35 of 40 seats left Starts in 25d 22h 32m Bring a friend free · ends Monday 11:59pm Refunds close Thursday, Nov 5 Save your seat
Iowa Women'sBusiness Hackathon
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Iowa Women's Business Hackathon · Thursday, Nov 12 · Elevator, Des Moines

Solving 2027 small business problems, together.

Welcome. Spend one day at a table of women founders, take on a real problem every small business is about to face, and walk out with a working fix plus all eight solutions the room builds.

See how the day works Pick my seat · $49
no experience needed, just you
This weekend only: bring a friend free.Pick your seat, then pick hers. Two seats for $49. Ends Monday at 11:59pm.
25days
22hours
32minutes
35of 40 seats left

Doors 8:30, done by 2:45 · Lunch and coffee included · Full refund through Thursday, Nov 5

MR Table MO1
We built a margin alert that texts her when a supplier raises prices.
7Seven
Table MK2 still needs someone who rallies the room. Want the seat?
35 of 40 seats left
Brought to you bytangram.FRACSElevatorseven.Thu, Nov 12 · Elevator, Des Moines40 seats · 8 tablesLunch with everyoneCocktails and networking at Secret Admirer
Brought to you bytangram.FRACSElevatorseven.Thu, Nov 12 · Elevator, Des Moines40 seats · 8 tablesLunch with everyoneCocktails and networking at Secret Admirer
How it works

Walk in solo. Walk out with eight solutions.

A hackathon is a one-day team challenge. Come on your own, with no idea and no experience needed. We give you the table, the problem, the builder and lunch.

8:3001
MK1
Meet your table Three to five women and a Fracs builder. Coffee in hand.
9:1502
Problem 02 · Finding clients How do you win clients when buyers expect it on demand? Real numbers inside
Get your problem A real 2027 problem with real numbers. The table across the aisle gets the same one.
9:30 to 1:3003
Builder: Let's wire it up. It works!
Build the fix With AI, simple tools and plans. Coaches check in, and at 11:45 the whole room stops for lunch together.
2:0004
3:00
minutes per table · room votes
Show it working Your table shows its fix together. Nobody presents alone, and nobody pitches.
2:4505
✓ Margin alert✓ AI-ready shop listing✓ One-founder plan+ 5 more solutions
Take all eight home Every solution goes live on Tangram within 30 days, as a Claude skill you can use.

Then, if you like: cocktails and networking at Secret Admirer from 4:00. Optional happy hour

Built with experts

Bring your skills. We bring the tech.

The day is built with experts, so you can bring what you're great at without any fear of tech. Every table is balanced across all strengths, and a Fracs builder sits with you to handle the technical parts.

2:45out in time for pickup
0pitches, ever
1laptop is all you bring
5women max per table
The people behind the day

Founders who solve problems together earn more.

8.1%more revenueFor owners placed in small peer groups that met monthly. Cai and Szeidl, 2018.
40Iowa founders in your networkFour teammates at your table and a whole room of women who run businesses.
8solutions you keepBuilt in one day, live on Tangram within 30 days as Claude skills.
1builder at every tableA Fracs builder sits with your table from 9:30 to 2:00 to handle the tech.
Presented by TangramBuilt live by FracsHosted at Elevator
What's included

Everything you take home for $49.

One ticket covers the whole day, everything you take home and the people you'll keep calling after. And yes, there's swag.

CollaborationSolve something hard with four women who get it. You'll leave knowing how each of them thinks.
Your tableFour new teammates
NetworkingForty founders, coaches, judges and partners in one room, plus Seven to make the follow-up introductions.
Prize moneyCash prizes for three tables, shared by the women at each table.
The winCash for three tables
Swag bagGoodies from local Iowa businesses and our partners waiting at your seat.
Eight solutionsEvery build from the room goes live within 30 days, ready to use in your own business.
Claude skillsEach solution comes as a Claude skill you can add to your own account and run.
Your 2027 planFifteen minutes with your table to turn the day into a one-page plan for your business.
Your portraitA headshot to keep
Your portraitA professional headshot taken on the day, yours to keep and use.
Lunch and coffeeCoffee from 8:30 and lunch with the whole room, all included.
ElevatorDowntown Des Moines
A spotlightThe room-favorite table gets a feature story on its founders.
A month of coworkingEvery woman at the winning table gets a month of downtown coworking.
Cocktails afterAn optional happy hour at Secret Admirer to keep the conversation going.
The four problems

Fix the problem costing your business the most.

Four big shifts every small business will face in 2027: costs that never sit still, buyers who expect everything on demand, the one-founder company and fractional teams. There's no right answer yet, which is the fun part. Each question goes to two tables, head to head, and your table decides what to build.

pick the one that makes you say “ugh, same”
Problem 01 · Money · Tables MO1 v MO2

How does a small business protect its profit when every cost keeps moving?

Prices, freight, payment terms and wages all shift faster than one founder can track. By the time the numbers show it, the money is already gone. What would it take to see it coming?

Sound familiar?
✓Costs go up without anyone telling you
✓You get paid slower than your bills are due
✓You only see the real numbers at tax time
Where your table might start
An early warning system A smarter way to price A plan B for every supplier

Great seat if you love numbers, pricing or products.

Choose this problem 8 of 10 seats open
Agenda · Thursday, Nov 12

Home by school pickup, with your 2027 plan.

Doors open at 8:30 and the day wraps at 2:45, so you're out in time for school pickup. Lunch and coffee are included. Parking garage right across the street.

Elevator · 204 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Doors open at 8:30
Open in Google Maps
Where to park The 1200 Mulberry garage is a two-minute walk, with its entrance at 13th and Mulberry. It's covered and open 24 hours. Metered street parking is nearby too. Directions to the garage
Lunch with everyone Coffee is on from 8:30. At 11:45 the whole room eats together, so you meet women from every table. Vegetarian and gluten-free options. Text Seven any other dietary needs after you book.
Coffee and foodTalks and plansBuildingDemos and prizesAfter the day
  1. 8:30
    Doors, coffee and your table

    Find your seat and meet the women at your table and your builder.

  2. 9:00
    2027 belongs to the one-founder business Keynote

    Why one founder with AI and a fractional team is the model for the year ahead.

  3. 9:15
    The problems open

    Real numbers for all four problems, and how judging works.

  4. 9:30
    Round one: dream it up Build

    Pick the boldest idea worth building and start. Coaches move between tables.

  5. 10:45
    Halfway check

    Ten minutes with a coach: what’s working and what to cut.

  6. 11:45
    Lunch with everyone

    The whole room eats together. Meet the women from every other table.

  7. 12:15
    Round two: make it work Build

    Get it working and write it up so any small business could use it.

  8. 1:30
    Your 2027 plan

    Fifteen minutes to turn the day into a one-page plan for your own business.

  9. 2:00
    Head to head Demos

    Three minutes per table. Nobody presents alone, and nobody pitches.

  10. 2:30
    Prizes and the group photo

    Out the door by 2:45.

  11. 4:00
    Cocktails and networking Optional

    Secret Admirer, 110 SW 5th St, about a 15-minute walk. Stay till six.

  12. +30 days
    All eight solutions go live

    Published on Tangram as resources and Claude skills, credited to the women who built them.

The prettiest girls in the world liveworknetworkbuild in Des Moines Secret Admirer · 110 SW 5th St
Optional
Optional · Cocktails and networking · 4:00 to 6:00

Turn new faces into new friends.

The whole room is invited. Walk over to Secret Admirer, where the neon says the prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines, and get to know the women from the other tables over a drink. Come for one or stay till six. The day itself still ends at 2:45.

Secret Admirer · 110 SW 5th StAbout a 15-minute walkPay as you go
Walking directions to Secret Admirer
Prizes

Win cash as a table.

Every prize goes to a whole table. Judged by women who have run businesses, with amounts announced closer to the day.

Top prize · CashTo the table whose fix would help the most small businesses.
Best working build · CashTo the table with the strongest proof it works, shown live at 2:00.
Room favorite · Cash and a featureVoted by everyone in the room, plus a feature story on the table's founders.
Winning table · CoworkingA month of downtown coworking for every woman at the winning table.
Pick your seat · 35 of 40 left

Get the seat that fits your strengths.

Which problem do you want to crack?

Your teammates are the women who pick the same problem and table.

Tap a problem to continue

Seats are first come, first served, and each table closes at five. We hold your seat for 15 minutes while you check out.

First-year founder? Ask about a sponsored seat

Your reminders

Book once. Seven texts you everything else.

7
Meet seven. Seven is Tangram's connector for women who build, and she lives in your texts. No app, no login. Before the day she keeps track of your seat and sends what you need. At lunch and happy hour, text her after you meet someone: she saves them, asks what's next and drafts the follow-up, so every new connection turns into a next step. Free, and you can reply STOP any time. Text her at (515) 512-5561 · textseven.com
  1. 1
    Right after you bookYour table, seat and calendar invite, then a few quick questions: what your business does, what you hope to leave with, and any food needs.
  2. 2
    Thursday, Nov 5 · one week outYour problem brief, what to bring, and a heads-up that refunds close tonight.
  3. 3
    Monday, Nov 9Your table's final line-up, and a move if your table needs one.
  4. 4
    Wednesday, Nov 11 · the day beforeParking, doors and where to find your table.
  5. 5
    Thursday, Nov 12 · 7:00amGood morning, coffee's on.
  6. 6
    Within 30 daysEach solution as it goes live, with your name on yours.
7Seven · Tangram
Right after you book
You're in! Table MK1, seat 3, Thu Nov 12 at Elevator. Calendar invite is in your email.
Quick ones so your table knows you: what does your business do, and what would make Nov 12 worth it for you?
I run a bakery. I want help pricing catering.
Love it. Any food needs for lunch? Vegetarian, gluten-free, allergies?
Gluten-free please
Noted for lunch. I’ll introduce you to your table before Nov 12.
Thursday, Nov 5 · one week out
Your brief is ready: How do you win clients when buyers expect it on demand? Bring a laptop. Refunds close at midnight.
Monday, Nov 9
Your table is set: four founders plus a builder. You're the Finisher they needed.
Wednesday, Nov 11 · the day before
Tomorrow! Park at 1200 Mulberry, doors at 8:30. Look for the MK1 sign.
Thursday, Nov 12 · 7:00am
Good morning! Coffee's on at 8:30. See you soon.
can't wait!!
Questions

Know exactly what to expect.

What is a hackathon, exactly?

A one-day team challenge. Small teams take a real problem, invent a fix, build a working version and show it at the end of the day. The word comes from tech, but this one is for business owners.

Do I need to be technical?

Beginners are welcome. Tables build with AI, simple tools, processes and plans, and a Fracs builder sits at every table for the technical parts.

Do I need a team or an idea?

No. Pick a seat and your teammates are the women who pick the same table. The problem is handed to you on the day. Coming with friends? Book a whole table of five.

Do I have to pitch?

No. Your table shows its fix working, together, for three minutes. Nobody presents alone.

Who is Harlow & Co.?

The business in the story: a composite built from problems real Iowa owners are hitting now, so nobody’s private numbers go on a screen.

What if my table doesn’t fill?

Tables run with three to five women. If a table has fewer than three by Monday, Nov 9, Seven moves you to the other table on your problem and texts you.

What are the Claude skills?

Each finished solution is packaged as a Claude skill: ready-made instructions you add to your own Claude account so it can do that job for your business.

Is there anything after?

Optional cocktails and networking at Secret Admirer, 110 SW 5th St, from 4:00 to 6:00, open to the whole room. The day itself ends at 2:45.

What do I bring?

A laptop and its charger.

What does a ticket include?

Your seat, a builder at your table, lunch and coffee, your portrait, your 2027 plan and all eight solutions once they go live. Refunds through Thursday, Nov 5.

Solving 2027 small business problems, together.

Pick my seat · $49 35 of 40 seats left · starts in 25 days · refunds through Nov 5