Impact
Progress deserves to be measured.
Every year we publish the Iowa Innovation Economy Report, a public scoreboard for building America's best state to start a business.
01 / 2027 targets
Where we start.
100
Iowa businesses built
3
Founding Partners signed
20
Students in Career Routes
1
Public report
Targets for 2027. Results replace them as they come in.
02 / What we measure
Six numbers. Published every year.
Registrations are only the starting count. We track businesses actually operating: revenue, jobs, survival, investment and partnerships.
AccessAnyone can start a business, whatever their network or bank account.
SpeedFrom idea to legally formed business in under 30 days.
SurvivalBusinesses we help build beat national survival benchmarks.
InvestmentMore capital flowing into Iowa startups and women-led businesses.
CollaborationMore partnerships between startups, companies and investors.
ImpactNew businesses working on Iowa's most important challenges.
03 / The roadmap
America's best place to build a business by 2035. All 50 states by 2040.
We start in Iowa, prove what works, share what we learn, then take the model across America.
PhaseGoal
2027 · Prove it100 businesses
2028 · Grow it1,000 businesses
2030 · Share itSecond state
2035 · Lead10 states
2040 · Everywhere50 states
04 / The Bellwether Awards
Recognizing the people building Iowa.
Each year we honor the founders, companies, mentors and neighbors moving Iowa forward, chosen from the stories Bellwether tells all year.
Nominate someone →