Host Kaylee welcomes back guest Diana Wright, Startup Community Builder at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, to recap the Iowa Angel Investor Summit. They cover what angel investing is, when founders should seek it (typically very early), and why Iowa's investor base is broader than many realize—even if many stay humble and private. Diana shares how this year's Summit expanded to a full-day program with a fundamentals workshop the night before, drawing about 50 attendees. The event balanced investor education with founder energy: a keynote from Billy Asmus of Repaint Tray (fresh off Shark Tank), rapid-fire 15-minute lightning talks on topics like tax credits, VC math, agtech outlooks, and "lessons from 50 investments," plus a standout founder panel with leaders from RoboFlow, The Hummingbird, and Bound.
They also highlight the "Best of the Midwest" session—a live, pooled-investment opportunity where attendees can collectively back seven pitching startups via a single LLC, simplifying cap tables and encouraging action. Kaylee and Diana discuss why angel networks matter for sharing diligence and industry expertise, how portfolio strategy fits into high-risk early-stage bets, and the importance of visible "oak tree" founders inspiring the next generation of "seedlings." This year's elevated venue—the glass-filled Krause Gateway Center—matched the ambition, supported by sponsorships that kept tickets to $50 and the room accessible to founders, aspiring investors, universities, and civic leaders. For ongoing deal flow and ecosystem updates, Diana points listeners to her Substack, Startup Iowa Hotlist, and the Iowa Startup Collective.
Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/diana-wright
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