Next Level Ventures

Hummingbirds is a software-as-a-service marketplace that facilitates connections between brands and hyperlocal content creators and influencers. The company specializes in assisting place-based brands in identifying and collaborating with local creators to enhance brand awareness and drive sales. By leveraging community-led growth strategies, Hummingbirds enables everyday individuals to share their authentic experiences with brands within their local communities, fostering peer engagement and action. This approach allows brands to tap into the unique perspectives of local influencers, thereby enhancing their marketing efforts for products, services, or events.

Hummingbirds is a software-as-a-service marketplace that facilitates connections between brands and hyperlocal content creators and influencers. The company specializes in assisting place-based brands in identifying and collaborating with local creators to enhance brand awareness and drive sales. By leveraging community-led growth strategies, Hummingbirds enables everyday individuals to share their authentic experiences with brands within their local communities, fostering peer engagement and action. This approach allows brands to tap into the unique perspectives of local influencers, thereby enhancing their marketing efforts for products, services, or events.

iotaMotion, Inc. is a company focused on developing and manufacturing innovative cochlear ear implants to address hearing loss. Established in 2015 and based in Iowa City, Iowa, iotaMotion offers a robotic-assisted surgical system that standardizes the insertion of cochlear implant electrodes. This system is designed to enhance accessibility for both surgeons and patients, effectively reducing surgical variability by controlling the speed and acceleration of electrode insertion. By personalizing the insertion approach, iotaMotion enables healthcare professionals to deliver more precise and individualized cochlear intervention treatments, ultimately improving patient outcomes in hearing restoration.

Hummingbirds is a software-as-a-service marketplace that facilitates connections between brands and hyperlocal content creators and influencers. The company specializes in assisting place-based brands in identifying and collaborating with local creators to enhance brand awareness and drive sales. By leveraging community-led growth strategies, Hummingbirds enables everyday individuals to share their authentic experiences with brands within their local communities, fostering peer engagement and action. This approach allows brands to tap into the unique perspectives of local influencers, thereby enhancing their marketing efforts for products, services, or events.

Pitchly Inc., established in 2014 and based in Des Moines, Iowa, specializes in a cloud-based content services platform tailored for M&A professionals. The platform organizes intellectual property and enables users to create custom databases for recording data points and documents. It aggregates disparate information sources, reducing time spent on creating data-heavy documents by 93% with zero errors, and halves the time required to locate information. Pitchly serves investment banks, accounting firms, advisory firms, and law firms, empowering non-technical users to generate real-time PowerPoint and Word documents linked to internal business data.

Tractor Zoom, Inc. is an online platform based in Urbandale, Iowa, that connects farm equipment auctioneers with buyers. Since its founding in 2017, the company has developed a mobile application that allows auctioneers to list and promote farm machinery auctions while providing buyers with the ability to search and browse auction inventory nationwide. The platform not only simplifies the auction advertising process but also empowers agricultural leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding the buying, selling, financing, and insuring of heavy equipment. Consequently, Tractor Zoom enables users to manage their equipment purchasing needs conveniently from their mobile devices.

Mazen Animal Health, Inc. is a biotechnology company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative biological vaccines and therapeutics for both production and companion animals. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Saint Joseph, Missouri, the company focuses on creating orally-delivered vaccines that eliminate the need for refrigeration and facilitate multi-animal dosing. Utilizing maize as a biofactory, Mazen produces cost-effective and stable recombinant vaccines designed to tackle complex challenges in animal health and protein production. Their approach aims to revolutionize disease prevention in various species, including swine, poultry, aquaculture, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, ultimately enhancing productivity in the animal health sector.

OpenLoop Health is a technology company that provides a comprehensive infrastructure for digital healthcare, enabling healthcare organizations to enhance their service delivery. The company offers a full-stack platform that simplifies telehealth by centralizing essential services, including clinician support, laboratory services, medication management, and regulatory compliance. OpenLoop's solutions are designed to assist healthcare companies in scaling their virtual care services effectively, addressing staff shortages by maintaining an updated provider database and facilitating job matching based on location and specialty. This streamlined approach supports healthcare institutions in efficiently meeting their staffing needs while ensuring high-quality patient care.

Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Slater, Iowa, that focuses on innovative solutions for wastewater treatment. Founded in 2013, the company has developed the Revolving Algal Biofilm (RAB) system, which effectively removes nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater. This sustainable technology not only treats wastewater but also produces algae biomass that can be repurposed as fertilizer or bioplastics. By offering an economical and eco-friendly approach to water treatment, Gross-Wen Technologies aims to assist municipalities and industries in managing water quality while promoting environmental sustainability.

Dryland Genetics focuses on enhancing global food security through innovative crop solutions. It specializes in improving naturally drought-resistant crops like sorghum and millet using advanced quantitative genetics and high-throughput phenotyping techniques. The company's goal is to increase yields and enhance agronomic properties of these crops, enabling them to thrive in water-scarce regions where other staple crops struggle or fail. By doing so, Dryland Genetics aims to boost farmers' incomes while promoting sustainable agriculture and food supply.

Dwolla, Inc. is a financial technology company based in Des Moines, Iowa, established in 2010. The company specializes in providing application program interface (API) solutions that streamline bank transfers and facilitate customer management, enabling businesses to integrate account-to-account payment capabilities seamlessly. Dwolla's modern API allows users to connect bank accounts and initiate transfers efficiently, giving businesses the ability to program payments for same-day, next-day, or real-time processing directly to bank accounts. Their offerings also include the Dwolla Dashboard and Admin, which provides users with an intuitive interface for managing customer relationships, monitoring transactions, and analyzing business trends. By leveraging Dwolla's technology, organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies can enhance their cash flow, improve operational efficiency, and navigate the complexities of payment networks with greater ease.

WINPRO is the world's first and only line of blood protein supplements. WINPRO products use the power of clinically proven animal blood proteins to help prevent and combat the negative effects of stress-induced inflammation in dogs.

Mazen Animal Health, Inc. is a biotechnology company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative biological vaccines and therapeutics for both production and companion animals. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Saint Joseph, Missouri, the company focuses on creating orally-delivered vaccines that eliminate the need for refrigeration and facilitate multi-animal dosing. Utilizing maize as a biofactory, Mazen produces cost-effective and stable recombinant vaccines designed to tackle complex challenges in animal health and protein production. Their approach aims to revolutionize disease prevention in various species, including swine, poultry, aquaculture, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, ultimately enhancing productivity in the animal health sector.

OpenLoop Health is a technology company that provides a comprehensive infrastructure for digital healthcare, enabling healthcare organizations to enhance their service delivery. The company offers a full-stack platform that simplifies telehealth by centralizing essential services, including clinician support, laboratory services, medication management, and regulatory compliance. OpenLoop's solutions are designed to assist healthcare companies in scaling their virtual care services effectively, addressing staff shortages by maintaining an updated provider database and facilitating job matching based on location and specialty. This streamlined approach supports healthcare institutions in efficiently meeting their staffing needs while ensuring high-quality patient care.

Roboflow, Inc. is a software-as-a-service company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. It specializes in providing developer tools that facilitate the creation and deployment of computer vision applications. Its primary offerings include Roboflow Organize, a web application that streamlines image datasets and annotations, and Roboflow Pro, which allows organizations to deploy real computer vision applications efficiently using their existing engineering resources. The company's solutions focus on dataset management, automation of the annotation process, and compatibility with various formats, enabling developers to build models more accurately and rapidly. By replacing ad-hoc code with robust infrastructure, Roboflow helps teams eliminate common errors and improve model performance, ultimately accelerating the development cycle and aiding in the timely market release of innovative products.

MSUITE Corporation is a construction technology company that develops a cloud-based suite of management software designed to enhance collaboration among building information modeling (BIM), fabrication, and field construction teams. Founded in 2015 and based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the company offers several key solutions: BIMPro, a plug-in for Autodesk Revit that automates spooling selection and sheet creation; FabPro, a shop production management tool that ensures accurate productivity tracking and status updates; and FieldPro, a field management tool that enables site leadership to monitor real-time activities and productivity on construction sites. MSUITE's software solutions facilitate improved communication, expedite workflows, and reduce errors throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects.

Coviance is a technology-driven company that specializes in enhancing the lending process for credit unions and community banks. It has developed a web-based compliance platform that streamlines lending operations by integrating instant and traditional services. This platform allows financial institutions to improve efficiency, reduce the lending cycle, and provide a better borrowing experience. By leveraging advanced technology, Coviance enables users to digitize their lending processes, ensuring fast, accurate reporting and improved overall performance in loan origination.

VIDA is a lung health company that modernizes respiratory care by leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance patient outcomes and streamline care coordination. The company provides healthcare organizations and physicians with advanced quantitative data intelligence and impactful visualizations, enabling effective management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), lung cancer, and COVID-19. VIDA's software is FDA cleared, CE-marked, Health Canada licensed, and TGA registered, allowing for clinical use in the United States, European Economic Area, Canada, and Australia. Additionally, VIDA offers a comprehensive suite of clinical trial services, which includes advanced quantitative image analysis and support for trial data enhancement, site quality services, and subject screening, thus contributing to the acceleration of new therapies for patients.

MākuSafe Corp. is a technology company based in West Des Moines, Iowa, that specializes in wearable technology aimed at enhancing workplace safety and productivity. Founded in 2016, the company has developed a two-piece armband equipped with sensors that collect environmental data, including location and motion speed, as well as indicators of near-miss accidents. This data is transmitted to the MākuSmart platform, an online portal that allows safety and operational personnel to access real-time reports and predictive analytics. By identifying patterns in workplace risks, MākuSafe's technology helps organizations proactively reduce hazards and improve overall worker health and safety. The company's innovative approach integrates IoT sensors and software to deliver actionable insights, ultimately aiming to mitigate incidents and enhance operational efficiency.

FarmlandFinder, Inc. is an online platform based in Grimes, Iowa, that facilitates the buying and selling of farmland. Founded in 2016, the company provides a marketplace that connects farmers with suitable land opportunities, enhancing access to vital information related to upcoming land sales, auction listings, and sale price records. The platform features tools such as a sale comparison tool and soil composition maps, which enable users to make informed decisions while minimizing the time and costs associated with researching farmland real estate. By offering real-time data and market intelligence, FarmlandFinder aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the farmland transaction process.

MākuSafe Corp. is a technology company based in West Des Moines, Iowa, that specializes in wearable technology aimed at enhancing workplace safety and productivity. Founded in 2016, the company has developed a two-piece armband equipped with sensors that collect environmental data, including location and motion speed, as well as indicators of near-miss accidents. This data is transmitted to the MākuSmart platform, an online portal that allows safety and operational personnel to access real-time reports and predictive analytics. By identifying patterns in workplace risks, MākuSafe's technology helps organizations proactively reduce hazards and improve overall worker health and safety. The company's innovative approach integrates IoT sensors and software to deliver actionable insights, ultimately aiming to mitigate incidents and enhance operational efficiency.

Pitchly Inc., established in 2014 and based in Des Moines, Iowa, specializes in a cloud-based content services platform tailored for M&A professionals. The platform organizes intellectual property and enables users to create custom databases for recording data points and documents. It aggregates disparate information sources, reducing time spent on creating data-heavy documents by 93% with zero errors, and halves the time required to locate information. Pitchly serves investment banks, accounting firms, advisory firms, and law firms, empowering non-technical users to generate real-time PowerPoint and Word documents linked to internal business data.

Coviance is a technology-driven company that specializes in enhancing the lending process for credit unions and community banks. It has developed a web-based compliance platform that streamlines lending operations by integrating instant and traditional services. This platform allows financial institutions to improve efficiency, reduce the lending cycle, and provide a better borrowing experience. By leveraging advanced technology, Coviance enables users to digitize their lending processes, ensuring fast, accurate reporting and improved overall performance in loan origination.

Higher Learning Technologies develops educational applications designed for smartphones and tablets, enabling students to learn on mobile devices. The company offers its products through app stores like iStore and Google Play. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Coralville, Iowa, Higher Learning Technologies aims to empower students by providing innovative and engaging mobile education platforms. Their mission is to transform student lives by equipping them with the knowledge and confidence needed to achieve their dreams.

Dwolla, Inc. is a financial technology company based in Des Moines, Iowa, established in 2010. The company specializes in providing application program interface (API) solutions that streamline bank transfers and facilitate customer management, enabling businesses to integrate account-to-account payment capabilities seamlessly. Dwolla's modern API allows users to connect bank accounts and initiate transfers efficiently, giving businesses the ability to program payments for same-day, next-day, or real-time processing directly to bank accounts. Their offerings also include the Dwolla Dashboard and Admin, which provides users with an intuitive interface for managing customer relationships, monitoring transactions, and analyzing business trends. By leveraging Dwolla's technology, organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies can enhance their cash flow, improve operational efficiency, and navigate the complexities of payment networks with greater ease.

VIDA is a lung health company that modernizes respiratory care by leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance patient outcomes and streamline care coordination. The company provides healthcare organizations and physicians with advanced quantitative data intelligence and impactful visualizations, enabling effective management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), lung cancer, and COVID-19. VIDA's software is FDA cleared, CE-marked, Health Canada licensed, and TGA registered, allowing for clinical use in the United States, European Economic Area, Canada, and Australia. Additionally, VIDA offers a comprehensive suite of clinical trial services, which includes advanced quantitative image analysis and support for trial data enhancement, site quality services, and subject screening, thus contributing to the acceleration of new therapies for patients.

Igor Inc. is a developer of a power-over-Ethernet lighting platform that provides intelligent control over LED lighting systems for various environments. The platform allows users to connect Igor-enabled LED fixtures, motion sensors, and daylight sensors through a standard Ethernet network, facilitating the management of these devices via an application interface. Users can create virtual spaces to organize and control different sets of devices, such as lights, switches, and sensors, according to specific requirements. This functionality enhances operational efficiency, simplifies configuration, and supports future-proof building designs. Established in 2013 and based in Johnston, Iowa, Igor Inc. collaborates with a network of sales partners, including distributors, installers, contractors, and resellers, to deliver its innovative lighting solutions.

Workgroups DaVinci specializes in providing an end-to-end productivity solution tailored for marketing and creative teams. The company develops a project management software designed to enhance collaboration and task control within these teams. Their software offers workflow tools that facilitate the production of various media types, including print, interactive, photo, and video content. This enables organizations to efficiently manage projects, online proofing, and approvals, thereby streamlining their creative processes.

1COMM Medical Inc. is a company devoted to providing physician and health care organizations turnkey solutions for medical device patient monitoring and billing services.

VIDA is a lung health company that modernizes respiratory care by leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance patient outcomes and streamline care coordination. The company provides healthcare organizations and physicians with advanced quantitative data intelligence and impactful visualizations, enabling effective management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), lung cancer, and COVID-19. VIDA's software is FDA cleared, CE-marked, Health Canada licensed, and TGA registered, allowing for clinical use in the United States, European Economic Area, Canada, and Australia. Additionally, VIDA offers a comprehensive suite of clinical trial services, which includes advanced quantitative image analysis and support for trial data enhancement, site quality services, and subject screening, thus contributing to the acceleration of new therapies for patients.

Igor Inc. is a developer of a power-over-Ethernet lighting platform that provides intelligent control over LED lighting systems for various environments. The platform allows users to connect Igor-enabled LED fixtures, motion sensors, and daylight sensors through a standard Ethernet network, facilitating the management of these devices via an application interface. Users can create virtual spaces to organize and control different sets of devices, such as lights, switches, and sensors, according to specific requirements. This functionality enhances operational efficiency, simplifies configuration, and supports future-proof building designs. Established in 2013 and based in Johnston, Iowa, Igor Inc. collaborates with a network of sales partners, including distributors, installers, contractors, and resellers, to deliver its innovative lighting solutions.