6 events the Iowa tech community should check out
There are a lot of great one-time or annual events scheduled for our community in the next few months. Here are 6 of those that I'd encourage you all to check out:
Startup Weekend Cedar Rapids - Feb. 28
This will be Cedar Rapids first time hosting a Startup Weekend event and the third such event in the Creative Corridor. The inaugural Startup Weekend Des Moines in 2009 was my first exposure to the Iowa Startup Community and I wrote about that here.
Remember, to participate: you don't need to come with an idea, you don't have to want to quit your current job, you don't have any obligation past Sunday. You just need to be open to new ideas, new people, and want to work hard.
Register here ($99)
#IowaHour at SXSW - March 9 (Austin)
The official gathering of Iowans, expat Iowans, friends of Iowans will be at the UP Global/Kauffman Foundation Startup Oasis space on Sunday from 5-7 p.m. Iowa startups are invited to help co-host the event (at no fee). More information on that here.
Note - the #IowaHour is a sponsor of the Welch Avenue Show.
Register here ($0)
Mobile Hack brought to you by Dice - March 15 (Ankeny)
Dice is hosting their first-ever hackathon and they're doing it in Ankeny. They'll feature their new API and they have a prize pool of $10,000. Startup technologists, developers in established companies and students are all welcome at this event.
Note - Mobile Hack is a sponsor of the Welch Avenue Show
Register here ($0)
Mission Creek Tech + Innovation Conference - April 4 (Iowa City)
The Mission Creek music festival is taking a page from SXSW and this year added an adjacent tech conference. It's brand new and will be a mix of visiting and local presenters.
Register here ($85)
i2iowa - April 9 (Des Moines)
The third annual i2iowa Investors and Innovators Forum will be a chance to put your startup in front of investors from around the country. You can participate in the formal pitch process, show off your wares in a booth, or just attend. Chris Olsen of Drive Capital (a $250MM fund targeting Midwest companies) will keynote.
Register here ($99)
EntreFEST - May 14 (Iowa City)
EntreFEST is back this year for its seventh iteration. Billed as "the largest gathering of Iowa's entrepreneurs and the people who support them", it brings together startup founders, retail entrepreneurs and everyone in between.
Register here ($129)
Hat tip to Amanda Styron West for sharing most of these in the Startup Iowa Facebook group this week.
Photo Credit: jamescridland on Flickr.
