Small Business and Startup Stories DSM
Startup Stories DSM features conversations with entrepreneurs who share both their victories and failures on their paths to success. It is produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
- Update frequency
- every 21 days
- Average duration
- 36 minutes
- Episodes
- 105
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2024
Travis Ensley – Dwolla
Travis Ensley of Dwolla shares how his military background taught him skills that go beyond a resume, and how he applies these skills in his work.
Scott Carlson – Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co.
Scott Carlson opened his first brewery with a vision to show off varieties to Greater Des Moines (DSM). Since then, he has increased his small business portfolio to four local favorite restaurants an…
Ben Lefever – Certintell Telehealth
Certintell Telehealth founder Ben Lefever shares how he managed to break into the health care industry by finding the right resources through the right mentors.
Sara Jacobson – Fusion Boutique
Sara Jacobson shares how she turned her long-time vision into reality by opening a beauty bar and clothing boutique, aptly named Fusion Boutique.
Omar Jordan – LenderClose
LenderClose bridges the gap in lending, allowing loan officers and lending staff to run a streamlined lending cycle. LenderClose owner Omar Jordan shares how he found success in the financial industr…
Cassie Sampson – East Village Spa
Cassie Sampson started East Village Spa out of a want to help people feel better. This attention to her customers combined with the dedication to her craft has helped foster East Village Spa's succes…
Levi Rosol – ScoreYard
Youth sports have ingrained themselves into today's culture. How these leagues are managed is often the determining factor to the experience these up-and-coming all-stars receive. Levi Rosol shares h…
Casey Niemann – AgriSync
More now than ever before, farmers are becoming connected with their local and trusted agribusiness consultants to innovate and challenge biological technologies, practices and advancements. AgriSync…
Burch LaPrade – Gain Compliance
Gain Compliance CEO Burch LaPrade shares how Greater Des Moines' (DSM's) status as an insurance hub served as a major motivator for his startup.
Megan McKay – Peace Tree Brewing
At the height of the Great Recession in 2009, Megan McKay decided to build a brewery in the small Iowa town of Knoxville on the edge of Greater Des Moines (DSM). Peace Tree Brewing Company has since …
Marry My City
Your loved one is getting married and you’re trying to find them the perfect gift. After you procrastinate too long to make that memorable keepsake, you decide to check out their registry only to fin…
Melissa Carlson – 818 Design
Melissa Carlson picked up a passion for graphic design as a student in high school. She credits her interest in creativity, art and design to a high school teacher who encouraged her to pursue the fi…
Ryan Gerhardy – Pitchly
Gabe Glynn – MākuSafe
Steve Sherlock – Pablow
The Sherlock’s startup, Pablow, is an insurance aggregate focusing on the travel insurance space. The platform connects with the APIs of six major insurance companies like AIG and Allianz to provide …
Tracy Fuller – InnovativEvents
Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur Tracy Fuller’s story began in 1987. Her son had passed away and she was looking for a way to get off the couch and into the world. Fuller started a company calle…
Brad Dwyer – Hatchlings
Todd Krone & Jason Cope – PowerPollen
