A Thinc Iowa thanks

What an event! It’s actually a little hard to believe all the planning, hard work and execution is over (at least for this year). First off, I want to thank everyone who made the event possible. From the speakers to the participants to the sponsors to everyone on the Silicon Prairie News team – I…

Des Moines entrepreneur Ben Milne of Dwolla takes the stage for his Thinc Iowa afternoon presentation. Photo by Anna Jones | Art of Photography and Ikonix Studio

What an event! It’s actually a little hard to believe all the planning, hard work and execution is over (at least for this year).

First off, I want to thank everyone who made the event possible. From the speakers to the participants to the sponsors to everyone on the Silicon Prairie News team – I couldn’t have asked for a better group to gather for our first big event in Iowa.

We’ll have the videos of each of the presentations and official photos online soon, but for now, you can relive your favorite parts of the day through our recaps on Silicon Prairie News. You can also check out the Thinc Iowa tags on Twitter and Flickr for audience tweets and photos.

It probably goes without saying but Thinc Iowa was not an isolated event. It’s just one part of the continuing movement to highlight innovation and the entrepreneurial community here in the Silcon Prairie. Our hope is that you take what you learned on Friday and the connections you made and make the most of them throughout the next year.

Thinc Iowa volunteers Amber and Ben Pankonin strike a pose for the Thinc Iowa Photo Booth. Photo by Anna Jones | Art of Photography and Ikonix Studio

To the established corporations who participated:

Thank you for taking this big step towards being a part of the conversation. Please remember the challenge by Scott Case of the Startup America Partnership to create programs and business groups directly aimed at working with startup companies. Not just small businesses, but actual startups with high growth potential.

Also, please spread the word on Thinc Iowa to your colleagues within your company. We had people in the room from many of Iowa’s largest companies like Rockwell CollinsNationwide Insurance, Wellmark BCBS, Aviva, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Meredith and The Principal Financial Group. If the benefits of a common ground between startups and corporations can make its way through your companies, we can make a sustained impact.

This was our first production with part of the focus on established corporations, and we’d love your feedback. Please let me know if you have suggestions for how we can make the next Thinc Iowa even more meaningful for you. Email me anytime at geoff@siliconprairienews.com.

Thinc Iowa attendee Jordan Lampe of Dwolla asks a question during the Extended Speaker Q&A. Photo by Anna Jones | Art of Photography and Ikonix Studio.

To the entrepreneurs and startups:

Thank you for sharing your ideas and opening your minds to this experience. You have a challenge from Case, as well. He’s looking for Silicon Prairie startups to outnumber those in California as Startup America Partnership members by the end of the year. Register your startup at startupamericapartnership.org. Additionally, there’s a local group working to create a Startup Iowa organization, similar to those already established in Tennessee and Illinois. If you’d like to participate, contact me at geoff@siliconprairienews.com and I’ll connect you.

Keep the contacts you made and perspectives you shared in mind as you continue building your companies. If you have thoughts on the next Thinc Iowa, please reach out to me. 

See our Thinc Iowa coverage

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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