Recognizing the State’s High-Tech Leaders
Des Moines –Iowa’s top technology innovators and entrepreneurs were honored this evening at the seventh annual Prometheus Awards dinner. The event, sponsored by the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) in partnership with LWBJ Financial, recognizes outstanding accomplishments of high-tech businesses and individuals throughout the state.
The Prometheus Awards provide the opportunity to showcase Iowa’s fast-growing tech sector, said Leann Jacobson, TAI President. Last year, the sector saw a return to the growth it enjoyed prior to the Great Recession, in Iowa and in many other states, she said, and looks forward to continued growth. “New polls tell us that half of all high-tech firms in the country are planning to hire more employees in 2012. Because public and private sectors have collaborated to make Iowa a place that inspires and nurtures innovation, our state stands to benefit greatly from this employment boom.”
The awards were presented at a sold-out ceremony at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. The event was co-sponsored by LWBJ Financial, which also presents Prometheus’ “Investing in Iowa’s Future” Awards, given to individuals or businesses helping to create long-term tech opportunities for Iowans.
2012 Prometheus Award Winners
Software Company of the Year (small/medium): T8 Webware in Cedar Falls, Wade Arnold, CEO. T8 Webware provides banks and credit unions with custom-branded mobile applications, websites and payment card services. Last year, the company introduced a new web platform and the Grip banking app, which allows banks and credit unions to offer customers the latest innovations in mobile banking. With its 2011 expansions, the company now does business in 36 states.
Large Software Company of the Year (Large): WebFilings in Ames, Matthew Rizai, CEO. WebFilings’ product is a cloud-based software for public companies to use for compliance filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, the company more than tripled the size of its customer base; by the end of the year, its customers included more than 25% of Fortune 100 companies and more than 25% of Fortune 500 companies.
IT Service Provider of the Year: Involta in Cedar Rapids, Bruce Lehrman, CEO. Involta provides full-service data center facilities, and manages and protects companies’ mission-critical computer systems and data. Last year, Involta expanded into Ohio, Minnesota and Idaho, and increased revenue growth by 22% over the previous year. The company also added 29 new full-time jobs in 2011.
Clean Technology Company of the Year: Submittal Exchange, Waukee, Matt Ostanik, CEO. Submittal Exchange provides software that streamlines the construction communications of building plans. Unlike traditional communications for construction projects, which can require thousands of paper copies printed by each person involved in a project, as well as the CO2 emissions involved in shipping the documents, Submittal Exchange’s web-based system is green, and allows the entire project team to access information online. The company estimates that for a $30 million university construction project, Submittal Exchange’s communication system can save more than 86 trees, more than 40,000 kWh of energy and over 98,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.
Best User of Technology: Ovation Networks, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Larry Selensky, CEO. Ovation Networks’ product is EcoManaged, a wifi energy-management service designed for the hospitality industry. Last year, the company installed EcoManaged units in six hotels in 2011, added 15 new full-time jobs, and increased payroll by 20% in Iowa.
Innovation in Teaching Award: Cyber-Anatomy in Iowa City, Dr. Karim Abdel-Malek, CEO. Cyber-Anatomys’ technology allows a virtual exploration and dissection of anatomy, which teachers use to advance students’ understanding of the human body. According to a National Science Foundation study released last year, such visual simulation helps students learn more quickly. The company now has about 110 virtual models in the fields of anatomy, chemistry, zoology and more. It recently introduced a 3D interactive version of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements that allows students to see how molecules change in chemical reactions.
Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer (CIO/CTO) of the Year: Brad Rasmussen, Senior VP and CIO of GeoLearning in West Des Moines. GeoLearning provided on-demand learning and performance management technology platforms and was acquired by SumTotal in 2011.
CEO of the Year: Charles Link, M.D., founder and CEO of NewLink Genetics in Ames. Link founded NewLink Genetics in 1999; today the company, which develops products to improve cancer treatment, is a world leader in cancer immunology and has 80 employees. NewLink has brought six products into oncology clinical development. Its lead product, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, is in phase three clinical trials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company has a collaborative relationship with the National Cancer Institute and a major grant from the federal government to evaluate the use of hyper-acute technology in infectious diseases.
Student Innovation of the Year: Stackd in Iowa City. Co-founded in May 2011 by then-juniors at the University of Iowa Stephen Ausman and Fredrick Galoso, Stackd provides an easy-to-use collaborative web hosting and file storage. product for freelancers, small teams and individuals. Still less than a year old, Stackd has already become profitable.
Break-Out Award: NewLink Genetics (see above).
Outstanding StartUp Company of the Year: Cyber-Anatomy (see above).
Top Growth Company of the Year: Genova Technologies in Iowa City, Dawn Ainger, CEO. Genova, founded in 1990, specializes IT services to the healthcare and defense sectors nationwide. Last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave Genova its Blue Ribbon Small Business award, recognizing the company for its role in economic growth and for its commitment to employees, customers, and community.
Life Sciences Company of the Year: Harrisvaccines, Inc.
Harrisvaccines focuses on improving animal health and enhancing productivity in the swine, cattle and farmed shrimp industries. Using state-of-the-art advanced molecular science, Harrisvaccines employs two unique RNA platforms to develop products which aid in the prevention and treatment of infectious animal diseases. Our proprietary Alphavirus RNA Particle technology allows Harrisvaccines to develop RNA-based products which enable differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA), an important tool in the control and eradication of animal diseases.
Technology Company of the Year (Small/Medium): Dwolla in Des Moines, Ben Milne, CEO. Dwolla is an online mobile payment network. Last year, Dwolla expanded from two employees to nearly 20, and increased its user and merchant base by more than 3,000 percent.
Technology Company of the Year (Large/Enterprise): WebFilings (see above).
Investing in Iowa’s Future:
- Dave Sengpiel, Senior Investment Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in Des Moines. Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improve their quality of life.
- StartupCity Des Moines, Christian Renaud and Tej Dhawan. StartupCity connects mentors with entrepreneurs and uses a proven curriculum to help turn ideas into new businesses.
Source: Harrisvaccines.