First Startup Job Crawl sets steady pace for students and startup scene

Wednesday night more than 80 students from 12 colleges put down the books, printed off their resumes and geared up for a hike down “Silicon Sixth” Avenue for our inaugural Startup Job Crawl in downtown Des Moines. Our goal for the event was to provide an avenue for students to introduce themselves to the budding…

“Startups are alive and well in this city,” Adam Carroll of Succeed Faster said when he helped Geoff Wood welcome students, young alums and faculty members to the first Startup Job Crawl. Photo by Jon Thompson.

Wednesday night more than 80 students from 12 colleges put down the books, printed off their resumes and geared up for a hike down “Silicon Sixth” Avenue for our inaugural Startup Job Crawl in downtown Des Moines. 

Our goal for the event was to provide an avenue for students to introduce themselves to the budding entrepreneurial scene and experience what exists in Des Moines. Some were on the job and internship hunt, some were there for networking experience and others were discovering what it would mean to work for a startup. Yet, many walked away seeing where the potential lies in the community for mentors, connections and places for their skills to come into play.

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The event kicked off with a shotgun start and the three groups toured the main buildings on Sixth Avenue: Midland Building, Bank of America Building and the Liberty Building. Including Silicon Prairie News, the following 22 startups were stationed along their route: DwollaTorsion MobileEggcrat.esEvolveCraftly (based in Urbandale), Startup City Des MoinesTiklyShareWhereReal Estate Fan PagesMeidhPikuzonePresent.iobHeroic (based in Ames), T8 Webware (based in Cedar Falls), BitMethodPongrGod at PlayFoundry CoworkingFreskSmartyPig (based in West Des Moines) and Locusic (based in Ankeny).

Here are some of the best pictures from the crawl:

Following registration, students began networking in the Amici Espresso lobby. Photo by Jon Thompson.

Students use time before the crawl to meet new faces from other schools. Photo by Jon Thompson.

One of three groups enter the Bank of America building, one of legs of the job crawl. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

Entryway of the StartupCity Des Moines Office. Photo by Brittany Mascio 

Tej Dhawan of StartupCity Des Moines explains the importance of creating environments that bring together startups and mentors. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

Foundry Coworking opens its new office space for the Startup Job Crawl. Photo by Leah Hansen. 

Alexander Grgurich takes questions from the group about Foundry Coworking. Photo by Leah Hansen. 

A Rasheed Wallace cutout welcomes visitors through BitMethod’s funky foyer. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

With Mountain Dew in hand, Zach Cox talks about Pongr, the picture-sharing game used for brand spotting. Photo by Leah Hansen. 

BitMethod’s Amanda Morrow and Scott Kubie (Left) chat with students about the potential in Des Moines’ community. Photo by Leah Hansen.

 Drake students crack smiles as they continue on the crawl. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

Chris Tidd and Christian Gurney discuss after Torsion Mobile’s presentation. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

Ben Milne provokes some serious semicircle discussion at the Dwolla offices. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

Like a traditional pub crawl, some stops along the job crawl offered beverages to of-age students. Pictured above, Jordan Lampe answers questions about Dwolla. Photo by Brittany Mascio. 

The crowd in the Silicon Prairie office. Photo by Leah Hansen.

Geoff Wood shares more about Silicon Prairie News with students. Photo by Leah Hansen.

Levi RosolJames Eliaison and Mike Naughton (Middle left to right) regulars of the Silicon Prairie News community mix and welcome new students to to the startup culture. Photo by Leah Hansen.

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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