Iowa

Non-Dilutive

Adrienne Greenwald sits front row to innovation. Venture Net Iowa is a helpful wayfinder and guides entreprenuers toward non-dulituve funding. We chat about how resources are abundant (see below!), but still take time to activate. We also discuss ways to give and receive feedback as founders.

Ben narrates a writing brewed for parents during the break, then we ski down the mountain and chat about the illusion of needing financial capital in order to build. We close by breathing through more building blocks that help us all continue to push progress.

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BONUS MATERIALS

https://VentureNetIowa.com/resources

http://Non-Dilutive.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Roasted Reflections Break: Training Wheels

https://BenMcDougal.com/tag/research

https://BenMcDougal.com/resources

http://RoastedReflections.com

http://BENBOT.ai

By Ben McDougal, ago

Rubik’s Cube

Curt Nelson and Beth Meyer help entrepreneurs spin the Rubik’s cube that is starting (and scaling) a business. The Entrepreneurial Development Center is celebrating 20 years of really getting involved to make an impact. Curt also leads the Iowa Venture Capital Association.

Together, we chat through the origin story of the EDC, then shift gears to chat about tracking milestones with mentors, giving advice, raising financial capital, managing startup boards, and the investor landscape throughout Iowa.

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By Ben McDougal, ago

Cheers to That

Navarr Grevious and Aaron Carter were visiting Des Moines from Miami, for the Black & Brown Business Summit. After QuikLiq won the $50K pitch competition, we found a spot to chat in the wild!

In EP46, we pour innovations into beer, wine, and spirits. We talk about how these co-founders met at Clark Atlanta University, then reunited to build together. We also talk about transitioning a small business to a scalable startup, technology that connects local communities, building a team, how to win pitch competitions, and signals to help you raise financial capital. After the break, you’ll learn about the three-tiered system within the spirits industry and tasty trends you’ll be sipping on soon. I’ll cheers to that!

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By Ben McDougal, ago

Do What You Love

Scotty Russell is a web3 artist, podcaster, and business coach for creators. His cosmic illustrations are minted on Solana and other blockchains. He’s also recorded 250+ episodes of the Side Hustler’s Perspective and has coached 1,500+ artists to extend their creative seasons.

Scotty was in Des Moines for a web3 gathering, so he and Ben popped in the studio to record this relic. We talk about building into side hustles, fine artists leveraging digital art, and gamifying different buckets of value.

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By Ben McDougal, ago

Additive Manufacturing

Brandon Hart is a builder who helps others do the same. EP41 is all about 3D printing and how additive manufacturing helps evolve ideas into reality, while boosting sustainability in manufacturing and providing a path to our own neon future.

Along with talking about the futuristic things we can “print”, such as nanotechnology, boitech, and food; Brandon shares his winding entrepreneurial path and makes news by introducing the HSP1-I, an all-new industrial 3D printer! Hartsmart Products delivers 3D printers, eco-friendly filament, 3D printer resins, and endless parts to upgrade the nerdery, so it was neat to share this milestone moment within a hartfelt episode you’re sure to enjoy.

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By Ben McDougal, ago