User Groups

Impromptu Studio is proud to support a number of Central Iowa technology user groups. Our current groups include:

• Web Geeks: 1st Monday
• Des Moines Mac Users Group (DMMUG): 4th Tuesday
• Cocoa Heads: 2nd Thursday

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!

Mike Wagner of The White Rabbit Group and Mike Ferrari of SmartyPig were our speakers for the final installment of the WhatNow? lunch and learn series. And they certainly did a fantastic job of wrapping things up for us. Mike Ferrari reminded us “you’ll be surprised what you can do yourself” and Mike Wagner emphasized that “Advertising is the price you pay for being UN-remarkable”. Ferrari told us about how he sets aside a few hours everyday to monitor SmartyPig’s online presence. He told us a story about how a small “snafu” early on made him wonder if it was all over before it started but by handling the mess and responding to EVERYONE in a matter of days (from a Friday to a Monday which is unheard of for “banker hours”) they wiped the egg from their face and emerged a more credible and trusted company. Wagner spoke heavily on the relationship with clients affecting a companies marketing strategy and how it fails when the client is no longer in love with their customers.

We want to extend a big Thank You to Nathan Wright of Lava Row and Andy Brudtkuhl of 48Web for planning speakers and hosting the WhatNow? A  six part entrepreneur survival guide. We may provide the space to do great things but our wonderful community of businesses and friends make these great things happen.

Brett Trout and Adam Steen speaking at What Now?

Brett Trout , Law Offices of Brett Trout and Adam Steen , 25 Connections spoke about Character in Business and how to not be an @$$hole for part 5 of our WhatNow? Series.  Brett gave the group solid advice about developing their own moral “code” by watching others. He pointed out that just because something is “legal” does not necessarily make it ethical and that each person will have to decide for him/herself what is right. He also reminded us that ethical people struggle early on because ethical decisions often don’t yeild positive results quickly. Brett encouraged us by sharing that in 5 years the tables will turn and those that have behaved ethically will have a much better overall position. Adam Steen discussed how in his unique business model relies on trust to work, and that ethically his entire business is gray area because there are few if any precedents. He talked about several specific ethical decisions that he has been faced with and how he’s handled them.

Adam and Brett related their ethical decisions to how quickly with recent technologies unethical people are “outed” as opposed to how long it used to take with traditional means of communication.

Don’t miss our final installment of WhatNow? Friday April 3rd , our topic is Marketing: How to get Creative in a Tight Economy. Our speakers Mike Ferrari, SmartyPig.com and Mike Wagner, White Rabbit Group.

Part 3 of our “WhatNow: a six part entrepreneur survival guide” lunch and learn series was on February 27th.

Ron Wagner, comic book & storyboard artist and Teri TeBockhorst, serial entrepreneur & former owner of East Village Books spoke with us about how they have dealt with the daily struggles of staying inspired and motivated. Ron shared with us his how he often would move to a new city or learn a new job to continually stay motivated and interested in what he was working on. Teri talked about how she strives to avoid “Negative Nelly’s” and to surround herself with great positive people to stay motivated, especially in tough times.

As always a big than you to everyone who attended, Nathan Wright of Lava Row and Andy Brudtkuhl of 48 Web for putting together the series and to our fanastic speakers Teri TeBockhorst and Ron Wagner.

Part 2 of the “What Now: a six part entrepreneur survival guide” was on Friday Feb. 13th. 

Andy Drish of Principal Financial Group and Justin Brady of Test of Time Design discussed networking from both a social and a digital perspective, whether you’re looking to start your own biz right now or a few years down the road. 

Thanks again to Nathan Wright of Lava Row and Andy Brudtkuhl of 48 Web who are sponsoring and organizing this series, our guests and our excellent speakers.

On Friday January 30th we hosted our first session of the six part series “What Now: a six part entrepreneur survival guide”.  

Liza Kindred of Lullabot and Brian Hemesath of Diligent IS and Catchwind discussed common pitfalls and mistakes made when forming a business, and how to overcome various logistical and emotional obstacles.

We  learned a lot and had a fun time. Thanks to our speakers, those who attended and participated in the conversation, and especially Nathan Wright of Lava Row and Andy Brudtkuhl of 48 Web who are sponsoring and organizing this series.

What Now? a six-part entrepreneur survival guide is a six-part educational series for recent entrepreneurs, layoff casualties looking for a networking edge, and anyone who thinking about ditching “The Man” and starting their own business. For each conversation, we’ve paired up two really smart people from here in Des Moines to share their personal experiences. Highs, lows – everything. What Now? a six-part entrepreneur survival guide is brought to you by Lava Row and 48Web and hosted at Impromptu Studio. All proceeds will from the series will go towards keeping Impromptu Studio a low cost option for entrepreneurs and a hub for the technology community in Des Moines. Ten tickets for each part will go up for grabs the week before the respective part via a random Twitter announcement from @nathantwright or @abrudtkuhl. Make sure you follow them to catch the announcement!

Note: Lunch will be provided. Network and eat from 11:30-12pm. Speakers start their conversations at 12pm and go until 1pm.

Making the Jump: Mistakes and Hurdles

Friday, January 30 – 11:30am-1pm

Join Liza Kindred (Lullabot) and Brian Hemesath (Diligent IS, Catchwind) as they discuss common pitfalls and mistakes made when forming a business, and how to overcome various logistical and emotional obstacles.

Networking: Get out there!

Friday, February 13 - 11:30am-1pm

Andy Drish (Principal Financial Group) and Justin Brady (Test of Time Design) will share various methods of getting out there and networking yourself socially and digitally – whether you’re looking to start your own biz right now or a few years down the road.

Avoiding the Day-to-Day: Staying Inspired & Motivated

Friday, February 27 - 11:30am-1pm

Ron Wagner (comic book & storyboard artist) and Teri TeBockhorst (serial entrepreneur & former owner of East Village Books) join forces to talk about the emotional side of being in business for yourself: how to stay motivated, how to avoid depression, and how to constantly reinvent yourself.

Running Cheap & Lean: Bootstrapping 101

Friday, March 6 - 11:30am-1pm

Jason Walsmith (The Nadas, Authentic Records) and Doug Mitchell (CreateWOWmedia) Gabriel Glynn (Asset Protection Specialists) share success stories (and horror stories) of how they bootstrapped their respective businesses.

Character: Don’t be an @$$hole

Friday, March 20 - 11:30am-1pm

Brett Trout (Law Offices of Brett Trout) and Adam Steen (25 Connections) talk about the importance of character in business relationships, and how it can affect your reputation, referral network and bottom line.

Marketing: How to get creative in a tight economy

Friday, April 3 - 11:30am-1pm

Mike Ferrari (SmartyPig.com) and Mike Wagner (White Rabbit Group) share various ways in which they’ve creatively (and inexpensively) marketed their businesses in a tight economy.