BlueConduit recognized by TIME | Teaching entrepreneurial skills to Saudi women | Tinder for events

BlueConduit recognized by TIME

ANN ARBOR-MI—BlueConduit has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2021. The company offers a predictive modeling approach for detecting lead pipes and water contamination. We interviewed Ian Robinson, managing director of BlueConduit, in May.

North Carolina’s Triangle region top recipient of metro migrations

RALEIGH, NC—Metro-to-metro migration trends produce noticeable population shifts within the country and can define the way metros develop. A recent report from CommercialCafe states that North Carolina’s Triangle region is one of the top ten recipients of metro migrations. For Raleigh, the biggest out-of-state gains came from New York City and totaled just over 4,000 people, including entrepreneurs looking for cheaper locales to start their companies. The city gained 19,166 residents per year, on average, between 2015 and 2019.

Teaching entrepreneurial skills to Saudi women

AMES, IA—A one-year project between the University of Iowa, Education For Employment and the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia will teach Saudi women entrepreneurship skills in emerging sectors like information technology, real estate and e-commerce. The project will provide 50 women with professional training and connections to local and international mentors that are necessary to start their businesses.

Tech for domestic violence survivors

LEAWOOD, KS—Technology solutions firm 27Global has designed a comprehensive reservation system for Kansas City, Missouri-based startup BestyBnB. The web-based platform allows domestic violence survivors to connect with local pet owners and caregivers for pet-friendly accommodations in case they need to enter a shelter or leave town.

Tinder for events

OMAHA, NE—Startup Event Vesta, which allows businesses to more easily create, manage, and promote their events, has launched a mobile app that Andrew Prystai, the company’s CEO and co-founder, says is like Tinder for events. It lets you swipe right to save an event for later and swipe left if it doesn’t interest you. The company’s market is growing beyond Omaha to markets like Des Moines, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City and St. Louis.