2019 Best Tech Startups in Iowa
The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best tech startups in Iowa. In doing our research, we considered several factors including but not limited to:
- Revenue potential
- Leadership team
- Brand/product traction
- Competitive landscape
Additionally, all companies must be independent (unacquired), privately owned, at most 10 years old, and have received at least one round of funding in order to qualify.
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1. Syncbak
Founded: 2009
Also honored in:
“Syncbak powers the industry’s most successful OTT solutions, including live for CBS All Access, Hulu, fuboTV, and more. Syncbak’s end-to-end platform, SimpleSync, is used by broadcasters for live stream transcoding, cloud-based rights resolution, cloud-based DVR, device filtering, geo-location services, content management, stream monitoring, video clipping, and dynamic ad insertion. Syncbak’s technology currently reaches 98 percent of the U.S. population across 195 markets, representing 54 stations groups and all major networks, including CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC and The CW.”
2. Higher Learning Technologies (HLT)
Founded: 2012
Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Iowa
“Our Mission: To empower students by creating the most innovative, captivating and successful education platform.
HLT is the world leader in mobile learning solutions. We provide the most efficient and convenient way for students across the world to learn and achieve their dreams.
We partner with the world’s leading educational organizations to create customized digital test prep and learning solutions. All of our products are designed to optimize learner outcomes and allow students to learn whenever and wherever is best for them.”
3. Igor
Founded: 2013
“For commercial buildings, an easy-to-use platform begins with an IoT infrastructure that offers reliability, security, and scalability. Bring all your IoT systems together for hassle-free communication with Igor’s open, standards-based platform, Nexos, that leverages proven Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology.
Igor’s innovative platform enables an unprecedented level of intelligent control over building systems in spaces of all sizes. Traditionally, buildings have been viewed as a fixed environment, but with the capabilities of an IoT ecosystem, buildings are now agile.”
4. Pear Deck
Founded: 2014
Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Iowa
“Pear Deck helps schools optimize their 1:1 programs through interactive synchronized presentations. A Pear Deck is a presentation displayed on a projector and student devices simultaneously. Teachers build interactive slides as a component of their deck that invite or require responses on individual devices and then display visualizations of aggregate data on the teacher’s dashboard or projector in real-time.
Teachers launch presentations on student screens with a single click, watch student answers come in, and engage the entire class in group discussions. Pear Deck blurs the line between instruction and assessment to promote active learning and data-driven instruction.”
5. Smart Ag
Founded: 2015
“Our vision at Smart Ag is to Enable Farmers to Perfect Their Operation of farm equipment we believe it all starts by unlocking the potential of farmer not the acre, not the seed, and not the plant.
In our opinion, the smartest way to solve the huge worldwide challenge of feeding a fast growing population is to empower farmers to complete operations faster, more consistently and with less labor than ever before, we believe they can unlock the potential of the land better than anyone else. With the correct tools, technology and knowledge, farms can do the seemingly impossible.”
6. MākuSafe
Founded: 2016
“MākuSafe is an Insurtech SaaS/Data & Analytics company based in America’s Heartland. Our mission is to improve worker health, safety, and productivity while reducing worker compensation claims and mitigating workplace risks. Founded in 2016, MākuSafe has developed proprietary wearable technology that gathers real-time environmental and motion data from workers. Patents pending. Our cloud platform, MākuSmart, then uses machine learning to identify high-risk trends in the facility. The portal auto-records near-misses, proactively targets resources to specific conditions & occurrences, and streamlines compliance reporting.”
7. MCI World
Founded: 2015
“Mass Markets executes domestic omni-channel, inbound and outbound contact center services on behalf of some of the most recognizable brands in the world. As an industry leader with deep expertise in managing interactions across the customer lifecycle, Mass Markets connects customer service, inside sales, market research, automated customer contact and back-office business processes into comprehensive, flexible solutions. Servicing a range of industries, Mass Markets designs high-performance, analytics-driven solutions that produce real results. Under its signature Anything-as-a-Service platform, Mass Markets provides a suite of services and technology that extends beyond the contact center to enable organizations to better target and connect with customers. Anything-as-a-Service accelerates the transformation of business by utilizing intelligent infrastructure and domestic labor to provide significant cost advantages and superior technological footing to businesses that challenge the status quo.”
8. SwineTech
Founded: 2015
Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Cedar Rapids
“SwineTech, Inc. is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is bridging the gap between producers and pigs through sensor-based technologies. SwineTech creates solutions to reduce the number of pigs that die from disease, lameness, starvation, and piglet crushing. The introduction of properly integrated advanced managements systems and sensor-based technologies allows farmers to significantly improve the welfare, sustainability, and productivity in swine facilities. SwineTech’s mission is to “save a pig” and enable farmers to feed the world.”
9. Performance Livestock Analytics
Founded: 2016
“Performance Livestock Analytics aims to create the premier farm management information system for the livestock industry to help producers to become more sustainable and profitable through the power of big data and software analytics. Consolidation continues in the livestock industry resulting in independent farmers continuing to leave the rural landscape. PLA provides the technology innovation to help livestock farmers improve profits and to remain competitive and viable.”
10. College Raptor
Founded: 2014
Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Iowa
“Are you looking for funded startup in the lowa City / Cedar Rapids, Iowa corridor?
College Raptor is a higher education technology company that’s working to simplify the college search and application process. We help match students with schools based on their interests, fit and affordability, which helps more students succeed and receive the best education for the money!”