The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc. (NewBoCo) announced a series of grants and donations received in late 2025 and early 2026, aimed at bolstering Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and expanding computer science education for PK-12 students.
A major source of the new funding is support from Google, which began in late 2025 with foundational support for the nonprofit’s CoderDojo and Girls Who Code Clubs. Additional Google funding followed in early 2026 for programs including Computer Science Professional Development (CSPD) Week, Summer Code Camp, ENTREFest, Iowa Startup Accelerator (ISA) Spring Demo Day and the NewBoCo Startup Sprint.
“The generosity of our partners allows us to dream bigger for Iowa’s future,” said Jill Wilkins, NewBoCo’s executive director. “This diverse group of supporters understands that investing in both our current entrepreneurs and our future workforce is the only way to build a sustainable, tech-forward economy.”
ENTREFest 2026, the region’s conference for entrepreneurs and creatives, also received significant local backing. Early 2026 contributions came from Hy-Vee, Quick Action Accounting and Nyemaster Goode, supplementing late 2025 donations from Renew Rural Iowa and the City of Iowa City.
NewBoCo’s community networking efforts received a boost from a donation by Van Meter Inc. in early 2026. This funding supports NewBoCo’s Quarterly Entrepreneur Luncheons, which aim to provide local founders with a space to connect and share resources.
Samantha Dahlby, NewBoCo’s director of education, commented on the impact on students and educators.
“These funds directly translate into more confidence for Iowa educators and more opportunities for students,” Dahlby said. “Whether it is through CSPD Week or our student programs, we are ensuring that Iowa’s youth are not just consumers of technology, but the creators of it.”
The supported programming includes education initiatives such as CoderDojo, Girls Who Code Clubs, CSPD Week and Summer Code Camp. Entrepreneurship programs supported include ENTREFest 2026, ISA Spring Demo Day, NewBoCo Startup Sprint, Quarterly Regional Entrepreneur Luncheons, and coaching and mentoring services.
