ISW2026 for Startups
ISW2026 for Startups
Build Momentum with Investors, Advisors & Talent
Build Momentum with Investors, Advisors & Talent
Whether you’re shaping your first idea, scaling a growing company, or navigating the messy middle of startup life, this week is designed to give founders and builders real momentum. You’ll leave with new connections, practical insights, and the kind of energy that only comes from being surrounded by others doing the same hard work.
Whether you’re shaping your first idea, scaling a growing company, or navigating the messy middle of startup life, this week is designed to give founders and builders real momentum. You’ll leave with new connections, practical insights, and the kind of energy that only comes from being surrounded by others doing the same hard work.
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
Accelerate Your Business
Accelerate Your Business
Why Startup Founders & Operators Should Attend
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Iowa Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs at every stage, from first-time founders to exited teams. Expect honest conversations about wins, failures, pivots, fundraising, hiring, and growth. No gatekeeping, no posturing, no egos. Come ready to share (and learn).
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Iowa Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs at every stage, from first-time founders to exited teams. Expect honest conversations about wins, failures, pivots, fundraising, hiring, and growth. No gatekeeping, no posturing, no egos. Come ready to share (and learn).
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Iowa Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs at every stage, from first-time founders to exited teams. Expect honest conversations about wins, failures, pivots, fundraising, hiring, and growth. No gatekeeping, no posturing, no egos. Come ready to share (and learn).
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Iowa Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs at every stage, from first-time founders to exited teams. Expect honest conversations about wins, failures, pivots, fundraising, hiring, and growth. No gatekeeping, no posturing, no egos. Come ready to share (and learn).
Connections That Turn Into Opportunities
Meet new customers, potential co-founders, early hires, customers, investors, and collaborators, all in one place. The most valuable moments happen between sessions: over coffee, during community events, or in spontaneous conversations that lead to long-term partnerships.
Connections That Turn Into Opportunities
Meet new customers, potential co-founders, early hires, customers, investors, and collaborators, all in one place. The most valuable moments happen between sessions: over coffee, during community events, or in spontaneous conversations that lead to long-term partnerships.
Connections That Turn Into Opportunities
Meet new customers, potential co-founders, early hires, customers, investors, and collaborators, all in one place. The most valuable moments happen between sessions: over coffee, during community events, or in spontaneous conversations that lead to long-term partnerships.
Connections That Turn Into Opportunities
Meet new customers, potential co-founders, early hires, customers, investors, and collaborators, all in one place. The most valuable moments happen between sessions: over coffee, during community events, or in spontaneous conversations that lead to long-term partnerships.
Practical Learning You Can Use Immediately
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Real Conversations with Other Builders
Sessions focus on actionable topics founders care about, including:
Sessions focus on actionable topics founders care about, including:
Finding product–market fit
Customer acquisition and growth
Fundraising and capital strategy
Hiring and team building
Marketing and storytelling
AI, technology, and product development
Founder wellness and resilience
Finding product–market fit
Customer acquisition and growth
Fundraising and capital strategy
Hiring and team building
Marketing and storytelling
AI, technology, and product development
Founder wellness and resilience
This week is designed to provide founders with actionable insights they can apply immediately to their startup businesses.
This week is designed to provide founders with actionable insights they can apply immediately to their startup businesses.
A Stronger Support Network
Building a startup can feel isolating. Iowa Startup Week helps founders realize they’re not doing it alone. You’ll meet people who understand your challenges and can become part of your ongoing founder community long after the week ends.
A Stronger Support Network
Building a startup can feel isolating. Iowa Startup Week helps founders realize they’re not doing it alone. You’ll meet people who understand your challenges and can become part of your ongoing founder community long after the week ends.
A Stronger Support Network
Building a startup can feel isolating. Iowa Startup Week helps founders realize they’re not doing it alone. You’ll meet people who understand your challenges and can become part of your ongoing founder community long after the week ends.
A Stronger Support Network
Building a startup can feel isolating. Iowa Startup Week helps founders realize they’re not doing it alone. You’ll meet people who understand your challenges and can become part of your ongoing founder community long after the week ends.
Who Should Attend?
Iowa Startup Week is designed for builders across the entire startup journey:
First-time founders exploring a new idea
First-time founders exploring a new idea
First-time founders exploring a new idea
First-time founders exploring a new idea
Early-stage startups seeking traction
Early-stage startups seeking traction
Early-stage startups seeking traction
Early-stage startups seeking traction
Growth-stage founders scaling teams and revenue
Growth-stage founders scaling teams and revenue
Growth-stage founders scaling teams and revenue
Growth-stage founders scaling teams and revenue
Indie hackers and product builders
Indie hackers and product builders
Indie hackers and product builders
Indie hackers and product builders
Developers, designers, and technical creators
Developers, designers, and technical creators
Developers, designers, and technical creators
Developers, designers, and technical creators
Startup employees and early team members
Startup employees and early team members
Startup employees and early team members
Startup employees and early team members
If you’re creating something new — you belong here.
If you’re creating something new — you belong here.
2026 Agenda
2026 Agenda
Why investors should attend
The Midwest continues to produce resilient, resourceful founders building meaningful businesses across industries, often with stronger fundamentals and lower burn than traditional startup hubs.
At Iowa Startup Week, you’ll meet:
At Iowa Startup Week, you’ll meet:
Early-stage founders preparing to raise
Early-stage founders preparing to raise
Venture-backable startups gaining traction
Venture-backable startups gaining traction
Seasoned founders building their next companies
Seasoned founders building their next companies
Technical builders solving real-world problems
Technical builders solving real-world problems
Operators transitioning into entrepreneurship
Operators transitioning into entrepreneurship
Get to Know Iowa's Ecosystem
Get to Know Iowa's Ecosystem
You’ll meet the people and organizations actively supporting startups across the state — accelerators, investors, universities, mentors, and community leaders — all working to help founders succeed in Iowa.
You’ll meet the people and organizations actively supporting startups across the state — accelerators, investors, universities, mentors, and community leaders — all working to help founders succeed in Iowa.
Join Us
Join Us
Come Build With Us
Come Build With Us
If you’re serious about building something: a company, a product, or your next chapter as a founder, Iowa Startup Week is here to help you grow.
Join hundreds of founders and builders coming together to learn, connect, and move forward.
If you’re serious about building something: a company, a product, or your next chapter as a founder, Iowa Startup Week is here to help you grow.
Join hundreds of founders and builders coming together to learn, connect, and move forward.
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
Save your place
Save your place
Your Next Step Starts Here
Your Next Step Starts Here
Your Next Step Starts Here
The startup journey is challenging, unpredictable, and incredibly rewarding. The right community can make all the difference.
Iowa Startup Week is your chance to find it.
Iowa Startup Week is your chance to find it.
FAQs
FAQs
Got Questions?
Got Questions?
What does it cost to attend?
What does it cost to attend?
What are the dates for this year's event?
What are the dates for this year's event?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Will volunteer opportunities be available?
Will volunteer opportunities be available?
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.