Iowa Tech Podcast

Iowa Tech Podcast
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Technology
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Iowa Tech Podcast, your gateway to the vibrant world of technology and innovation right here in Iowa. Each week, we dive into the dynamic landscape of Iowa's tech industry, showcasing the brilliant minds, groundbreaking startups, and transformative ideas that are shaping the future. Join our host, Kaylee Williams, as we sit down with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are driving change and pushing boundaries in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agtech and clean energy. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding innovator, or simply tech-curious, the Iowa Tech Podcast offers insider insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to keep you at the forefront of the digital revolution. Tune in to explore how Iowa is making waves on the global tech stage and discover how you can be a part of this exciting journey.

  1. 6d ago

    Connectify HR: How a People-First PEO Powers Iowa's Growing Companies"

    In this episode, Kaylee sits down with Connectify HR's leadership team, CEO Melissa Ness and COO Krista Turner, to unpack how a modern, people-first PEO can radically simplify HR for growing companies. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/connectify-hr 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq From payroll and benefits to compliance and employee experience, they share how Connectify HR is helping small and midsize businesses get enterprise-level HR support without losing the personal touch. You'll hear how their complementary leadership styles shape the company's culture, why they chose to build as a locally owned Iowa firm, and what they're seeing on the ground with founders and operators across the region.

  2. Aug 25

    From NFL Running Back to Tech Founder: Trevor Bowlers on Belief, Pivots, and Product-Market Fit

    Former NFL running back and University of Iowa Hawkeye Trevor Bowlers joins host Kaylee Williams to share his journey from immigrant kid in Guyana to professional athlete to founder and CEO of Letter B Global Technologies. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/trevor-bollers 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Trevor talks about the "impossible" moments that shaped him—from his father's leap of faith moving their family to Canada, to grinding four years on the bench before finally starting for the Hawkeyes and earning a shot in the NFL. He connects those experiences to entrepreneurship, emphasizing belief in yourself, relentless preparation, and surviving in a world where someone is always being groomed to take your spot—just like in pro sports.

  3. Aug 18

    How Local Conversations, AI, and Basic Hygiene Protect Every Iowan

    How does cybersecurity affects everyday Iowans? Doug Jacobson, professor of cybersecurity at Iowa State University, and Corey Munson, Vice President at PC Matic share a decades-long mission to "teach every Iowan to be safe online" and explains how cybersecurity has evolved from a niche, tech-only concern to a people-centered challenge that touches schools, churches, small businesses, critical infrastructure, and families. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/CyberSafe-Communities 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Munson complements this perspective by describing how PC Matic approaches security from home users all the way to the federal government, and why hyper-local, trusted relationships are essential to helping people feel safe enough to ask "basic" questions about cyber risks without shame or fear.

  4. Aug 11

    Building in the Age of AI: Grant Jameson on Startups, Apps, and Experimentation

    Grant Jameson, an AI engineer and entrepreneur from Des Moines, traces his journey from a curious kid obsessed with coding and hacking to a career in software, cybersecurity, and ultimately AI engineering. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/grant-jameson 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Jameson talks about growing up in Johnston, Iowa, studying computer science at the University of Iowa, and earning security certifications before moving into his current AI role. He shares candid takes on the true costs of AI, including how token-based pricing models are reshaping the industry, and why he believes AI is powerful but far from an existential threat (at least, not yet).

    Building in the Age of AI: Grant Jameson on Startups, Apps, and Experimentation

  5. Jul 28

    Building Startups in Iowa: Alex Taylor on Entrepreneurship, Growth & Community

    In this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, Kaylee Williams sits down with Alex Taylor, Director of Entrepreneurship at NewBoCo, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful business in Iowa. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/alex-taylor  🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Alex shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, offers practical advice for early-stage founders on customer discovery, financial discipline, and building the right advisory team, and explains why Iowa's collaborative startup ecosystem is one of its greatest competitive advantages. The conversation also explores AI, startup funding, small business growth, and the resources available to entrepreneurs across the state.

    Building Startups in Iowa: Alex Taylor on Entrepreneurship, Growth & Community

  6. Jul 28

    Building Iowa's Future: Senator Joni Ernst on Entrepreneurship, AI, and Biotech

    At the Ernst Entrepreneurship Expo, held at Iowa State University, Senator Joni Ernst discussed why Iowa is well-positioned for entrepreneurship right now, citing the Working Families Tax Cuts Act's incentives for small businesses and the state's pipeline of skilled workers. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/joni-ernst-working-families-tax/  🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Enrst emphasized building a workforce that can analyze problems and create solutions, starting early in education. On AI, Ernst rejected the idea of moratoriums, arguing they'd let adversaries pull ahead, and instead favored flexible "guardrails" that protect consumers and national security while allowing innovation—pointing to Iowa examples like precision agriculture (targeted herbicide spraying) and cancer research advances.

    Building Iowa's Future: Senator Joni Ernst on Entrepreneurship, AI, and Biotech

  7. Jul 14

    The Intersection of Security & Creativity: A Conversation with Erin Rollenhagen

    Erin Rollenhagen, founder of People-Friendly Tech (formerly Entrepreneurial Technologies), sits down with host Kaylee Williams to discuss 20 years of building custom software for startups and enterprises. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/Erin-Rollenhagen  🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq From her early days developing corrections software to creating a 3D educational game for Iowa State, Erin shares the philosophy behind her company's "sweet spot" - the intersection of things that need to be really secure and really beautiful. The conversation covers her journey starting the company in 2007 on the cusp of the Great Recession, early sales lessons about proposal speed and close rates, and how she's grown her team from zero to 20 employees while maintaining a focus on meaningful projects. As AI reshapes the software development landscape, Erin offers a nuanced perspective on how her team uses AI tools to reduce costs and improve user experience, while cautioning against intellectual laziness.   Rollenhagen reflects on how her creative pursuits - painting and writing - inform her approach to building products, and shares hard-won wisdom about the importance of understanding your business finances from day one. Erin also explains the logic behind her company's recent rebrand and discusses how diversity of thought and creative problem-solving drive better outcomes in tech.

  8. Jul 7

    Building Iowa's Tech Community: Inside TechFuse Des Moines - Amy Lindberg and Bo Schatzberg

    Join host Kaylee Williams as she sits down with Amy Lindberg and Bo Schatzberg, co-founders of TechFuse Des Moines, to explore the evolution of Iowa's premier technology conference. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/tech-fuse 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq What started as two separate events, Agile Iowa (2014) and DevOps Days Des Moines (2018), has merged into TechFuse, a unified conference designed for IT and technology practitioners in central Iowa. Amy and Bo share how community feedback shaped the event's transformation, the introduction of new workshop tracks, and the conference's commitment to blending national speakers with local talent. They discuss the 4.5 tracks covering engineering, product leadership, AI, and hands-on workshops, all designed to give practitioners actionable insights they can take back to their jobs. Beyond the logistics, this episode dives into why Amy and Bo volunteer their time to run this nonprofit event, how AI is reshaping the tech industry and the conference's programming, and whether in-person events are making a comeback post-COVID. With nearly 200 early bird tickets already sold for a 500-person capacity, TechFuse is on track to be a major success. Whether you're an engineer, developer, architect, product manager, or simply curious about the future of AI in your career, this conversation offers valuable perspective on building community and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. TechFuse Des Moines takes place October 15-16 at the Community Choice Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Iowa Tech Podcast, your gateway to the vibrant world of technology and innovation right here in Iowa. Each week, we dive into the dynamic landscape of Iowa's tech industry, showcasing the brilliant minds, groundbreaking startups, and transformative ideas that are shaping the future. Join our host, Kaylee Williams, as we sit down with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are driving change and pushing boundaries in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agtech and clean energy. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding innovator, or simply tech-curious, the Iowa Tech Podcast offers insider insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to keep you at the forefront of the digital revolution. Tune in to explore how Iowa is making waves on the global tech stage and discover how you can be a part of this exciting journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Iowa Tech Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Iowa Tech Podcast

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