{"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":"The Midwest Startup Taking on Billion-Dollar FMCs with Donuts and AI","slug":"the-midwest-startup-taking-on-billion-dollar-fmcs-with-donuts-and-ai","published_at":"2025-09-30T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/the-midwest-startup-taking-on-billion-dollar-fmcs-with-donuts-and-ai","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920","url":"https://iowapodcast.com/drake-bauer","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab/Drake_Bauer_Final.mp3?dest-id=4673877","summary":"On this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams welcomes Proaction CEO and co-founder Drake Bauer to unpack the startup's rebrand (formerly Flete) and its mission to modernize fleet management. Drake shares how Proaction streamlines asset operations - inspections, maintenance, compliance, and reporting - into a single pane of glass, replacing a tangle of spreadsheets, sticky notes, and legacy tools. He credits early traction to obsessive customer service and \"doing things that don't scale,\" from overnight fixes to mapping clients' workflows on-site. The team's Midwestern roots and hands-on approach underpin an October roadshow in a black Sprinter van across Middle America to shake hands, share donuts, and turn relationships into long-term partnerships. Drake also zooms out on industry dynamics: companies are increasingly bringing fleet management in-house, opening space for platforms like Proaction to compete with traditional FMCs by delivering modern, integrated, AI-powered software at a fraction of the cost. He spotlights AI use cases already live - auto-processing any fleet paperwork via a document center and instant answers to KPI queries - and explains why Proaction hired a Director of Innovation early to keep them on the cutting edge. The conversation wraps with rapid-fire personal notes, from a newfound olive-oil-and-espresso morning ritual to a love of timeless books and Christopher Nolan films. Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/drake-bauer","meta_description":"On this episode of the Iowa Tech podcast, host Kaylee Williams welcomes Proaction CEO and co-founder Drake Bauer to unpack the startup's rebrand (formerly…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2560,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/episodes/the-midwest-startup-taking-on-billion-dollar-fmcs-with-donuts-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/the-midwest-startup-taking-on-billion-dollar-fmcs-with-donuts-and-ai.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}