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!

Senior Director of Workforce and Business Innovation

Greater Iowa City Inc.

(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:

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Greater Iowa City Inc.

Greater Iowa City, Inc. (Greater IC) is a network of business and public sector leaders who collaborate to support local companies, guide investment, and grow a resilient economy.

Learn More

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

Partners

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

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

The IC CoLab is different. It’s not just a great place to work; it’s the best place to grow.  The IC Colab was Mazira’s introduction to the startup ecosystem. We made new connections, acquired new contracts and friendly advice is always just around the corner.

Anith Mathai
CEO, Mazira

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