Small Business and Startup Stories DSM

Chad Williams’ passion is faith-based nonprofits. From his time as a webmaster with a ministry nonprofit to his jump to startup owner bringing marketing services to faith-based nonprofits, Williams keeps his mission front and center. Five Q provides solutions that lead to higher website engagement, improved donations and an overall greater digital impact. 

Pernell Cezar Jr. is co-founder and CEO of BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages , known for coffee and tea manufacturing that pledges 5% of its profits to programs for youth to develop professionally and fight youth homelessness. The company works with 14 youth pledge partners across the country in its effort to prioritize purpose. BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages is the first black-owned, nationa...

Matt Ostanik, Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur, speaks with Greater Des Moines Partnership Executive Director of Entrepreneurial Initiatives Mike Colwell about connecting people and businesses who are willing to give with nonprofits that need additional help. This is the mission of his latest startup, Given . Previously, Ostanik founded three other companies: FunnelWise, a sales and marketing...

Nick Eltjes and Noah Loffredo share their experience starting TradeLabs in Greater Des Moines (DSM).

Sul Huq describes his journey as an entrepreneur and the growth of DSM-startup One World Supplies.

Greg Bailey discusses Denim Social, how he transitioned his startup team and his forecast for the future.

Kerty Levy, managing director of Techstars Iowa , speaks with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Startup Stories host, Mike Colwell. 

Nadilia Gomez is the executive director of Iowa AgriTech Accelerator . A former research scientist for Corteva Agriscience, Nadilia has been involved in the industry for a long time. Her experience is an integral part of helping to prepare new startup businesses for a successful future. Nadalia sits down with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Startup Stories host, Mike Colwell to discuss her jo...

Erin Huiatt began blogging as a way to share her adventures as a young mom. Little did she know that her hobby would grow into an entrepreneurial success story times three. Erin discusses her unique path as a female business owner with one of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Startup Stories hosts, Christina Moffatt. 

Starting your own business can be a difficult decision and complicated journey. But don’t tell that to Brad Dwyer and Joseph Nelson, co-founders of Roboflow and childhood friends, who hope to make developing computer vision and augmented reality (AR) apps easier and more streamlined. Brad and Joseph discuss their successes and hopes for the company’s future with Startup Stories host Mike Colwell. 

Waking up in the ER sets course to a life-changing career path.  Christina Moffatt sits down with Rita Perea to discuss how a lifelong career in education taught her the most important lesson of her life.

Kyle McMahon shares how his company, Tractor Zoom, is innovating on farm equipment auctions.

Nicole Gunderson sits down with Mike Colwell to discuss her path to becoming the Managing Director for the Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA).

Kiki Levy discusses her business Better HireS and its ability to connect high school talent to business needs.

Allison Davidson Motoyama shares how her company revolutionizes sustainability by reforming textile scraps into designer neckwear.

Mike Draper discusses RAYGUN's growth, unionization and status as "The Greatest Store in the Universe."

FarmlandFinder CEO and Founder Steven Brockshus shares how his company creates a way to make the world's farmland information accessible given the shifting dynamics within the industry.

Kate Lyon shares how her company Koloni is creating a more sustainable world through sharing.

Carl and Torey Maerz share how they found success in the insurance industry by looking for a problem.

Dr. Martin Gross, one of Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT) founders, discusses how GWT found success during and after their start at a Greater Des Moines (DSM) incubator.

Katie Byers explains the success of House Concerts in Greater Des Moines (DSM).

Former Global Insurance Accelerator Director Brian Hemesath discusses how startups find success in the evolving insurance industry.

After working for two Greater Des Moines (DSM) startups, Kate Wagner launched clothing line Lidgett. She shares the lessons learned through her journey, and the ones she continues to learn with each new day.