User Groups
Impromptu Studio is proud to support a number of Central Iowa technology user groups. Our current groups include:
If your user group wants to meet at Central Iowa’s home for technology entrepreneurs, send us an e-mail (hello@impromptustudio.com) with the following information:
- Your contact information
- Group name and website, if you have one
- General description of your subject area and what your meetings cover
- Number of members and average attendance
- Any special needs your group may have
- Current (or desired) meeting dates
Get us the info and we’ll take a look and get back to you as soon as possible.
Lunch and Learns
We’re currently in the process of scheduling spring lunch and learn sessions. Have an idea for a topic? Interested in sponsoring lunch? E-mail Dan at dshipton@impromptustudio.com with your ideas.
Special Events
Since our launch in 2008, Impromptu has played host to a number of special events, from Startup Weekend to Barcamp to Whuffaoke to the Movement Bash and even the Epic Ugly Sweater Party. Keep an eye on our site and streams for information on the next big thing at Impromptu Studio!
Impromptu Studio has had tremendous luck when it comes to attracting sponsors for events. The newest sponsor to step forward to connect with our community is The Technology Assocation of Iowa.
The Technology Association of Iowa bills themselves as the voice of Iowa’s high tech industry:
The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization accelerating the success of Iowa’s technology industry. TAI works to create and sustain a positive environment for technology-based economic growth and job creation through innovation, advocacy and leadership. Visit their website at www.technologyiowa.org.
The Technology Association of Iowa also runs the “academy awards” of Iowa’s technology industry, the Prometheus Awards:
Iowa’s largest and most prestigious awards devoted to promoting and celebrating the innovation and high-tech excellence in Iowa. This showcase honors companies and individuals who represent the best and brightest in technology and business and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation. For more information on the 2009 Prometheus Awards and to see the criteria for the 17 award categories, visit www.technologyiowa.org/awards/2009/. The nomination period ends December 22, 2008.
So, please visit their website to submit your nomination for the 2009 Prometheus Awards. You can also check out @TechnologyIowa on Twitter.
We also want to acknowledge one of our guests favorite sponsors, which is Olde Main Brewery. We reached out to Olde Main through their @OldeMain Twitter account which is ran by Jill Haverkamp. Jill and the folks at Olde Main have been great to work with and we are glad to work with them again for the Ugly Sweater Party! They will be supplying two kinds of their tasty beer that are brewed locally in Ames, Iowa. Everyone should stop in at Olde Main when they are in Ames for good eats and great beer.
All of the event info: The Epic Ugly Sweater Party
There is an epic party on the horizon so start digging through your closets. Admission into the party is simple: wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater. It is happening Thursday, December 11th from 6pm – 9pm here at Impromptu Studio. There is a link at the bottom of the post to RSVP for the party.
We will have Killer Sandwiches from B&B Grocery, beer donated from Olde Main, Live music by Jason Walsmith of The Nadas, and most importantly FUN. We owe the idea to Dallas Moore who is helping us organize and throw what we hope will be a huge bash!
In the spirit of the season we are also asking that people bring donations for the Central Iowa Shelter. Doug Mitchell and Dan Shipton are helping to put on a New Year’s Eve dinner for the Central Iowa Shelter and will bring the donated items from the party to the shelter.
The list of items to bring for donation to the Central Iowa Shelter:
- Both male and female hygiene items/personal grooming supplies (shampoo, shaving cream, soap, you name it)
- Both male and female clothing
- Detergent
- Blankets
- Socks
Follow @danielshipton and @mrdallasjmoore on Twitter and check out Dallas Moore’s blog to keep up with whats happening and to vote on the beer for the evening. Please use the hashtag #uglysweaterparty when referencing it on Twitter.
We hope to see you and your friends there!
In case you’ve missed any of our recent press coverage we’ve been in print and web:
The Business Record
Living Downtown Des Moines
Star 102.5 Blog
We’ve been on the news:
KCCI
KDSM
And on the radio:
IPR
Ignite Des Moines was a huge success and had an amazing turnout. Filling Impromptu Studio with talented energetic people is what we have always aimed for. We would like nothing more than to have you all there working with us everyday and seeing you all there gave us a great idea. We would like to extend an offer to Des Moines: come and cowork with us for the month of November for FREE.
Those who come and cowork will be taking advantage of our Lite Membership. If you sign up for a Full Membership during November you will get the first month at the Lite Membership ($175) price. Take a look at the plans for more details.
Last Friday Oct. 24th Abbie Shipton hosted a fun pumpkin carving party at Impromptu Studio. Everyone brought their own own pumpkin and carving utensil of choice.
Susanne (@garlicgirl) brought some fantastic halloween table cloths and napkins, and several people brought snacks to share. It was messy and stinky… someone inadvertantly had selected a rotten pumpkin but all in all a great time. Abbie Shipton put her carving skills to good use and carved the Impromptu logo into her pumpkin.
Check out the photos over at Flickr.
Impromptu Studio’s Founder, Daniel Shipton, is organizing Ignite Des Moines. Ignite Des Moines is built off a very simple premise: If you had five minutes to talk to the people of Des Moines what would you say? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds?
Ignite Des Moines will be a chance for its finest to gather, network, and IGNITE! Participants should be ready to learn and laugh, be inspired and entertained. The event will showcase the creative class of Des Moines by listening to the Ignite Talks, participating in short impromptu presentations, and entering into the Egg Catapult Contest. Additionally, the Iowa Web Awards will be announcing its winners throughout the night. Mark your calendars and RSVP now because is an event you won’t want to miss.
We are hoping to fill Impromptu to the gills with local entrepreneurs, innovators, and up and comers. We are looking for sponsors to help us make this event great. So whether you just want to participate or would like to be a sponsor, check out www.ignitedesmoines.com.
Des Moines Web Geeks held their kickoff meeting at Impromptu Studio on Thursday, August 14. The meeting was also the inaugural event for Impromptu Studio. Des Moines Web Geeks is a group of web professionals and enthusiasts who meet to share and discuss their ideas. The first meeting included a presentation about Django framework and an adhoc session discussing the latest and greatest trends. With over twenty people in attendance the meeting was a success for both Des Moines Web Geeks and Impromptu Studio. The experience has provided us with ideas to improve our space for future events.
Impromptu Studio would like to thank Chris Punke of Focal Point, and Jeremy Harrington of Crawl Space Media for their help.
A recording of the meeting is available at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/635045.
