Michael Ott, president of Iowa City-based Rantizo, presents to billionaire former AOL CEO and co-founder Steve Case as part of the Rise of the Rest bus tour to find up-and-coming talent in America.
Iowa City agritech startup Rantizo made a brief appearance in a March 17
60 Minutes segment highlighting billionaire former AOL CEO and co-founder Steve Case and his Rise of the Rest bus tour to find up-and-coming talent in Middle America.
Mr. Case's $150 million Rise of the Rest investment fund is intended to help companies located outside of traditional venture capital-friendly areas. This addresses a need faced by companies like
Rantizo, which are trying to find investment resources while staying close to their Iowa roots.
"75 percent of venture capital goes to three states: California, New York and Massachusetts," Mr. Case said in the segment, which highlighted the bus tour traveling the country in search of the next great ideas in all industries. "Some of the best opportunities are off the beaten path...Most of the venture capital is on the coasts and not in the middle of the country, and we just have to change that."
Rantizo CEO Michael Ott presented to Mr. Case and his venture capital partner, J.D. Vance, at the Rise of the Rest event in Memphis, Tennessee, last year. Mr. Ott and a prototype Rantizo drone sprayer are pictured in the intro of the 60 Minutes segment. Since this time, Rantizo has built larger multi-functional prototypes, closed an oversubscribed seed round and filed a provisional patent.
The targeted drone spraying platform utilizes electrostatic technology to safely and precisely deliver cartridge-dispensed agrichemicals when and where they are needed.
The Local Craft Ale House plans to deliver on its name
There's plenty in a name for The Local Craft Ale House, which is set to open its doors April 1 with a focus on homegrown beers and locally-sourced food.
The tavern and eatery, taking over the former Prime Time Sports Bar and Restaurant at 4001 Center Point Road NE in Cedar Rapids, will offer an Iowa-inspired and sourced menu and 16 beers on tap from area favorites like Big Grove, SingleSpeed, Lion Bridge and Backpocket.
"We are trying to work in as many Iowa products as we can," said owner Jason Wilkerson, adding he envisions
The Local Craft as a place that will cater to the happy hour crowd or those looking for a comfortable place to gather with friends after work.
Mr. Wilkerson said he has invested in upgraded kitchen equipment and hired four culinary arts graduates in hopes of serving fare that is several cuts above "typical bar food." Though the menu is still being finalized, it will feature burgers made from Iowa beef, pork tenderloin, a shaved prime rib sandwich, a rotating selection from the Sausage Foundry and healthy options, including Oasis hummus served with a choice of veggies or pita chips.
"We wanted to have healthier, fresher options," he said, " and we want to partner with other local businesses.
The redecorated space featuring Iowa brewery signage will have what Mr. Wilkerson calls " a clean and classy ambiance" with 90 high-top bar seats as well as limited table seating. An outdoor p
atio with seating for 40 will offer respite in the warmer months - and, he hopes, a landing pad for cyclists biking the nearby trail. The space also features a jukebox, pool table, two dart boards and a Golden Tee machine. While not a sports bar per se, 11 televisions will ensure fans have a spot to watch all the games of local interest.
The restaurant industry "is something I'm passionate about," said Mr. Wilkerson, who has worked in food service since 2000, both in restaurants and on the restaurant and catering side of a grocery store chain. "The biggest thing for me is the people - hosting and having a place where people have a good time. I know when that happens, customers become regulars and regulars become friends."
The Local Craft will open at 11 a.m. daily.
CR marketing consultancy seeks to lead on social responsibility
Anna Patty
A new Corridor consulting firm is hoping to shake up the status quo when it comes to marketing, public relations and fundraising via "a social responsibility twist."
Be The Good Consulting LLC, of Cedar Rapids, was founded by Anna Patty, formerly of Epiphany, to shift the focus from the bottom line to "mission-driven approaches" and strategies founded in social responsibility.
In a press release, Ms. Patty cited evidence reflecting consumers' increasing consideration of organizations' environmental, social and governance when selecting where to invest money. A recent study by Oxford University, for instance, found that more than 80 percent of investors consider those factors when making decisions.
Be The Good Consulting looks to harness this evidence and turn it into "a marketing and public relations mind shift." Rather than just a marketing tactic, the company interprets social responsibility as a change in how businesses and nonprofits work, Ms. Patty said.
"When I looked around at my colleagues in the industry, I felt something was missing," she said. "I hope to offer a solution to socially conscious businesses and nonprofits of all sizes looking to grow their impact. A small budget does not have to equal a small impact."
Be The Good Consulting began serving clients in March and offers strategic and comprehensive marketing, fundraising, data management and public relations services for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. To learn more about the business, visit BeTheGoodConsulting.com.
Students win seed money in JPEC startup competition
Several startups created by University of Iowa students were recognized with cash prizes as part of the Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) IdeaStorm competitions.
IdeaStorms are entry-level pitch competitions open to all UI students that introduce students to innovation by encouraging them share their ideas in two minutes or less with their peers and a panel of judges. A total of 118 students pitched their ideas in February at four different competitions, each with a different theme.
Students competed in four categories. The winners of each category received $500 and are listed below.
Health initiatives
Scott Tribbey, with Spine Buddy, which provides a way for adolescents to feel comfortable in a scoliosis brace while improving their spine.
Creative concepts
Lance Junck, with Open Mic, an online platform that directly connects theater teachers with emerging playwrights looking to get their work produced.
Common good
Andrea Ford, for her idea of a mental health and addiction center that acquires warehouse space as housing and skill training for homeless people.
Consumer solutions
Bryce Prokof, with Amateur Caddie, a golf accessory holder/organizer that clips to the outside of a golf bag to allow easier access to the essentials golfers need during their round.
In this week's consulting spotlight, Gale Mote of Gale Mote Associates explains why making sure new hires have the right values and soft skills trumps technical proficiency.
There has been much conversation locally, in our state and around the country regarding the workforce skills gap - when what the employer needs and the applicant has to offer don't align.
I believe there are some truisms to remember when you are on either side of the hiring desk.
First, most businesses agree they can teach the technical skills (even though they may prefer candidates are ready to hit the shop/office floor running), but it is more difficult to train on attitude or values. For this reason, it is critical that a job seeker's personal values align with the core values of the organization. Both need to be clear on what matters most, and why and how the values are demonstrated in daily interactions with customers and colleagues.
Second, while behavioral interviewing is important in identifying whether a candidate has the ability, skill and will to be effective in a role, most people are interview-savvy. When they hear, "Tell me about a time...." they have prepared how to respond. In his book, "The Ideal Team Player," Patrick Lencioni encourages employers to make interviews nontraditional - to get them out of the office into an unstructured environment. For example, ask a candidate to run an errand with you and see how they respond to conversational questions and the people they interact with along the way.
With respect to the specific skills that employers want today, I did some online research using career websites like
Monster.com and TheBalanceCareers.com. Not surprising, many of the high-demand skills are quite similar across industry and occupations.
Teamwork is the ability to work interdependently with others. Team players are willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good of the team. They are aligned on the shared goal of the team and will do whatever is necessary to help - even if it means taking on a task or responsibility that is outside of their job description. They are emotionally intelligent - saying the right thing at the right time for the right reason. They are skilled at making sure the message sent is the one that was received.
Employers need workers who can find fresh ways to approach their work and challenge status quo to help the organization innovate and grow. Creativity, problem solving and critical thinking are essential. The ability to define the real issue, come up with multiple alternatives and make reasoned judgments or recommendations are helpful at all levels of an organization.
While small business is cheering parts of the Trump tax reform package, CNBC reports many feel the law didn't go far enough - and because tax breaks for small businesses aren't permanent,
it's difficult for business owners to make long-term decisions.
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Corridor Stocks
Short-Term Event Planner
March 21
Branding Fundamentals, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6:30-8 p.m., Linn Area Credit Union, 3375 Seventh Ave., Marion. This session will cover the fundamentals of creating, developing and maintaining your organization's brand. Free. To register or for more information, visit
scorecr.org.
March 25
Help Defend Yourself Online and In-Person, by Wells Fargo Advisors, 6-7 p.m., Cedar Rapids Public Library, Beems Auditorium, 450 Fifth Ave. SE. Financial advisors Kate Varcoe and Amy Lee will discuss the warning signs of financial fraud, how vulnerable you are to identity theft and how to protect yourself. Sgt. Laura Faircloth, of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, will be the guest speaker. Free. For more information, call (319) 365-8651.
March 27
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR.
Sharpen Your Skills: Using Reference USA and Lynda, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Marion Public Library, 1095 Sixth Ave., Marion. Experts from the Marion Public Library will demonstrate how to use Reference USA, a mailing database with more than 54 million businesses, and Lynda, a resource library with videos on thousands of business topics. Free. For more, visit
marioncc.org.
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/.
Dealing with Difficult People, by Iowa Quality Center, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, 2490 Crosspark Road, Coralville. Learn how to address this critical HR issue within your team or organization. Free. To register, visit
iowaqc.org.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
A well-timed solar flare from the sun could put North America in good position to see the northern lights Friday night into Saturday morning. The flare originated from a new sunspot on the surface of Earth's closest star. While not a particularly strong flare, it did produce a measurable coronal mass ejection (CME) which is headed in the direction of the Earth. Impacts from this appear to be minor, but it could put on a good northern lights show starting as early as Friday night. Since it was a fairly potent CME, the lights may be seen farther south than usual. The best chance of seeing the northern lights will be in the northern U.S., including much of northern and central Iowa. The northern lights are particularly difficult to forecast, so this has the possibility of changing in the coming days.
One person was injured after a shooting in Cedar Rapids southeast side.
Officers received a call about shots fired on Sixth Avenue and 16th Street SE around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Then Cedar Rapids Police responded to Mercy Medical Center where an 18-year-old man was being treated. He is expected to be OK and no arrests have been made in this case. If you know anything about this case, call Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 272-7463.
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
Another front will slide through late tonight into Friday bringing additional clouds, but high pressure will be right on its heels, clearing out the clouds, leading to a sunny and mild end to the week with temperatures near 50 degrees. Saturday is the pick of the week. Southerly winds will boost temperatures into the mid-50s with plentiful sunshine. Saturday night, a fairly disorganized system will move into the region bringing showers early Sunday morning through the day. Rain amounts will be light enough where no significant impacts to rivers or flooding are expected. High temperatures on Sunday will be in the 40s-50s.
IC-based Rantizo makes cameo on 60 Minutes segment 
