Bates, CEO and founder of LSF Medical Solutions. Dr. Bates shares her journey from being a faculty member at the University of Iowa to pioneering a groundbreaking medical device, Pnumero, aimed at transforming lung disease care. Pnumero is designed to bring advanced lung func...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Laney Kraus-Taddeo, the founder and CEO of ActRightHere. They discuss Laney's entrepreneurial journey, starting from her participation in a Tech Star Startup Weekend, where she pitched the idea for ActRightHere—a platform connecting writers and actors to collaborate on creative projects. Laney shares her initial struggle to...

In a recent episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams sat down with Justin Schoen, the CEO and co-founder of Force Fitters, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the startup ecosystem in Des Moines. Justin, a native of West Des Moines, has been deeply embedded in the local entrepreneurial landscape for over a decade. He shared his background in marketing and digital...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Alyssa Nolte, CEO and founder of TruVue, a company that emerged from an innovative idea nurtured through a blend of accidental entrepreneurship and strategic risk-taking. Alyssa shares her journey from a traditional career path to founding a successful startup, spurred by a chance encounter with a University of Northern Iowa...

In a recent episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams sat down with Billie Asmus, CEO and founder of Repaint Studios, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and recent success at the $100,000 InnoVenture Challenge. Asmus, who once flipped furniture, identified a gap in the market for a reusable paint tray with a lid, leading to the creation of the Repaint Tray—a silicone paint tray li...

In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams engages in a compelling conversation with Micah Walker, an analyst at the InnoVenture Iowa Fund. The episode dives deep into Micah's fascinating journey from his entrepreneurial aspirations as a child to becoming a pivotal figure in venture capital. Micah vividly recounts how his early experiences with flat feet and an interest i...

In the Iowa Tech podcast episode, Kaylee Williams interviews Kelley McManus, the Managing Director of P3 + Uplift. Kelley shares her journey from growing up in Iowa to becoming a leader in the tech industry, despite initially resisting a career in technology. She talks about her non-traditional path to college and how tech eventually became a passion. Kelley discusses P3 Plus Uplift, a company foc...

In the lively realm of entrepreneurship, Blake Renaud stands as a testament to the power of vision and perseverance. Based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Blake embarked on a journey with her husband to transform a shared love for pickleball into a thriving startup. Their company, PicklePlay, was born out of a personal passion for the sport and a keen awareness of its burgeoning popularity. Blake's story is...

In the latest episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee sits down with Brad Dwyer, the Co-Founder and CTO of Roboflow, to delve into the exciting world of computer vision technology. Roboflow, a company dedicated to giving computers the sense of sight through AI models, has already garnered over one million users, spanning from hobbyists to Fortune 100 companies. The discussion highlights Robo...

The Iowa Tech Podcast episode featuring Jim Lewis, the Executive Director of the Vaughan Institute for Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Iowa, provides an insightful exploration into the evolving landscape of InsurTech and education in Iowa. Jim shares his journey from a finance graduate who faced a market crash just before graduation to becoming a key player in the InsurTech spac...

The Iowa Tech Podcast, hosted by Kaylee, featured Katie Patterson, the founder and CEO of Happy Medium, a strategic business agency that she started in 2011. Katie shared her journey from aspiring to be a news anchor to founding her own company after realizing the challenges of her initial career path. She emphasized the importance of adapting and evolving within the tech and media landscape, part...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews Whitney Warne about her journey in entrepreneurship and her innovative work in personal development through the Enneagram. Whitney shares her experience of founding Ivory House Photography and her decision to return to Des Moines to build her business. She emphasizes the importance of building a supportive team and effective...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee interviews Brian Waller, CEO of the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI). Brian shares his journey from initially working in political campaigns to leading TAI, underscoring the vital role of individuals like Debbie Durham in shaping his career. They discuss the unique collaborative spirit in Iowa, which fosters an ecosystem where technology an...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee welcomes Joel Harris, CEO and co-founder of Genvax Technologies. Joel shares his journey from growing up as the son of veterinarians and studying economics to joining his father's vaccine startup, Harrisvaccines, after the 2008 financial crisis. He discusses the challenges and experiences he faced, including the eventual sale of Harrisvaccines...

In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee interviews Dan Israel from the Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) about his work in supporting early-stage startups within the insurance industry. Dan discusses the unique value proposition of the GIA, which focuses on providing mentorship and support to startups with innovative ideas in insurance and financial services. The GIA operates a 100-...

The Iowa Tech Podcast, hosted by Kaylee Williams, Investment Director at InnoVenture Iowa, features an intriguing discussion with Dr. Alex Hutagalung, CEO and co-founder of Pyrone Systems. Pyrone Systems, a portfolio company of InnoVenture Iowa, focuses on sustainable chemistry, particularly developing a new natural insecticide called Pyronz. This insecticide aims to address the significant issue...

The Iowa Tech Podcast, hosted by Kaylee Williams, features a conversation with Chris Parker, Associate Director of Operations at UI Ventures. Parker discusses his journey from earning a PharmD at the University of Iowa to working with entrepreneurs in the biotech, med tech, and life sciences sectors. He highlights his experiences with startups, emphasizing the importance of identifying unmet needs...

The Iowa Tech Podcast episode features host Kaylee Williams discussing the upcoming Innoventure Challenge with two distinguished judges, Adrienne Greenwald from VentureNet Iowa and Bernie Stone, an angel investor and mentor. The discussion revolves around the evaluation criteria for the Innoventure Challenge, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market, presenting a clear and compelling...

In this episode, Kaylee Williams interviews Charlie Cuddy, the Managing Partner at Move VC and Executive Director of the Nebraska Startup Academy. Charlie shares his journey from being a high school math and computer science teacher to becoming a venture capitalist. He discusses the origin and mission of Move Venture Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on investing in startups acr...