On this week’s Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams interviews John Jackovin, the Executive Director of the Broker Tech Ventures Accelerator. John shares insights into his extensive experience in the Des Moines startup ecosystem, discussing his journey from founding multiple companies to his current role in supporting startups through the Accelerator. The conversation covers John's early ventures, including a successful tech startup and a less successful smoothie business, highlighting important lessons learned along the way. They delve into the unique model of the Broker Tech Ventures Accelerator, which focuses on engaging startups in pilots and proof of concepts (POCs) with industry partners, rather than traditional venture capital funding. This approach has proven successful, with many participating companies raising significant capital and achieving substantial market value.

The discussion also touches on John's side project, Fluid, a custom software development agency. John explains how Fluid's agile, iterative approach to software development helps startups and established businesses alike in creating effective and user-friendly products. They reflect on the importance of community involvement in building a vibrant startup ecosystem and the personal motivations for John's continued commitment to Iowa's tech scene. The episode concludes with some fun questions about John's personal routines and influential books, offering a deeper glimpse into his life and philosophy.

Hear the full show: https://iowapodcast.com/john-jackovin-startup-life