Small Business is Innovative

Koos Medical Innovations   Des Moines, Iowa Dr. Maggie Koos founded KMI. KMI was established to address critical gaps in disposable medical isolation gowns that fail to meet FDA requirements, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections. As a woman-owned...

Small Business Honors Family Tradition

Flora Design Studio LLC   Cedar Falls, Iowa As a child, Leah would work at her grandparent’s floral shop and opened up Flora Design Studio in part to honor their small business legacy. Leah came to the Iowa center for business coaching and was also took part in...

Small Business is Fresh and Local

Midland Co. Ames, Iowa Having managed his family’s sheep farming business throughout high school and college, Jackson Kimle was interested in agriculture and sustainable farming practices from a young age. Jackson developed a revolutionary new circulatory system...

Small Business Begins with Tradition

DotŁ’Izhi   Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City based indigenous artist Alicia founded DOTŁ’IZHI with a mission to design jewelry that remind women of their strength, beauty, and worthwhile honoring her Native American traditions. She came to The Iowa Center for Business...

Small Business Starts with a New Way to Eat Mexico

Cafe San Miguel    Des Moines, Iowa Carla San Miguel was a home baker with a dream of owning a modern Mexican eatery. She received business coaching at The Iowa Center to scale her services into catering, and save money for continued expansion. She is now preparing to...

Small Business begins with Leche

Cafe Con Leche Des Moines, Iowa Ana had experience in hospitality as a partner in a successful restaurant. She came to The Iowa Center for support to open a new Latino-owned coffee and breakfast place. Cafe Con Leche on Des Moines’ east side offers Mexican breakfast,...

Small Business Starts with the Law

Fautsch Tursi   Des Moines, Iowa David and Elizabeth were law partners in a prominent Des Moines firm but felt a call to practice in an area that would allow them to stand shoulder to shoulder with clients during the toughest times of their lives. They came to The...

Small Business comes from Heritage and Hospitality

Hotori   Des Moines, Iowa Nam and his partner Torri have operated the successful Horizon Line Coffee shop for over seven years. They came to The Iowa Center seeking start-up capital for a home goods store. They now operate the new shop called Hotori in the space next...

Small Business is Local but Global

Hoq Restaurant   Des Moines, Iowa Chef Suman features fresh ingredients from local farms at his restaurant in the historic East Village of Des Moines. Chef Suman launched HOQ with support from The Iowa Center, and later returned for assistance with expansion plans for...

Small Business Begins in Venezuela

+58 Venezuelan Food   Windsor Heights, Iowa Lenin left Venezuela due to political unrest and dreamed of opening a food truck featuring menu items from his home country. Rivas and his father-in-law opened the truck in March with Coaching support and a loan from The...