Building Rural Iowa's Startup Ecosystem: Iowa SBDC's Kelly Prickett on Community Colleges, Venture School, and AI

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 sees promising student-led innovation (including AI-assisted "vibe coding") and urges founders to share their ideas, ask for help, and define success on their own terms. Her closing message: don't be afraid to reach out, explore your idea, and tap Iowa's uniquely supportive network. To connect with Kelly or your local center, visit iowasbdc.org and request counseling (she's at the Ottumwa/Indian Hills location). Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction 00:24 - Kelly's Iowa Career Path 01:40 - Inside the SBDC Role 03:33 - Why Rural Entrepreneurs Matter 06:26 - Common Small Business Challenges 08:14 - Main Street vs High Growth Startups 09:50 - How the SBDC Network Helps 13:02 - Community Colleges and Workforce Impact 15:48 - Defining Success for Founders 18:22 - Venture School in Rural Iowa 20:00 - Pitch Anywhere Anytime 20:44 - Venture School Basics 21:12 - Bringing It Rural 21:55 - Cohort Mentors Network 22:22 - Real Customer Discovery 24:11 - First Cohort Results 26:29 - AI Counselor Training 28:49 - Vibe Coding In Rural 32:26 - Advice And Resources 35:04 - Human Soul Over AI 37:19 - Wrap Up and Conclusion