Resources for Entrepreneurs

Start your passion.

You’ve got an idea. Now let’s make it a reality.

Whether you want to pitch your newest idea, or you need resources to get your business off the ground, MERGE and the Iowa City Area Development Group team is here to help you along the way.

What stage are you at?

Idea Stage

Inspire. Educate. Validate.

This is the time where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product. Ready? Let’s begin –>

Launch Stage

Start. Develop. Launch.

In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step. Ready? Let’s Launch –>

Growth Stage

Recognition. Funding. Growth.

Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups. Ready? Let’s grow –>

Committed to helping entrepreneurs.

The Iowa City Area is consistently ranked as a great place to both start a business and to live. Our community is thriving with entrepreneurs, startups, and is home to many corporate headquarters.

The Iowa City Area has several incubator spaces for local entrepreneurs including MERGE in downtown Iowa City, CoWork @ 808 in Coralville, and the ICCoLab in North Liberty. Additionally, our area hosts weekly 1 Million Cups, Startup Weekend, Entrefest, and other events targeted to entrepreneurs and startups. Iowa City has also been ranked as the 2nd Best City for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine!

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Connect with Liz Hubing!

Director of Community Development and Entrepreneurship

Iowa City Area Development Group

(319) 248-6910

[email protected]

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MERGE

MERGE offers an open coworking space with benches, dedicated offices, conference rooms, large training room, business resources, community events, Wi-Fi powered by ImOn, free coffee, and much more!

Learn more about each location and membership plans:

Iowa City
Coralville
North Liberty
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Iowa City Area Development Group

The Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD)’s mission is to create,
collaborate, and act boldly to help build the economic future of our
community and be the best place for all people and businesses to THRIVE.

Learn More

Are you a startup, entrepreneur, traveling digital nomad or just looking for space to work?
Become a Member

Partners

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MERGE website – partners (4)
MERGE website – partners (2)
MERGE website – partners (4)

The IC CoLab opened its doors at an opportune time for Radiology Protocols. We are a young company and needed to expand. Not only did the IC CoLab provide the space and office infrastructure we needed; it connected Radiology Protocols to the business community and the wider entrepreneurial network. The culture of energy and connectivity at the IC CoLab is invaluable to an entrepreneur.

Stephen Baker B.S. RT(R) (MR)
Founder & President, Radiology Protocols

The Coralville CoLab is my permanent work place. I worked at home the past 5 years and I can’t explain how nice it is to get out of the house and be around great and intelligent people. The atmosphere is amazing and state of the art. Between good people, amazing office space you can’t ask for much more.

Rick Bodey
CEO, Backspace Group a Digital Marketing Company

Our CoLab space in Coralville provides business and entrepreneurial resources to our members, including Backspace Group, Inland Bank & Trust, Letter B, Culture Friendly Consulting, and John Naeve.

Mark Nolte
President, ICAD Group
MERGE