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The Future of Des Moines, Iowa: Sparking a tech boom

Communities need to invest in things that provide a support structure for entrepreneurs: promoting a culture of risk-taking, relationships with universities and big companies that techies can spin off of, providing access to capital, and a vibrant social scene, for starters.

The scene on the penthouse level of the Liberty Building downtown feels partly like a college house party: a game of "DJ Hero," coolers of beer, and side conversations going on in different rooms – one room that features an entire wall turned into a whiteboard.

The open house reception hosted by tech startup BitMethod, which builds smartphone and web apps and recently moved into its new digs, also has a hint of "business after hours," only with a different vibe, where the question between professionals is more often "What are you working on?" than "What do you do?"

This is an interconnected group, here to celebrate the next step of a company and, in the process, meet with friends, swap biz buzz and soak up an energy that emerges when people are trying to build something new.

A key to growing Iowa’s economy, business and political leaders say, is investing in small business startups like BitMethod, or Dwolla, a money-transfer site started by 28-year-old Ben Milne that just raised $1 million in equity financing.

Brianne Sanchez

Full Story: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101214/JUICE03/12150309/-1/caucus/The-Future-of-Des-Moines-Sparking-a-tech-boom

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Des Moines metro economy again rated in top tier
http://matr.net/article-42254.html

Iowa Innovation Council: A new plan for nurturing business http://matr.net/article-41778.html

Economic Development Officials look to Fairfield, Iowa for Inspiration http://matr.net/article-34442.html

Burt Chojnowski, Managing Partner, Brainbelt Consulting, Fairfield, Iowa proposes the "Entrepreneurial Development Corporation" http://matr.net/article-19826.html

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