For the second year, Performance Marketing and Shift have teamed up on Thinc Iowa's branding and identity.

This group of Thinc Iowa 2012 sponsors are those that put their time and services into helping us produce the event.

The list starts with the most visible partners: Performance Marketing and Shift. They're the ones who designed the awesome "chalk board" identity for the conference, built the website and created all the signage in the event venue and at the parties. We love the opportunity to work with these creative folks, whether it's brainstorming on the brand or laying out the design for the lanyards.

Bow & Arrow Productions is the company providing production assistance to the event. You've noticed that we've really taken the stage design and other production elements to a new level this year and that's due to capabilities of this Adel, Iowa-based group.

The University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has once again provided space for us to host a speaker and sponsor reception in their beautiful facility on Grand Avenue.

The coffee is provided by Mars Cafe. Des Moines' entire creative community – especially the entrepreneurs – were glad to see this Drake neighborhood fixture reopen in September, and now we get the benefit of adding them to the Thinc Iowa family.

Internet Solver is providing the free wi-fi, Karl Chevrolet is providing courtesy vehicles and Evolve is providing technical assistance at the event.

Thanks again to these organizations for providing elements that are crucial to the success of Thinc Iowa.

Credits: Photos by Anna Jones and Phillip Harder.

Thinc Iowa is a premiere event produced by Silicon Prairie News. For live video of Thinc Iowa 2012, tune in at spne.ws/live from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11. For more on Thinc Iowa, check out the conference on Twitter and Facebook.