Pella As the first Central College "Startup Semester" draws to a close, students from two of the six companies formed will continue to pursue their business ventures full-time over the summer. This past spring, Wade Steenhoek, director of the college's Martin Heerema Entrepreneurship … read more
February 28, 2013 by Megan Bannister
Pella With the help of a group of dedicated professional mentors and educators, 15 students will continue their entrepreneurship studies at Central College through a new "Startup Semester." The private college, located about an hour southeast of Des Moines, has offered courses in entrepreneurship for a few years now, but this semester the professors and students are stepping even further away from textbooks … read more
October 29, 2012 by Michael Stacy
Pella Silicon Prairie News: What are the biggest challenges you face in helping cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among college students? | Wade Steenhoek: Students often mistakenly think that entrepreneurship is reserved for someone else and question their own place in this space. Part of my role is to establish competence in starting a new venture but also develop the confidence that allows students to believe in their ability to achieve their dream of starting their own business. | SPN: As a big fan of Steve Blank's work, what are a couple of the most important lessons you've taken from him? | WS: The single most important lesson is that products … read more
September 8, 2011 by Michael Stacy
Pella Location, location, location. The age-old adage in the real estate industry suggests it's a business all about the "L" word. But Josh Cowman and Jon Kettler know there's plenty more to it than that: timing, too, plays an important part in the buying and selling of homes. "We know," Cowman said in his Dream Big Grow Here pitch video, "that even though we’re ready to buy a home, maybe the right home isn’t on the market at the right time." It's with that in mind that Cowman and Kettler started Skowty … read more
Through August 22, help us decide the winners of our inaugural Silicon Prairie Awards, which will recognize 12
companies and individuals. You can vote once per day per category.
Winners will be announced live on stage at
our August 30 event.