The thesis statement

Technology startups are not new to Central Iowa. Over the decades, successful companies have emerged as early computers evolved into PCs, handhelds, hybrids, laptops, and today's smart devices. This substack aims to document the history of these technologies, the people who launched them, their successes (easier to document), and their failures (harder to locate and document), creating a cultural record of technology across Central Iowa.

Initially, I planned to write a book chronicling this history but struggled with whether to organize it by time, technology, people, founders, impact, etc. However, a clear idea emerged during a lunch with Jeff Fleming, the now-retired executive director of the Des Moines Art Center. As we enjoyed our salad at the new Table 128, he emphasized the importance of curating a cultural record for a city or region to understand its identity, grow with it, and connect the souls who built it.

The name of this substack is a hat tip to Mr. Fleming and is used here with his permission.

I will attempt to source and document the companies and people who have tethered their economic successes to wild and crazy experiments. Some stories lead to companies that reached IPO markets, others that helped build significant lifelong businesses, and yet others where the product-market fit just didn’t succeed. However, I will not publish a history if the founder requests it be removed, publish a tabloid expose styled missive, or publish confidential information.

The initial stories I want to capture are for Microware Systems, Computer Supply Store, Century Systems, Advanced Technologies Group, Solutech, Firehouse Software, Softprose Inc, Engineering Animation, Bitrouter, Handera, Caleris, Ramco, Internet Solver, Visionary Systems, and others where I have existing connections to the founding teams. I welcome names of companies lost to history.

Shall we begin with the birthplace of the computer itself?

Let’s get storytelling.