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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

ISU Startup Factory

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ISU Startup Factory

The ISU Startup Factory is an 18-week startup incubator helping researchers and inventors develop a

Iowa State University Economic Development and Industry Relations provides an avenue for students, faculty and staff to create businesses. We call it the ISU Startup Factory: a 52-week intensive program housed at the Iowa State University Research Park (ISURP). An affiliated ten week summer program for students, CyStarters, is also located at ISURP. The framework for the Startup Factory and CyStar

ters uses best practices from the likes of MIT, Stanford and other successful accelerators. Entrepreneurs in the StartUp Factory will receive formal training, resources, and access to a network of business mentors, advisors, counselors and investors in two 26-week blocks: the first a formal curriculum centered on business validation, and the second, customized to their individual business needs.

07/08/2026

Congratulations to the Iowa Go-To-Market Summer 2026 cohort!

We're excited to support Homeschool Foundry, Ikwe.ai, and Kalium Agri Inc. as they strengthen their go-to-market strategies and accelerate towards commercialization through this unique program.

The Iowa G2M Accelerator is a partnership between the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, BioConnect Iowa and VentureNet Iowa, connecting Iowa startups with tailored mentorship, strategic guidance and an extensive network of industry experts.

Learn more about Cohort 10: https://www.isupjcenter.org/?p=13150

06/15/2026

ISU Startup Factory is seeking an Entrepreneur-in-Residence to guide and support founders through the early stages of building a scalable business. Thursday, June 18 is the last day to apply for this position!

Ideal candidates:
Are familiar with the central Midwest startup ecosystem
Have experience as a founder or CEO of a startup company
Know how to raise capital or support founders through that process
Understand AI and business development software programs
Served as a technical founder/co-founder or member of a startup or entrepreneurial venture
Have advised or supported startups in a professional capacity

To learn more about the role, head to the posting: https://go.iastate.edu/7SOO0O

06/02/2026

Are you rooted in the central Midwest entrepreneurship ecosystem? Are you passionate about mentorship? ISU Startup Factory is looking for an Entrepreneur in Residence to guide founders through the early stages of building a scalable business!

The role is part-time (about 8 hours per week). Responsibilities include working one-on-one with startup teams, delivering and supporting program content, and sharing expertise in IP, funding, pitch prep and strategy.

Ideal candidates:
Have experience as a founder or CEO of a startup company.
Know how to raise capital or support founders through that process.
Understand AI tools and modern business development.
Served as a technical founder/co-founder or member of a startup or entrepreneurial venture.
Have advised or supported startups in a professional capacity.

Applications close Thursday, June 18.

Learn more and apply here: https://go.iastate.edu/7SOO0O

05/21/2026

Tuesday night marked Demo Day for Cohort 19, and we are excited to announce our newest cohort of Startup Factory founders and companies are now alumni!

Demo Day gives the companies in each Startup Factory cohort the opportunity to share all their new accomplishments with ISU faculty, family and past alumni. On Tuesday, over 70 people came and showed their support of these companies!

Please join us in congratulating Cohort 19!

05/18/2026

Register for tomorrow's Startup Factory Demo Day!

Join us May 19 from 5:30–8:00 PM at the ISU Research Park to support Cohort 19 as they present their startups. Stay for a fun networking reception with drinks, appetizers, and great connections!

Register here https://lnkd.in/g4_WGjnP

05/15/2026

There is still time to register for ISU Startup Factory Demo Day!

Join us May 19 from 5:30–8:00 PM at the ISU Research Park to support Cohort 19 as they present their startups. Stay for a fun networking reception with drinks, appetizers, and great connections!

Register here https://www.isupjcenter.org/event/suf-demo-day/

05/13/2026

Startup Factory Demo Day is next week!

Come out May 19 from 5:30–8:00 PM at the ISU Research Park to support Cohort 19 as they present their startups. Stay for a fun networking reception with drinks, appetizers, and great connections!

Register here https://www.isupjcenter.org/event/suf-demo-day/

04/15/2026

Congrats to Ama Ai (SUF Cohort 14 and Iowa G2M Cohort 9) on winning 3rd place out of 500 applicants at the inaugural ASU Spark Center for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) Global AI Challenge! Read more: https://go.iastate.edu/BPLBYI

04/03/2026

Attention Founders and Startup Supporters:

We’re excited to announce Iowa Startup Week: a statewide celebration of founders, builders, investors, creatives, and everyone helping shape the future of entrepreneurship in Iowa.

Don't miss a week of events designed to connect ideas with opportunity: founder stories, workshops, networking, panels, and conversations that bring our startup ecosystem together.

Whether you’re launching your first idea, scaling a company, supporting startups, or just curious about innovation, there’s a place for you here. Save your spot today.

📍 Des Moines, Iowa

📅 Sep 28-Oct 1

🔗 www.iowastartupweek.com

03/24/2026

We are thrilled to share that Rise Energy has been selected for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative, securing $340,000 in funding to advance its Autothermal Pyrolysis technology!

This milestone brings a decade of research at Iowa State University one step closer to commercial impact—turning waste into low-carbon energy solutions. Congratulations to Jordan Funkhouser, COO, Tannon Daugaard, CTO, and Ryan Smith, CEO on this achievement!

Read the Full Story: https://go.iastate.edu/EIKTAU

Address

Economic Development Core Facility 1805 Collaboration Place
Ames, IA
50010

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://www.isupjcenter.org/programs/isu-startup-factory/

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