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Summer Startup Tour Kicks Off July 7 Inviting the Startup Community to Reconnect

June 17, 2021

GREATER DES MOINES, IA (June 17, 2021) – The Greater Des Moines Partnership and several organizations focused on growing the Greater Des Moines (DSM) startup community are working together to host the first ever Summer Startup Tour, a month-long series of free events in July to welcome DSM’s entrepreneurs, creators and makers back to the community.

The Tour will also mark the 10th anniversary of the 2011 launch of the StartupCity DSM incubator, a public-private joint effort focused on growing the DSM early-stage technology community, viewed by many as the inflection point that led to the modern startup ecosystem.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, July 7 at Gravitate Coworking—Downtown. At Gravitate, the day will kick off at 8 a.m. with the in-person return of 1 Million Cups, a popular coffee-themed event that invites the community in to give feedback to a featured local entrepreneur. Gravitate founder Geoff Wood will share a “Introduction to the Des Moines Startup Scene” presentation at Noon, and close with a happy hour in the evening. Gravitate is offering free workspace to all who want to stay and work alongside other members of the startup community throughout the day.

Other dates and locations on the Summer Startup Tour include:

Maple Ventures – July 15 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

  • 11:30 a.m.: Lunch
  • 12 p.m.: Panel featuring physical-product builders and entrepreneurs
  • 1 p.m.: Tour of Maple Ventures

Mainframe Studios – July 22 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

  • 4:30 p.m.: Happy hour and introduction to Mainframe Studios by Siobhan Spain
  • 5 p.m.: Panel featuring artists and creatives
  • 6 p.m.: Tour of Mainframe Studios

xBk Live – July 28 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

  • 4:30 p.m.: Happy hour and networking
  • 5 p.m.: Welcome from Tobi Parks, followed by a panel featuring music producers, makers and entrepreneurs in the performing arts
  • 6 p.m.: A live concert to celebrate the end of the Summer Startup Tour.

“Coming out of the pandemic, we are starting to unfold to a new normal of time and space. There is a resurgence of people solving problems, creating, building, making, and starting businesses and side hustles,” said Diana Wright, Startup Community Builder for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “With the mass disruption the pandemic brought to our creative and business community, we emerge together to spotlight the resilience that makes up the fabric of our startup and entrepreneurial community in Greater Des Moines.”

Register for the Summer Startup Tour to attend and follow along for the full schedule of events, speakers and concert announcements at summerstartuptour.com.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity,?helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.