Greater Des Moines Partnership Opens Registration for Annual Entrepreneur Field Days Series
GREATER DES MOINES, IA (July 30, 2026) – The Greater Des Moines Partnership has opened registration for this year’s Entrepreneur Field Days series, a collection of free, behind-the-scenes experiences connecting aspiring entrepreneurs and community members with some of central Iowa's most innovative companies and founders.
Inspired by Iowa's long tradition of agricultural field days, the series applies the same spirit of shared learning to entrepreneurship by creating opportunities for others to learn from their experiences.
Hosted at businesses across the region, the six-event series allows participants to network, explore a variety of industries and hear firsthand from the entrepreneurs behind the businesses shaping Greater Des Moines.
"Entrepreneurs often learn best from other entrepreneurs," said Diana Wright, Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at The Partnership. "Reading about someone's journey is one thing. Walking through their business, hearing the challenges they faced and asking questions in real time creates a completely different learning experience. That's what makes Entrepreneur Field Days special."
This year’s Entrepreneur Field Days include:
- Friday, Aug. 21: Reimagining Place: North DSM City Townhall with Kuuku Saah, real estate developer and owner of Ntontan RE
- Tuesday, Aug. 25: Transforming Agriculture with Autonomy: Sabanto Ag with Craig Rupp, founder & CEO, Sabanto Ag
- Tuesday, Sept. 1: Baking a Sweet Success: Thelma's Treats with Dereck Lewis, founder & CEO, and Nola Morris, Chief Brand Officer at Thelma's Treats
- Tuesday, Sept. 10: Creating Spaces that Inspire: Liz Lidgett with Liz Lidgett, owner of Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design
- Tuesday, Sept. 15: Transforming High School Sports: Bound with Sam Schill and Nathan Haila, co-founders of Bound
- Thursday, Sept. 17: From Soil to Stone Mill: The Story of Early Morning Harvest with Jeff Hafner, owner of Early Morning Harvest and That Iowa Girl
Each event gives participants an inside look at a different business, with opportunities to hear directly from founders, explore the decisions and challenges that shaped each company’s growth and gain insights into industries ranging from ag technology and food manufacturing to commercial real estate and software development.
The series reflects The Partnership's ongoing commitment to strengthening Greater Des Moines' entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing entrepreneurs together to share knowledge and build connections to help more small businesses succeed faster.
This year’s Entrepreneur Field Days series is sponsored by JPMorganChase and Principal, with additional grant support from Aureon.
Entrepreneurs at every stage, along with anyone interested in learning more about innovation and entrepreneurship across Greater Des Moines are welcome to attend. While all sessions are free and open to the public, advanced registration is required and attendance is limited for each event.
Complete event and registration details are available at DSMPartnership.com.
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About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving multiple counties in Greater Des Moines. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Chamber Members, The Partnership helps businesses grow and advances quality of life in Greater Des Moines with one voice, one mission and as one region, contributing to a vibrant regional economy. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.