Small Business and Startup Stories DSM

Sola Insurance CEO and Co-Founder Wesley Pergament joins The Partnership's Diana Wright and talks about their mission is to expedite the recovery process for those impacted by natural disasters by utilizing data to provide payouts in a matter of days.

Susan Watts and Alice Vernon from Olson Larson Galleries join The Partnership's Emily McLain and discuss the 45-year history of their women-owned business in Historic Valley Junction.

Ryan Smith, CEO and co-founder of Rise Energy, joins The Partnership's Diana Wright and shares how the company empowers enterprises to become exceptional stewards of their resources. Their proprietary technology converts underutilized biomass into valuable, carbon-negative products to increase revenue and reduce emissions.For more information on resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Gina Ross and Andy Behnke of In Harmony Farm join The Partnership's Diana Wright and talk about the organization's commitment to creating an environment focused on inclusion, empowerment, and respect for all, and how the farm bridges the gap between urban gardening and small-scale/conventional farming for historically underserved individuals.For more information and resources dedicated to small businesses and entrepreneurs, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness

Kevin Mason, professional historian and creator of Notes on Iowa, joins Diana Wright and talks about Iowa's environmental history.Find more resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness

Allison Brady, owner of Toad Valley Golf Course in Pleasant Hill, joins The Partnership's Emily McLain and talks about growing the business in its third generation of family ownership.For more information and resources on small business and entrepreneurship, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness

Karie Kading Ramsey, CEO of Kading Properties, joins Emily McLain and talks about growing the workforce housing business her father started to 28 communities in 17 counties.

Paul Richardson, Co-Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, joins The Partnership's Diana Wright on Small Business and Startup Stories DSM and talks about starting Tumbleweed as an end-of-life planning company that offers a thoughtfully curated journey to honor and memorialize loved ones.Visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness for more information and resources about small business and entrepreneurship.

Jeremy Spillman, founder of Toggle, joins The Partntership's Diana Wright on Small Business & Startup Stories DSM and talks about how his team has built a new type of end-to-end supply chain management system that aims to automate many of the current manual, labor-intensive processes used in the shipping industry.

His name is Garrison Goodlett, but you might know him as G.G. If you've been to local events or farmers' markets, you've probably seen him selling his southern comfort food. In this episode of Small Business & Startup Stories DSM, Goodlett talks with Emily McLain about starting and growing GG's Chicken and Waffles.For more information and resources for small businesses and startups, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Jim Langin founded Pivotal Business Partners to enhance economic growth in Iowa by partnering with financial institutions to provide funding solutions for small businesses.For more business resources, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Steven Slye, founder and owner owner of Flowstate Health, joins The Partnership's Diana Wright and talks about reverse engineering mental healthcare to take a collaborative approach.For more resources supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Courtney Buhrow joins The Partnership's Emily McLain on Small Business & Startup Stories DSM and talks about her journey of opening Revive Physical Therapy & Wellness with a focus on women's health.For more small business and entrepreneur resources, visit www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Renae Mauk, Vice President of Downtown Development at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, joins Small Business & Startup Stories DSM and talks about why a strong downtown is important to the region and how Downtown DSM relates to entrepreneurship.Find more about small business and entrepreneur resources at www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness.

Sam Summers, a live music and entertainment serial entrepreneur who has built and founded First Fleet Concerts (FFC), Hinterland Music Festival, Wooly's, Val Air Ballroom, Up-Down Arcade Bars and Des Moines Register 2024 Person to Watch, shares thoughts on growing the music scene in Greater Des Moines (DSM).Learn more about entrepreneurial and small business support at www.dsmpartnership.com/smallbusiness

Russel Karim, Founder of Dhakai, shares about connecting fashion brands to ethical apparel vendors utilizing a worldwide team while living in Iowa.

David Tracy, CEO and Founder of Northgate Marketing, shares about what it's like to run a business like Northgate Marketing in Greater Des Moines (DSM).

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Austin Mac Nab, CEO and Founder of VizyPay, and Frank Pagano, Managing Partner of VizyPay, share about what it's like to run a business like VizyPay in Greater Des Moines (DSM).  

Laura Formanek, Owner of Studio Process, talks with The Partnership's Emily McLain about creating meaningful content and founding her business in Greater Des Moines (DSM). 

Laura Formanek, Owner of Studio Process, talks with The Partnership's Emily McLain about creating meaningful content and founding her business in Greater Des Moines (DSM).

Jon Lensing, CEO & Co-Founder of OpenLoop Health, shares how the company continues to expand through gaining talented employees and creating partnerships to increase care around the country.

Chris and Isabella Whalen, Co-Owners of Hyper Energy Bar, share how Hyper is a go-to spot for people around the region to get coffee, energy drinks and more.

Scott Keplinger, CEO of IntelliSee, headquartered in Coralville and Des Moines, shares about his work creating software that provides surveillance safety for businesses.

Lani, Creative Business Owner and Musician in Greater Des Moines (DSM), shares her business and entrepreneurial journey with Greater Des Moines Partnership Small Business and Member Support Manager Emily McLain.

Bill Menner, Founder of the Bill Menner Group in Grinnell and executive director of Iowa Rural Development Council discussed his Greater Des Moines (DSM) business and entrepreneurial journey

Toney and Sarah Chem, Co-Owners of 5 Borough Bagels (13435 University Ave., Clive), discussed their Greater Des Moines (DSM) business and entrepreneurial journey

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Eric West, CEO/Co-Founder of Music League, discussed his entrepreneurial journey with Greater Des Moines Partnership Startup Community Builder Diana Wright. Music League is a competitive, objective game to discover new music, build community among colleagues, family, and friends, and ultimately find out if you or your friends have the best taste in music. 

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, T.J. Rude, Founder of Northern Vessel Coffee, discussed growing up in Johnston, Iowa and his entrepreneurial journey. Hosted by Greater Des Moines Partnership Startup Community Builder Diana Wright.

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Travis Shelton, Founder and Owner of Meaning Over Money, author and podcast, discussed starting his business and how beliefs about money affect your life with Greater Des Moines Partnership Startup Community Builder Diana Wright.

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Megan Luchtel, Founder and of Lake Label, a children's sun-protective swimwear company, spoke with Greater Des Moines Partnership Startup Community Builder Diana Wright about her path to creating an impactful small business, built locally and selling nationwide.

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Greg Bailey, Founder and CEO of Propel, a business strategic marketing organization, and Hailey Stomp, Founding Partner, Principal and Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), spoke with Greater Des Moines Partnership's Diana Wright about spending money to make money by staying competitive when it comes to marketing thought leadership. 

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Carlos Arguello, founder of Sevelyn, a mental wellbeing platform based out of Greater Des Moines (DSM), spoke about emotional wellbeing and challenges related to the Latino community. 

At BioConnect Iowa, Anne McMahon works to help bioscience startups succeed. As the SBIR/STTR statewide program coordinator, she helps Iowa entrepreneurs apply to an SBIR/STTR Outreach Program, which awards funds to startups and small businesses who can help develop and research innovative solutions. 

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Matt Kinley, co-founder and manager of ManchesterStory Group, a venture capital firm based out of Greater Des Moines (DSM), spoke about how the company assists startups in the following sectors: – Insurance – Healthcare – Financial services

During the last Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast of 2021, Partnership's Christina Moffatt, director of small business development, and Diana Wright, startup community builder, shared their thoughts on 2021 and what's to come in 2022.

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Nadilia Gomez expanded on her journey to chief technology officer (CTO) with Iowa State University (ISU) after being hosted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership for a previous Startup Stories podcast. Gomez discussed leading the digital and precision agriculture platform. As CTO, Gomez works with organizations like the Plant Sciences Institute and BioConnect Iowa.  

During the latest Small Business & Startup Stories DSM podcast, Jenny Quiner discussed urban farming and Dogpatch Urban Gardens in Greater Des Moines (DSM). For six seasons, Dogpatch has created a space close to their customers so patrons can experience a farm close to their home. 

Brad Dwyer, co-founder of Roboflow, discussed the past 18 months for the company and how the business has grown to what it is today.A serial entrepreneur, Dwyer started his first company, Hatchlings, while a student at Iowa State University. His parents knew he'd be an entrepreneur after attending a wedding where Dwyer learned about supply and demand. He sold his parents quarters to park for $2 each, his first profitable business. He was five years old.

 Pi515 creates pathways to empower youth in DSM to become the faces in the future of tech.In 2010, Nancy Mwirotsi founded Pi515 to serve refugee youth throughout Greater Des Moines (DSM) by teaching them technology skills, coding and critical thinking to help them become innovative and empowered for STEM-field careers. 

Get past the fears in your life and learn how to take charge of your life and choices to find success. For Jill Andersen, a speaker and coach in Greater Des Moines (DSM), “shoulding” had become a way of life. The Cedar Rapids area native and ISU grad majored in food science, which served her well for 20 years. She worked for General Mills, where food became a fun and interesting career. But the longer she was there, the more she thought there must be something more. So, she left the corporate structure and started to do freelance work. She hired a career coach to get some guidance and through that process, she realized she was meant to do something else.

For Darci Evans, co-owning her own business in Greater Des Moines (DSM) has brought big rewards. 

Jason Cope and Todd Krone return to Startup Stories DSM to discuss good mentors and where PowerPollen stands today.

Tricia Rivas shares how she became owner of Trixie’s Salon in Greater Des Moines (DSM). 

Tej Dhawan and Ben Milne join Mike Colwell to discuss the Greater Des Moines startup community from 2010 to now.

Amy Nebons describes her journey into entrepreneurship with Blink Events and BOCS DSM in Greater Des Moines (DSM).

Casey Niemann reflects on the start of Agrisync, business focus and startup mentors for Startup Stories DSM. Agrisync, a startup based in Greater Des Moines (DSM), continues to see growth year after year. As the founder of the ag company, Niemann says that with more than 20 employees, and up to 10 staff members expected to be added in 2021, Agrisync serves more than 38,000 customers in more than 10 countries.

Eric Engelmann discusses the start of ISA Ventures and raising capital to help Iowa-based companies grow.

Velorosa Cycling is Greater Des Moines’ (DSM’s) local shop for women’s cycling wear. From jerseys, tanks and shorts to face masks, rubber jewelry and other accessories, Velorosa has it all. Owners Kim Hopkins and Lisa Carponelli join Startup Stories DSM to discuss the business with the podcast’s host, Mike Colwell.