Start Up Stories

Stephanie Jutila the Gardens and Merit Resources

We kicked off our conversation with Stephanie Jutila about the re-birth of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens and rolled right into how working with Merit Resources of Urbandale has allowed her and her staff to focus on their mission, rather than..."busy work".  Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. You can connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and our Facebook Page is right here.Thanks for listening!

Jimmy Olsen and Voice Coaching - 27 Feb. 2014

In the second part of the News Hour we open with a tip of the hat to our podcast carrier Podbean and a surprise email we received. Then it's the second segment with "the voice of the News Hour" Jimmy Olsen from My Buddy Jimmy who has just launched a voice training business.  The goal is to help people learn how to better use their voice, work a room, use a microphone correctly and a bunch more.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard  Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. You can make contact with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and our Facebook Page is right here.Thanks for listening!

Jimmy Olsen on Mobile Music and Radio History - 27 February 2014

The "voice" of The News Hour is Jimmy Olsen, a long time broadcaster who owns a couple of businesses.  In this first segment we talk about his work with My Buddy Jimmy a mobile music business and go into a discussion of how radio stations would use this model as a major promotion device...but no longer see its value.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and/or our Facebook Page is right here.Thanks for listening!

Funding Kolby Rae with Fritz Nordengren - 20 February 2014

Fritz Nordengren is an author who is hoping to crowd fund his next book, Kolby Rae by using Kickstarter.  It's a way you can join him in the journey and get some neat stuff.   We talked about it.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.Thanks for listening!

Mike Colwell and Kaylee Williams Volunteer Local - 17 Feb 2014

She started out as a 15 hour a week intern working remotely from Iowa City.  Today Kaylee Williams runs Volunteer Local an online method for small to large non-profits to manage their volunteer base.  Here she is with Mike Colwell from the Business Innovation Zone of Iowa.  Good stuff!Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. 

The Hole Shabang with Crystal and Trevor Newton - 14 February 2014

It's a Fun Friday so we thought why not visit with two young entrepreneurs about their love for food. Here is Crystal and her brother Trevor Newton who run a start-up called The Hole Shabang...the home of the Buca-Wich.  Fun stuff...Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. 

Business Law and The Kreamer Law Firm - 10 February 2014

Regular contributors to the News Hour are Bradley Neal and Sam Kreamer from the Kreamer Law Firm of West Des Moines. Here we talked about the legal matters small to mid-size businesses might encounter and how to avoid problems in advance.  Some great insight for sole-proprietorship companies and start-up businesses. Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. 

Renatta Bolen and the Lotus Moments Event Center - 6 January 2014

We love start-up stories and here is another from our friends at Lotus Moments Event Center. Renatta Bolen and her family refurbished a building just east of the Iowa Capital and transformed it into a meeting and event center.  Have a listen.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. 

Ben Washburn and the MMI Group - 31 January 2014

Recently we reconnected with our friend Ben Washburn and asked him how his start-up the MMI Group was going.  The news was good so we thought we would share with you.Insight on Business the News Hour is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines. 

Tom Swartwood - Women in Business & Crowd Funding 21 Jan 2014

Our friend Tom Swartwood from Drake University came by for a chat about several items: Women in Business - Tom has a passion for leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs and we talked about the issues that plague Iowa and what might be done in the future.  We also talked about the amazing area of "crowd funding" and what he has experienced with the success of many who are seeking a non-traditional way to raise capital for their emerging business.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard live Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  You can view images from the studio on our Facebook Page and we monitor Twitter @IoB_NewsHour before, during and after each broadcast.Thanks for listening!