ISW2026 for Ecosystem Builders
ISW2026 for Ecosystem Builders
Build Relationships that Drive Growth & Opportunity
Build Relationships that Drive Growth & Opportunity
Strong startup ecosystems don’t happen by accident, they’re built by people who believe in community.
Strong startup ecosystems don’t happen by accident, they’re built by people who believe in community.
Strong startup ecosystems don’t happen by accident, they’re built by people who believe in community.
Iowa Startup Week brings together the organizers, advocates, educators, connectors, and champions who make entrepreneurship possible. If your work supports founders (directly or indirectly) this week is your opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen the systems that help startups succeed.
Iowa Startup Week brings together the organizers, advocates, educators, connectors, and champions who make entrepreneurship possible. If your work supports founders (directly or indirectly) this week is your opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen the systems that help startups succeed.
Why ecosystem builders should attend
Startup ecosystems thrive when builders learn from one another.
During Iowa Startup Week, you’ll connect with:
During Iowa Startup Week, you’ll connect with:
This is a rare chance to exchange ideas openly, compare approaches, and build partnerships across cities and regions.
This is a rare chance to exchange ideas openly, compare approaches, and build partnerships across cities and regions.
Community organizers and startup advocates
Community organizers and startup advocates
Accelerator and incubator leaders
Accelerator and incubator leaders
Economic development organizations
Economic development organizations
University and student entrepreneurship programs
University and student entrepreneurship programs
Nonprofits supporting founders and small businesses
Nonprofits supporting founders and small businesses
Corporate innovation and workforce leaders
Corporate innovation and workforce leaders
Investors and capital connectors
Investors and capital connectors
Share What’s Working — and What Isn’t
Share What’s Working — and What Isn’t
Ecosystem building is complex, experimental, and constantly evolving. Iowa Startup Week creates space for honest conversations about:
Ecosystem building is complex, experimental, and constantly evolving. Iowa Startup Week creates space for honest conversations about:
Growing inclusive entrepreneurial communities
Supporting founders beyond major tech hubs
Measuring ecosystem impact
Building sustainable programs and funding models
Engaging rural and regional entrepreneurs
Strengthening founder pipelines
Strengthen Regional Collaboration
Strengthen Regional Collaboration
Entrepreneurship doesn’t stop at city boundaries. Iowa Startup Week helps connect ecosystem leaders across Iowa and the Midwest, encouraging collaboration rather than competition.
By participating, you can:
Entrepreneurship doesn’t stop at city boundaries. Iowa Startup Week helps connect ecosystem leaders across Iowa and the Midwest, encouraging collaboration rather than competition.
By participating, you can:
Discover partnership opportunities
Align programming and resources
Reduce duplication of effort
Amplify regional strengths together
Build a more connected innovation network
Founder success starts here
Founder success starts here
Support Founders More Effectively
Support Founders More Effectively
The ultimate goal of ecosystem building is founder success.
The ultimate goal of ecosystem building is founder success.
Attending Startup Week helps you better understand the evolving needs of entrepreneurs by hearing directly from founders: their challenges, gaps in support, and opportunities for improvement.
Attending Startup Week helps you better understand the evolving needs of entrepreneurs by hearing directly from founders: their challenges, gaps in support, and opportunities for improvement.
You’ll leave with insights you can immediately apply to programs, policies, and community initiatives.
You’ll leave with insights you can immediately apply to programs, policies, and community initiatives.
Join Us
Join Us
A Community-Led Approach
A Community-Led Approach
Iowa Startup Week is volunteer-driven and community-powered. Sessions are led by practitioners, not just speakers, and participation is open and accessible.
That means:
Iowa Startup Week is volunteer-driven and community-powered. Sessions are led by practitioners, not just speakers, and participation is open and accessible.
That means:
Shared ownership across organizations
Opportunities to host sessions or contribute programming
A welcoming environment for new and experienced ecosystem builders alike
Who are Ecosystem Builders?
Startup community organizers
Startup community organizers
Startup community organizers
Startup community organizers
Economic development professionals
Economic development professionals
Economic development professionals
Economic development professionals
University and education leaders
University and education leaders
University and education leaders
University and education leaders
Nonprofit and community program managers
Nonprofit and community program managers
Nonprofit and community program managers
Nonprofit and community program managers
Accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs
Accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs
Accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs
Corporate community and innovation teams
Corporate community and innovation teams
Corporate community and innovation teams
Corporate community and innovation teams
Policy and civic leaders supporting entrepreneurship
Policy and civic leaders supporting entrepreneurship
Policy and civic leaders supporting entrepreneurship
Policy and civic leaders supporting entrepreneurship
Accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs
Accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs
If your work helps founders succeed, you are part of the ecosystem — and you belong here.
If your work helps founders succeed, you are part of the ecosystem — and you belong here.
"We are so excited for Iowa Startup Week. This will be THE innovation event to attend in our state for years to come!"
Mo Collins
International Economic Development Council
"As an early-stage founder, I can't wait to attend Iowa Startup Week to connect with other innovators and investors."
Clair Vavra
Founder, Held
This is an incredible opportunity to bring founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the Midwest together in Des Moines. Synergy! Collaboration! Momentum!
Rooms filled with people dreaming big, who can help you dream even bigger.
Lily Allen, Dueñas
Founder of the Wild Yoga Tribe & Marketing Specialist at Ramco
Powered By Sukup
While NewBoCo takes great pride in hosting EntreFEST as Iowa's summer gathering (June 11, 12 in Iowa City) of our entrepreneurs and experts, it is very easy to get excited about a Fall extravaganza that promotes, informs and celebrates Midwest Regional Entrepreneurs, Support Resources, and Ecosystem. Full steam ahead for Iowa Startup Week'26!
Alex Taylor
Director of Entrepreneurship, NewBoCo
"We are so excited for Iowa Startup Week. This will be THE innovation event to attend in our state for years to come!"
Mo Collins
International Economic Development Council
"As an early-stage founder, I can't wait to attend Iowa Startup Week to connect with other innovators and investors."
Clair Vavra
Founder, Held
This is an incredible opportunity to bring founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the Midwest together in Des Moines. Synergy! Collaboration! Momentum!
Rooms filled with people dreaming big, who can help you dream even bigger.
Lily Allen, Dueñas
Founder of the Wild Yoga Tribe & Marketing Specialist at Ramco
Powered By Sukup
While NewBoCo takes great pride in hosting EntreFEST as Iowa's summer gathering (June 11, 12 in Iowa City) of our entrepreneurs and experts, it is very easy to get excited about a Fall extravaganza that promotes, informs and celebrates Midwest Regional Entrepreneurs, Support Resources, and Ecosystem. Full steam ahead for Iowa Startup Week'26!
Alex Taylor
Director of Entrepreneurship, NewBoCo
"We are so excited for Iowa Startup Week. This will be THE innovation event to attend in our state for years to come!"
Mo Collins
IEDC
"As an early-stage founder, I can't wait to attend Iowa Startup Week to connect with other innovators and investors."
Clair Vavra
Founder, Held
This is an incredible opportunity to bring founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the Midwest together in Des Moines. Synergy! Collaboration! Momentum!
Rooms filled with people dreaming big, who can help you dream even bigger.Lily Allen, Dueñas
Founder of the Wild Yoga Tribe & Marketing Specialist at Ramco Powered By Sukup
While NewBoCo takes great pride in hosting EntreFEST as Iowa's summer gathering (June 11, 12 in Iowa City) of our entrepreneurs and experts, it is very easy to get excited about a Fall extravaganza that promotes, informs and celebrates Midwest Regional Entrepreneurs, Support Resources, and Ecosystem. Full steam ahead for Iowa Startup Week'26!
Alex Taylor
Director of Entrepreneurship, NewBoCo
Save your place
Save your place
Because Ecosystems Are Built by People
Because Ecosystems Are Built by People
Because Ecosystems Are Built by People
Behind every successful founder is a network of supporters, mentors, programs, and advocates. Iowa Startup Week celebrates and strengthens the people doing that work every day.
Join us in building what comes next.
Join us in building what comes next.
FAQs
FAQs
Got Questions?
Got Questions?
What does it cost to attend?
What does it cost to attend?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Who should attend Iowa Startup Week?
Who should attend Iowa Startup Week?
Do I need to have a startup to attend?
Do I need to have a startup to attend?
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.