Silicon Prairie News

Posts by Geoff Wood
OPINION

Dwolla’s Series B: Three things it means for Des Moines (Part 2)

3606_5ed070161b_small February 10, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines On Thursday, I offered three reasons why I believe Dwolla chose Fred Wilson’s Union Square Ventures to lead its Series B round, which was announced on Tuesday. In this post, I look at how the Des Moines startup community could be affected by Dwolla's milestone. 1. They'll continue to 'Dwolla in DSM' Dwolla co-founder Ben Milne has made being a Des Moines-based startup an integral part of his company's culture from the beginning. You see it … read more

OPINION

Dwolla’s Series B: Three things it means for Dwolla (Part 1)

3605_f71f481c26_small February 9, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines As you may be aware, the anticipated and recently rumored Series B funding news broke this week for the good folks at Dwolla in Des Moines. This round totalled $5 million and was not only raised out-of-Iowa but out-of-Silicon Prairie, with money coming in from both coasts. As rumored, the round was led by New York-based Union Square Ventures. Union Square, and its principal Fred Wilson (left) … read more

FEATURES

PrairieCast Video: Dwolla raises $5 million, SmartyPig shifts

3596_95c1b0852a_small February 8, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines Not one but two Mikes joined us this week on PrairieCast. Mike Colwell, director of the Business Innovation Zone in Des Moines and Mike Ferrari, co-founder of SmartyPig (now Social Money Systems) both sit in to discuss the big news that broke early on show day, Dwolla's $5M Series B raise, as well as the recent news from SmartyPig including a name change … read more

FEATURES

Watch live: PrairieCast at 2 p.m. with Mike Ferrari and Mike Colwell

3588_7851c2d309_small February 7, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines Join us live today at 2 p.m. for Episode 73 of PrairieCast. Our guests will be Mike Ferrari, co-founder of Social Money Systems, and Mike Colwell, director of the Business Innovation Zone. As you'd expect, we'll cover the news (not rumors this time) that just broke about Dwolla's investment round and also get the inside scoop from Ferrari about all the recent changes at his company. Have you checked out PrairieCast's … read more

FEATURES

PrairieCast: Live at 2 p.m Tuesday with Mike Ferrari and Mike Colwell

3581_6c2246c586_small February 6, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines Tune in Tuesday at 2 p.m. for Episode 73 of PrairieCast streaming live from Des Moines. Our guests this week are Social Money Systems (née SmartyPig) co-founder Mike Ferrari (far left) and BIZ director Mike Colwell (near left). The big change at SmartyPig is tops on our agenda, and of course your favorite new segments Fast Four and Andy's Stat of the Week will be … read more

Welcome new sponsor, Internet Solver

3576_2bcd1c5ab8_small February 6, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines We'd like to welcome the the latest sponsor to lend their support to Silicon Prairie News, Internet Solver. Since we opened the Silicon Prairie News office in Des Moines nearly one year ago, Dave Weis and his team have been our chosen provider for bandwidth. In October, Internet Solver kindly came in as an in-kind sponsor of Thinc Iowa, providing the strong wifi the day of the event. … read more

OPINION

‘Stay Focused & Keep Shipping’

3568_bc4dad7c73_small February 2, 2012 by Geoff Wood

It had me thinking that though we're not all looking towards $5 billion IPOs for our startups, we may have something in common with the soon-to-be-über-rich Californian: the need to keep from being distracted. The startup community in the Silicon Prairie is growing. It's starting to mature but it's still early – one founder referred to it as "puberty" – and our current stage is one where more and more events are being planned and executed. It's a really exciting time and on some days you can schmooze, network … read more

Welcome new sponsor, Sticker Mule

3566_2c79ae85d8_small February 2, 2012 by Geoff Wood

We are pleased to announce that Sticker Mule is the latest company to lend their support to Silicon Prairie News. Sticker Mule is the company that has produced those awesome Big Omaha, Thinc Iowa and Silicon Prairie News stickers that you see covering laptops and pretty much anything in the region with a smooth surface for the last year. In addition to SPN … read more

FEATURES

PrairieCast Video: Pipeline Innovator of the Year, the Gigabit Challenge

3564_25873578ed_small February 1, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines This week on PrairieCast, we're joined by Marco Santana, The Des Moines Register's new technology and startup reporter, as well as our own Michael Stacy. We talked through all the news and notes from Pipeline's Innovator of the Year festivities and looked back on the Gigabit Challenge to discuss what it means to the region. This week in our new Fast Four … read more

FEATURES

Watch live: PrairieCast at 2 p.m. with Marco Santana and Michael Stacy

3553_06b43f2ba9_small January 31, 2012 by Geoff Wood

Des Moines Tune in today at 2 p.m. for Episode 72 of PrairieCast streaming live from Des Moines. We'll be joined by Marco Santana, the new Des Moines Register startup and technology reporter, and our own Michael Stacy. We'll be talking about the Pipeline Innovator of the Year …  read more