Inaugural Iowa Startup Week Features Best of the Midwest Pitch Competition

Des Moines, IA, August 18,  2026 — Iowa Startup Week is coming to Des Moines this fall. Scheduled to take place September 28th through October 1st, Iowa Startup Week convenes entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders from across Iowa and the Midwest to celebrate tech innovation, entrepreneurship and the spirit of disruption. Workshops, breakout sessions, panel presentations and keynotes will be held at the Temple Theatre, the Main Public Library and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center in downtown Des Moines. The Opening Reception will be hosted at the Krause Gateway Center.

The week is anchored by a high-energy pitch competition called the Best of the Midwest on October 1st at Hoyt Sherman Place. This signature event draws top startups from across the Midwest, but only three (3) finalists will pitch live before a panel of distinguished judges (“Shark-Tank” style) for a chance to win the $25,000 cash prize + in-kind services. The Best of the Midwest is free and open to the public.

Tickets for Iowa Startup Week are available for purchase online. General Admission tickets are $99 and provide access to all conference sessions, including keynote speakers Mike Draper (Founder of Raygun), Annamarie Saarinen (Founder of Bloom), and Joseph Nelson (Co-Founder & CEO of Roboflow). Exclusive VIP and investor-level experiences are available for an additional charge.

“Iowa Startup Week has been a long time in the making,” says Founding Director, Kaylee Williams. “This event is entirely community-led and volunteer-driven, built by the innovators, small business owners and investors it is designed to serve. Our goal is to reach across state lines, to deliver programming that platforms (and energizes) founders from across the region.” Williams confirms 25+ Midwest venture investment firms will be in-attendance.

Startup founders, investors, ecosystem builders and public officials are invited to attend the first-ever Iowa Startup Week in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, event schedules, and tickets, visit www.iowastartupweek.com.

About Iowa Startup Week: Iowa Startup Week is an annual event dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration in Iowa and the greater Midwest. The event brings together startups, investors, and community leaders to share knowledge, build connections, and celebrate the spirit of innovation that drives the region forward.
 

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