A Season of Change and Renewed Momentum

The past few months have brought change — and clarity — for InnoVenture Iowa.

The beginning of the fall season marked a leadership transition within our organization, with Fund Manager Steven Brody’s retirement. As our leadership begins their search for a new CEO, our team has refocused our efforts on what we do best: deploying capital strategically, transparently, and in true partnership with founders across Iowa.

We’re seeing exciting momentum. Across Iowa’s bioscience, health, IT, and advanced manufacturing sectors, the energy is undeniable as founders continue building bold new solutions that could reshape the state’s economy over the next decade.

In the past quarter, we’ve committed $750,000 in new investments into four standout companies:

• Brightn – a mental health and wellness platform focused on supporting Gen Z in crisis, creating more accessible and data-driven pathways to early intervention.
• Blueprint Nav – a patient navigation platform designed to help individuals and families find clarity in the complex landscape of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
• Pathware – developing technology that accelerates pathology workflows and improves diagnostic accuracy, helping clinicians deliver faster, more precise patient care.
• Tylmen Tech – a platform that turns video and imaging data into actionable yield metrics for meat processors by capturing carcass cutability, fat distribution, and weight in real time.

Looking ahead, our focus is sharper than ever. We’ll be targeting investments in Iowa’s bio-innovation pipeline — from precision agriculture and animal health to medtech and digital diagnostics — with an emphasis on founders building towards measurable outcomes in their sectors. At the same time, we’re working to bridge the gap between founders and capital by strengthening collaboration with local angels and venture partners to help startups secure that critical lead investor.

We’re also continuing our efforts in founder education and community outreach through events such as the IEDA’s roadshow tour, the Iowa Angel Investor Summit (Nov 18) and Iowa Startup Week 2026 (more on that soon!).

The past few months have reminded us that good governance, aligned leadership, and genuine collaboration aren’t just ideals, they’re prerequisites for progress across Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

And that progress is well underway.

Onwards.

Safiya Lee-Evans
Program Manager | InnoVenture Iowa