Rural Business Innovators Podcast
The Rural Business Innovators Podcast is an educational podcast by the Iowa Small Business Development Center, interviewing rural entrepreneurs and Iowan innovators to effectively share their stories. In each episode, SBDC staff meet with a new small business in rural Iowa and ask them how they have navigated business ownership. You will hear how the business was formed, how it was funded, and how they are currently operating. Business owners will share the highs and lows of their journey and offer advice and wisdom to budding entrepreneurs.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 32 minutes
- Episodes
- 44
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Stitch N Sew Cottage
Mitchell Kearns chats with Ashley Stout from Stitch N Sew Cottage about helping customers discover quilting, and managing a business in one of Iowa's coziest small towns.
FBB Biomed
Mitchell sits down with Howard Urnovitz, the co-founder of FBB Biomed, to discuss the process of looking for a cure for cancer, innovative HIV tests, and relearning what it means to be an entrepreneu…
People and Profit System
Mitchell Kearns meets with Janey Stahl, the founder of People and Profit System, where she consults small businesses with the unique perspective of seeing the people involved and building trusting re…
Hummingbirds
Mitchell Kearns chats with Emily Steele, the founder of Hummingbirds, a social media marketing platform that highlights small businesses!
Bovi-Jet
The Iowa SBDC's Ray Hansen chats with Dakota Belling, the inventor of Bovi-Jet, an applicator for pour-on products for cattle that maximizes efficiency when it comes to breeding cattle!
Wayne's Ski, Cycle, & Fitness
Mitchell chats with Matt Curtis, the owner of Wayne's Ski, Cycle & Fitness in Mason City, about taking over a business from a previous owner, getting help from the SBDC, and taking care of both emplo…
Instatat
Mitchell Kearns sits down with Cat Dow, the owner of Instatat and Henna with Cat, an 18-year-old entrepreneur and the youngest on the RBI Podcast, who specializes in semi-permanent body art and works…
Repaint Studios
Mitchell Kearns talks with Billie Asmus, the inventor of the Repaint Tray, a reusable paint tray. She talks about the struggle of getting a patent filed, starting a business from scratch with a brand…
Lake Animal Clinic
Mitchell Kearns sits down with Holly Neuberger from Lake Animal Clinic, where she works as a veterinarian. Holly talks about the experience of leaving corporate veterinary work to pursue a more fulfi…
Plas-Tech Tooling
Dean Sonquist meets with Mitchell Kearns, and they speak about Dean's business, Plas-Tech Tooling. They talk about the experience of managing a business with his spouse and making tough calls for the…
The Cottage
Mitchell speaks with Taylor Borkowski, who runs The Cottage in Denison, Iowa, with her mom. They talk about the struggles of taking over a business during COVID, and learning more about business mana…
Three Bells Books
Mitchell Kearns and Molly Angstman talk about beers and books in relation to Molly's business, Three Bells Books, in Mason City.
https://threebellsbooks.com/
Zupp & Zupp Law Firm
Mitchell Kearns chats with twins Jennifer and Jessica Zupp about their law firm, the process of opening the firm, and how the SBDC helped them get started.
American Railcar Repair
Mitchell Kearns meets with father-son duo David and Chandler Horak to talk about their part in the railroad industry, American Railcar Repair.
https://americanrailcarrepair.com/
The Dessert Mixologist
Mitchell Kearns sits down with Lorrie Popik and Rae Guillermo -- the Dessert Mixologists, who have created a business out of their college friendship combining quick and easy desserts with alcoholic …
Tumbleweed
Mitchell Kearns talks with Paul Richardson, CEO of Tumbleweed, which specializes in providing families with virtual materials to ease the process of mourning their deceased loved ones.
Computer Concepts of Iowa
Ray Hansen and Mitchell Kearns meet with Adam Schweers to talk about creating and selling his business, Computer Concepts of Iowa.
I Saw the Sign
Mitchell Kearns chats with Denae Rosdail and Chelsea Bissen from I Saw the Sign LLC about their business which prints signs and apparel in Carroll, Iowa.
https://isawthesignllc.com/
The Way Automation
Mitchell Kearns talks with Tripp Hudson, the CEO of The Way Automation in Adel, Iowa about his business in the automation and technology industry.
https://www.thewayautomation.com/