{"podcast":{"title":"Iowa Tech Podcast","slug":"iowa-tech-podcast-7097920","podcast_index_feed_id":7097920,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/542257/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/542257","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/2/a/c/72ac7d9f691d5bf3e55e3c100dce7605/Tech_square.png","author":"Kaylee Williams","episode_count":74,"summary":"Welcome to the Iowa Tech Podcast, your gateway to the vibrant world of technology and innovation right here in Iowa. Each week, we dive into the dynamic landscape of Iowa's tech industry, showcasing the brilliant minds, groundbreaking startups, and transformative ideas that are shaping the future. Join our host, Kaylee Williams, as we sit down with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are driving change and pushing boundaries in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agtech and clean energy. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding innovator, or simply tech-curious, the Iowa Tech Podcast offers insider insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to keep you at the forefront of the digital revolution. Tune in to explore how Iowa is making waves on the global tech stage and discover how you can be a part of this exciting journey.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920"},"episode":{"title":"Building Rural Iowa's Startup Ecosystem: Iowa SBDC's Kelly Prickett on Community Colleges, Venture School, and AI","slug":"building-rural-iowa-s-startup-ecosystem-iowa-sbdc-s-kelly-prickett-on-community-colleges-venture-school-and-ai","published_at":"2026-03-03T15:13:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/building-rural-iowa-s-startup-ecosystem-iowa-sbdc-s-kelly-prickett-on-community-colleges-venture-school-and-ai","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920","url":"https://f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab.libsyn.com/building-rural-iowas-startup-ecosystem-iowa-sbdcs-kelly-prickett-on-community-colleges-venture-school-and-ai","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab/Tech_Interview_with_Kelly_Prickett.mp3?dest-id=4673877","summary":"On this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee welcomes Kelly Prickett, Regional SBDC Director and Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at Indian Hills Community College. Kelly shares her winding path through tourism, Main Street, and higher ed, and how her blended role lets her build rural entrepreneurial ecosystems across 10 southeast Iowa counties. She explains how SBDCs provide no-cost, one-on-one counseling across the entire business lifecycle—formation, growth, and exit—and how Iowa's 15-center network shares specialists to help with everything from marketing plans to QuickBooks and business valuations amid the \"silver tsunami\" of retirements. Kelly spotlights the vital role of community colleges in workforce development, citing real outcomes like CNC Machinery's growth from a small shop to 180 employees, and underscores how rural Main Street businesses create the culture and heartbeat of their communities. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/rural-entrepreneurial-ecosystems 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Kelly and Kaylee dig into the distinct challenges and opportunities of rural entrepreneurship: trusted relationships, the power of connectors, and the need to find real customers—not just friendly compliments. Kelly helped bring University of Iowa's battle-tested Venture School to Ottumwa—the first rural cohort outside the Pappajohn Centers—pairing five startups with nine local mentors to deepen customer discovery and sharpen their pitches. They discuss AI's rapid evolution, SBDC's new AI-certified counseling, and how rural founders can leverage tools while keeping \"human in the loop.\" Kelly…","meta_description":"On this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee welcomes Kelly Prickett, Regional SBDC Director and Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneu…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2362,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/episodes/building-rural-iowa-s-startup-ecosystem-iowa-sbdc-s-kelly-prickett-on-community-colleges-venture-school-and-ai/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/building-rural-iowa-s-startup-ecosystem-iowa-sbdc-s-kelly-prickett-on-community-colleges-venture-school-and-ai.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}