With its strong foundation in technology and innovation, Iowa is home to various successful startups and a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have looked into Iowa's emerging startup scene and present the top investors and VC firms driving growth in Iowa. Using several data points and industry insights, here is a list of the top 10 VC funds driving Iowa's dynamic startup market.
Here's a table that summarizes the overall VC data for a quick overview:
VC Firm | Ticket Size | Stages | Founding Year |
---|---|---|---|
Next Level Ventures | $0.5M – $5M | Seed to Growth | 2013 |
InnoVenture Iowa | $250K – $2M | Early-stage | 2021 |
ISA Ventures | $25K – $1M | Early-stage to Growth | 2020 |
Iowa Capital Investment Corporation (ICIC) | Varies, typically Fund of Funds | Seed to Expansion | 2002 |
UnityPoint Health Ventures | Undisclosed | Growth | 2019 |
Ag Ventures Alliance | Undisclosed | Early-stage | 1998 |
Techstars Ventures | $100K–$2M | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A | 2006 |
Foster Group | Varies | Growth | 1989 |
Miles Capital | Varies | Growth | 1999 |
Scout Ventures | $2M–$5M | Seed to Series B | 2010 |
1. Signal Peak Ventures
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Signal Peak Ventures is a venture capital company investing in early-stage technology organizations throughout the United States. They invest in innovative SaaS startups with great ideas and strong management teams committed to creating enduring value. With more than $500 million in committed capital, Signal Peak supports passionate entrepreneurs driven to make a big impact in emerging markets with innovative ideas.
- Website:spv.com
- Founding Year: 2008
- Investment Range: $500K to $10M
- Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B
- Sector: SaaS, enterprise software, IT, healthcare
- Geography: Primarily U.S.
- Notable Investments: Degreed, Ancestry, Vivint, ObservePoint, Lucid Software
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
2. InnoVenture Iowa
InnoVenture Iowa Fund is a $30 million VC fund dedicated to supporting Iowa-based startups in biosciences, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. As Iowa’s first public venture capital fund, InnoVenture fills a critical funding gap for early-stage companies. They work with co-investors to drive innovation where Iowa has a competitive edge. This evergreen fund focuses on empowering local entrepreneurs to build impactful, world-changing businesses.
- Website:innoventureiowa.com
- Founding Year:2021
- Investment Range:$250K – $2M
- Stage:Early-stage
- Sector:Biosciences, Advanced Manufacturing, IT
- Geography: Iowa
- Notable Investments: Farmland Finder, Moxie Solar, Haber Technologies, SwineTech, John DeereIowa Capital Investment Corporation
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
3. ISA Ventures
ISA Ventures is a VC fund supporting Iowa-based startups from early revenue to expansion. They invest in some of the main sectors such as biotech, agtech, edtech, and finance, with check sizes from $25K to $1 million. ISA Ventures combines industry knowledge, mentorship, and growth support to enable local businesses to grow. Its mission is to help Iowa's entrepreneurs scale and succeed with an excellent network and resources.
- Website:isaventures.com
- Founding Year:2020
- Investment Range:$25K – $1M
- Stage:Early-stage to Growth
- Sector:Biotechnology, EdTech, HealthTech, AgTech, FinTech
- Geography:Iowa
- Notable Investments:Rantizo, Voxello, Pear Deck, TractorZoom, IDx
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
4. Iowa Capital Investment Corporation (ICIC)
The Iowa Capital Investment Corporation (ICIC) strengthens Iowa’s startup ecosystem by supporting local entrepreneurs, investors, and commercialization of research. Through the Iowa Fund of Funds, ICIC partners with private funds. They created a unique venture capital model aimed at building a self-sustaining investment network within the state. The Fund has driven significant capital to Iowa businesses, empowering industries like biosciences, manufacturing, and IT while sparking innovation and job creation across Iowa.
- Website:investiowa.com
- Founding Year:2002
- Investment Range:Varies, typically Fund of Funds
- Stage:Seed to Expansion
- Sector:Various, including tech and healthcare
- Geography:Iowa
- Notable Investments:
- Dwolla, Applied Art & Technology, SynthesysIowa Capital Investment Corporation Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
5. UnityPoint Health Ventures
UnityPoint Health provides a comprehensive network of services - hospitals, clinics, and home health - throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Through more than 8 million patient visits each year, UnityPoint Health is dedicated to making it easier for people to live their best lives and to continue to evolve the way health care is delivered. Supporting individuals at every stage of life, UnityPoint Health provides them with advanced technology, personal care, and regional resources that make quality health care more accessible and supportive in local communities.
- Website:unitypoint.org
- Founding Year:2019
- Investment Range:Undisclosed
- Stage:Growth
- Sector:Healthcare, Medical Technologies
- Geography:Iowa and surrounding areas
- Notable Investments:DocStation, Bright.md, DispatchHealth, Saranas, Zipnosis
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
6. Ag Ventures Alliance
Ag Ventures Alliance is a VC firm with the specific mission of empowering American farmers and startups in agriculture. They provide the support for AgTech innovation: field-tested insights, investment opportunities, and a direct network of over 300 farmer members. Equipped with Countryside Angels to curate deal flow and conduct farm trials, Ag Ventures Alliance collaborates with founders and farmers in resilient, profitable agricultural solutions that solve industry pain points.
- Website:agventuresalliance.com
- Founding Year:1998
- Investment Range:Undisclosed
- Stage:Early-stage
- Sector:AgTech, FoodTech
- Geography:Iowa
- Notable Investments:Rantizo, Smart Ag, Continuum Ag, SwineTech, PowerPollen
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
7. Techstars Ventures
Techstars is an international venture capital company and accelerator committed to enabling innovators around the world to turn their ideas into remarkable enterprises that impact society. With an impressive network, Techstars equips startups with mentorship, financial support, and exposure to top industry players. Investing in several thousand companies, it stands to support founders at any point of their development, creating connections to catapult them toward investors and partners for greater good and economic development around the world.
- Website:techstars.com
- Founding Year:2006
- Investment Range:$100K–$2M
- Stage:Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
- Sector:Technology, SaaS, AI, Healthcare
- Geography: U.S. and Global
- Notable Investments: SendGrid, DigitalOcean, Sphero
- Submit Pitch/Contact:Link
8. Foster Group
Foster Group is an independent financial advisory firm proudly serving individuals, families, and businesses with various investment and planning services. As a fiduciary, Foster Group puts clients first and advances their interests with personal fee-only advice focused on the unique goals and values that are theirs alone. Foster Group is dedicated to a team-based approach, creating clarity, confidence, and making an impact in each client's financial journey. Their aim is the creation of long-term relationships based on mutual trust and professional leadership.
- Website:fostergrp.com
- Founding Year:1989
- Investment Range:Varies
- Stage:Growth
- Sector:Financial Services, Insurance, Wealth Management
- Geography:Iowa
- Notable Investments:Not publicly listed
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
9. Miles Capital
Miles Capital is a VC firm that focuses on independent and custom asset management for clients. With deep industry knowledge, they design flexible investment solutions across asset classes, including fixed income, equity, and alternatives. By putting client interests first, they build portfolios that align with each client’s strategic goals, delivering clear direction and purpose. Combining specialist investment knowledge with insight into specific markets, Miles Capital supports clients effectively through challenging financial terrain.
- Website:miles-capital.com
- Founding Year:1999
- Investment Range:Varies
- Stage:Growth
- Sector:Financial Services, Asset Management
- Geography:Iowa
- Notable Investments:Not publicly listed
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
10. Scout Ventures
Scout Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm investing in breakthrough technologies enabling innovation across both commercial and defense sectors. They help bring dual-use tech-for PRIVATE MARKETS-creating impact along with public defense-to reality. Co-founded by military veterans and entrepreneurs, Scout Venture partners with founders offering outstanding solutions to drive global positiveness while ensuring effective yields: supporting ventures enhancing safety, innovation, and wealth for all.
- Website:scout.vc
- Founding Year : 2010
- Investment Range: $2M–$5M
- Stage : Seed to Series B
- Sector: Frontier technology, AI, cybersecurity
- Geography:Primarily U.S., including West Virginia
- Notable Investments : Anduril Industries (defense tech), Vannevar Labs (AI for national security), Nexus Labs (military tech), Mapbox (mapping software), Unite Us (healthcare coordination)
- Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is VC high risk?
Venture capital is a type of investment that can be risky but has the potential for high returns. However, there is no guarantee of success. Investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. Even though VC firms try to minimize risks, investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money.
What is the best country to set up a VC fund?
If you’re looking to set up a VC fund, many people think the United States has the best venture capital (VC) funds worldwide. This is because the US has a big economy, lots of money available, and many successful startups.
What cities have the most VC investments?
The top five cities for venture capital investment are San Francisco, New York City, Boston, San Jose, and Los Angeles. These cities together receive more than two-thirds (67.5%) of all venture capital investments.
What is the minimum amount for a VC fund?
Venture capital funds usually ask for a minimum investment of $250,000 to $500,000, and sometimes even more. Investing a small amount of money can still cost a lot. These funds are usually only open to wealthy people and big organizations that have a lot of money.
How do I choose a VC fund?
To choose a VC fund, check how much experience and success the venture capital firm has had before. Look at the companies they’ve invested in before to see if they match what your business does. This can help you figure out if they’re a good match for you.
Best of luck with your amazing ventures.
Please note that this list is filtered by various metrics, and all the data are collected through various third-party websites, mostly the VC website. Since data such as ticket size or industry may change, you are requested to visit the official website given in the blog for the latest and updated information.