DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 25, 2024) — BioConnect Iowa and its partners announced today that four Iowa-based companies will take part in the sixth cohort of the Iowa Go-To-Market (G2M) Accelerator.
The following companies have been accepted into the newest G2M cohort that kicked off this week:
- Pachyderm Industries (Waterloo) — Pachyderm Industries makes robotic tree and branch-cutting tools for arborists so they can safely trim near power utilities or after natural disasters.
- SimplSupport (Urbandale) — SimplSupport is a platform to connect with fully vetted and verified registered nurses who are interested in private-pay care roles.
- Rise Energy (Ames) — Rise Energy’s mission is to help its customers be the best stewards of their resources by using its technology to convert undervalued biomass to lucrative carbon-negative products.
- Upcycling+ (Ames) — Upcycling+ makes alternative fuels from waste plastics, giving heavy transportation fleets a cost-effective way to reach their decarbonization goals and reduce the dependency on petroleum.
The G2M Accelerator is enabled by a grant to BioConnect Iowa and its partners, VentureNet Iowa and ISU Startup Factory, from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
“The G2M team is excited to work with four new companies in our sixth cohort since starting the program,” said Peter Hong, director of the ISU Startup Factory. “Each company will be working hard to develop and refine their business approach to their markets with individualized programming that has been designed to address the individual results of their recent VentureNet panel review. The G2M team and its private sector service provider supporters are poised to help the founders realize their startup goals.”
The accelerator is specifically designed to support Iowa companies developing technology-driven innovative products or services that have participated in another incubator, accelerator, or business assistance program, but could benefit from additional focused, customized guidance getting to market.
“We want to create an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship here in Iowa, and we’re proud to partner with ISU Startup Factory, VentureNet Iowa and our G2M support network in that regard,” said Steve Brody, president and CEO of BioConnect Iowa. “Building a startup from the ground up takes support, and we’re dedicated to assisting these companies as they continue to grow.”
The G2M Accelerator now offers three start dates each year. Registration is now open for the seventh cohort set to begin this spring. Cohort members will participate in group workshops, receive one-on-one mentorship and benefit from pro bono business support in a range of areas, including law, finance, branding, marketing, HR and recruiting. For more information or to apply, visit iowag2m.org.
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About BioConnect Iowa
BioConnect Iowa works with innovators and entrepreneurs statewide to create a homegrown bioscience industry that is second to none.
Together with the Iowa Go-To-Market program, BioConnect Iowa administers the state’s Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Outreach Program, providing a gateway to federal funding dollars through America’s Seed Fund Program.
BioConnect Iowa’s goal is to support Iowa’s world-class researchers and innovators on their path towards commercialization in a global marketplace. For more information on BioConnect Iowa, visit bioconnectiowa.org.
About Iowa G2M
The Iowa Go-To-Market (G2M) Accelerator program, a partnership between BioConnect Iowa, the Iowa State University Startup Factory, and VentureNet Iowa, seeks to provide follow-on support for Iowa entrepreneurs who are developing technology-driven innovative products or services and need additional support to increase their likelihood of commercial success. The program provides entrepreneurs advanced training in sales, marketing, corporate development, and finance, and facilitates connections with support services and providers across Iowa. For more information on G2M, visit iowag2m.org.
About VentureNet Iowa
VentureNet Iowa connects ideas to resources, management, and investors, to create jobs and build businesses in Iowa. VentureNet Iowa administers Iowa’s Public Innovation Funds, a series of low interest loans for early stage, Iowa-based small businesses commercializing proprietary technology in the IT, bioscience and advanced manufacturing sectors. For more information on VentureNet Iowa, visit venturenetiowa.com.
About ISU Startup Factory
The Iowa State University (ISU) Startup Factory is an 18-week incubator program operated by the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs in the ISU Startup Factory receive formal training, resources, and access to a network of business mentors, with the focus of helping them advance from “tech speak” to “business speak”. For more information on the ISU Startup Factory program, visit isustartupfactory.org.