Fundraising Fox
Innoventures Iowa
Government fundIowa · Pre-Seed–Series A · 12 people tracked
Find your way into Innoventures Iowa
1,411 people in our graph share verified history with the Innoventures Iowa team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
InnoVenture Iowa invests early in homegrown Iowa startups building category-defining companies across bioscience, ag-tech, advanced manufacturing, SaaS and AI. Funded through federal SSBCI capital and launched with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and BioConnect Iowa, the fund aims to help Iowa's innovators grow faster while strengthening local industries, creating jobs, and shaping the state's future economy. Since opening in fall 2022, it has backed more than 40 founders, positioning itself as a public venture capital vehicle focused on supporting and accelerating innovation built in Iowa.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 26, 2026.
Team · 12 people
from the firm's website & curated
What they invest in
from 26 of 40 portfolio companiesAgTech ×9AI & Machine Learning ×9SaaS ×8Hardware ×5Healthtech ×5IoT ×5FoodTech ×4Biotech ×3
HQs:United States×22
Who they back
founder profiles across 16 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×92 founders×63 founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 15 founders with education data
University of Iowa ×3Iowa State University ×2University of Northern Iowa ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 16 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×5Engineering ×3Finance & Accounting ×3Humanities ×3Design & Architecture ×2Economics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 15 founders with career history
Shift Interactive, LLC ×2
Investments · 40 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12022 · 12 dated
Provides companies with tools and training to recruit and upskill workers seeking high-paying careers.
Ankeny, US
Christian Gray(Executive Officer, Director)
Brightn is a mental wellness application that uses personalized life statements and AI-adjusted daily actions to help users balance their health, wealth, and purpose.
AI & Machine LearningMental HealthWellness & FitnessCedar Rapids, US
Jeffrey Johnston(Executive Officer, Director)in
BuildFactory runs an AI-powered software marketplace connecting construction contractors with off-site fabrication shops to plan, route, and track prefabricated building components.
Co-investorsBuilding VenturesBorealis VenturesISA Ventures
ClinicNote is a clinical practice software built around US insurance billing, HIPAA compliance, and American licensure requirements, serving medical practices in the United States.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaS
Co-investorsGlobal Insurance AcceleratorISA Ventures
Coco Coders offers weekly online coding classes for children (typically ages 6 and up), teaching block-based coding in Scratch before progressing to Python, JavaScript, and web development.
ConsumerEdTech
Elizabeth Tweedale(CEO & Founder)in
Co-investorsAmrock VenturesHomegrown Capital
Distynct offers the Barn Alarm, a device that gives farmers remote visibility of their farm operations without installing new wires or probes.
AgTechHardwareIoTAmes, US
BJ Brugman(Founder & CEO)inBradly J Brugman(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJustin Van Wert(Director)Ben Williamson(Director)
Co-investorsAg Ventures AllianceISA VenturesNext Level Ventures
FarrPro builds heating equipment for pork production, centered on a graphene-based heat mat that provides consistent supplemental heat for piglets in barns.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningFoodTechHardwareIoTNew Materials
Amos Petersen(Founder)in
Genvax Technologies develops mRNA and nanoparticle-based vaccines for livestock, focusing on custom, herd-specific formulations that aim to improve speed and precision compared to conventional vaccine platforms.
AgTechBiotechHealthtechAmes, US
Joel Harris(Co-founder)inDr. Hank Harris(Co-founder)inDL Hank Harris(Director)Scott Holmstrom(Director)
Co-investorsAg Ventures AllianceNext Level Ventures
Goldfinch Health offers a surgery support program focused on improving pain management and recovery while reducing unnecessary opioid use after surgery.
Digital HealthHealthtechWellness & FitnessAustin, US
John Greenwood(Founder)
Co-investorsKCRise Fund
Haber Tech makes Auto-Bin, a modular grain bin monitoring and aeration system that uses CO₂, LiDAR, temperature, moisture, and weather sensors to automate fan operation and let farmers remotely track grain conditions from their phone.
AgTechHardwareIoTAmes, US
Eric Harweger(Co-Founder)Dillon Hurd(Co-Founder)
Co-investorsAccelAccel IndiaBEENEXTElevation Capital
Harvest Increase Agriculture develops SUPRGrow, a fertilizer used in small quantities to increase harvest yields of corn, soybeans, and other crops.
AgTechClimate TechFoodTechNew Materials
Hummingbirds is a creator platform that connects food and beverage brands with creators across 60+ cities for retail campaigns in grocery stores.
Creator EconomyMarketing TechMarketplacesRetail TechSaaSDes Moines, US
Emily Steele(Co-Founder & CEO)inCharise Flynn(Co-Founder & COO)in
Co-investorsFJ LabsGround Game VenturesISA VenturesNext Level VenturesM25
MakuSafe develops wearable technology aimed at improving workplace safety and productivity.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareIoTSaaSWest Des Moines, US
Gabriel Glynn(Executive Officer, Director)inTodd Sutphen(Executive Officer)inMark Frederick(Executive Officer)inTom West(Executive Officer)in
BoardHank Norem(Director)Todd Sommerfeld(Director)
Co-investorsNext Level VenturesNFI Ventures, LLC
Midland Seafood raises Pacific white shrimp indoors in the Midwest using a proprietary algae-based closed-loop aquaculture system, selling fresh shrimp to regional grocers, specialty markets, and consumers online.
AgTechCircular EconomyCleantechFoodTechDes Moines, US
Co-investorsAg Ventures Alliance
Mod Advisor provides AI-powered claims and experience mod analysis software for workers' compensation professionals, including brokers, carriers, MGAs, and PEOs.
AI & Machine LearningInsurTechSaaS
Co-investorsISA Ventures
Nebullam operates indoor farms located within restaurant facilities to supply fresher produce directly to diners.
ConsumerFoodTechRoboticsSan Francisco, US
Co-investorsISA VenturesY CombinatorAg Startup Engine SeedFounder Capital
Pathware provides real-time biopsy quality assessment technology for pathologists to determine sample adequacy on-site, reducing repeat procedures and unnecessary surgeries.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsCANTILEVER INVESTORSNext Level VenturesSolas BioVenturesLevel Eight Ventures
Pitchly offers a data enablement platform with data pipeline, data workspace, and data productivity tools that automate data workflows to save time and improve performance for business teams.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaSDes Moines, US
Ryan Gerhardy(Co-founder & CEO)inMichael Brook(Co-founder & CPO)in
BoardMatthew Paulson(Director)inWendy Batchelder(Director)
Co-investorsGreat North VenturesHomegrown CapitalISA VenturesM25Next Level VenturesCabra VC
Poultry Patrol develops SMR robots for use in commercial poultry barns to manage and chase birds.
AgTechHardwareRobotics
Jack Kilian
Co-investorsAg Ventures Alliance
PVpallet makes reusable, recyclable packaging for the solar and renewable energy industry, including its HDPE plastic Series X solar panel pallets, bulk bins, and handheld totes.
Advanced ManufacturingAgTechCircular EconomyCleantechEnergyLogistics & Supply ChainMontrose, US
Philip Schwarz(CEO & Co-founder)inLuke Phelps(Director)Etahn Wollbrink(Director)
BoardEric Engelmann(Director)in
Co-investorsISA Ventures
SourceEazy is an AI-powered sourcing platform that enables distributors, decorators, and brands to design, source, and launch customized promotional products, uniforms, and event merchandise.
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesE-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainMarketing TechSaaSCedar Falls, US
Co-investorsTechstars
STRATAFOLIO offers investor management software that gives commercial real estate organizations a consolidated view of investor activity, tracking which investors backed which legal entities, amounts invested, timing, and metrics such as Cash-on-Cash Return.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechPropTechSaaSCedar Rapids, US
Jeri Frank(Executive Officer, Director)inUriel Barillas(Executive Officer, Director)inJohn Courtney(Director)in
Co-investorsISA VenturesPropellant Ventures
TapOnIt is a text marketing platform that enables businesses to create and send SMS and MMS campaigns with features like multi-step flows, content hubs, and audience segmentation.
E-commerceEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSQuad Cities, US
Katie Castillo-Wilson(Founder)inSara Castillo(Founder)in
Co-investorsNext Level Ventures
Tylmen provides ceiling-mounted cameras and computer-vision AI that monitor every bird in poultry grow-out houses in real time, tracking weight, growth, uniformity, movement, and behavior.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoT
Lloyd Andrew Yates, MBAin
Co-investorsGlobal Insurance AcceleratorDash VC
VIDA provides imaging data collection and AI-powered analysis services to life sciences companies for accelerating drug development and clinical trials.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtech
Susan Wood(Chief Executive Officer)inSandra Stapleton(Chief Operating Officer)inTodd Johnson(Chief Technology Officer)inLars Nordenmark(Chief Scientific Officer)inDr. Wood(CEO)Dr. Nordenmark(Chief Scientific Officer)
Co-investorsChartline Capital PartnersDaybreak PartnersNext Level VenturesOSF Ventures
Foundations in Learning provides scientifically-based reading instruction software for elementary and middle school students, focusing on automatic word recognition and reading fluency.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechIowa City, US
Carolyn Brown(Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder)inJerry Zimmermann(VP of Research and Co-Founder)in
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AcreShieldblueprintnavBoundGeminiiHomeschool FoundryKMILaced GolfLegibleMission Tool CompanyPyrone_Systemes_Repaint StudiosSalin247_Shaka
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesClinicNote · clinicnote.com · May 6, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Innoventures Iowa made?
- Innoventures Iowa has 40 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Innoventures Iowa invest at?
- Innoventures Iowa invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Innoventures Iowa focus on?
- Innoventures Iowa focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, SaaS.
- Where is Innoventures Iowa located?
- Innoventures Iowa is headquartered in Iowa, US.
- Who does Innoventures Iowa co-invest with?
- Innoventures Iowa most often shares deals with ISA Ventures, Next Level Ventures, Ag Ventures Alliance, among 20 tracked co-investors.
Images
Similar investors
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs bold, early-stage, technology-driven companies across deep tech and other sectors, providing hands-on 'venture assistance' to help founders build category-defining businesses.
Celesta Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with early-stage deep-technology startups, providing capital alongside operational support in scaling technology, go-to-market strategy, team building, and customer and partner introductions.
SEEDS Capital is the startup investment arm operating under SG Growth Capital, the investment platform of Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board. It co-invests with venture capital firms and corporate investors to catalyse private-sector funding into early-stage Singapore-based technology startups with global potential.
Metavallon VC is a venture capital fund backing early-stage technology startups with strong ties to Greece, offering initial investment from pre-seed through seed and seed+ stages alongside hands-on support.
Monte Carlo Capital is an early-stage deep tech investor that co-invests alongside leading VCs, deploying capital through its fund and via SPVs to build exposure to category-defining companies.