The EntrePartners Braintrust is a group of professionals and specialists assembled to take your business to the next level. It’s hard to know where to turn when you have a specific business question when first starting your entrepreneurial journey. Our goal with the Braintrust is to utilize our network to accelerate your growth.
If you’re interested in joining the Braintrust as a trusted expert, click the button below and fill out the interest form.
I help align technology with strategy to streamline operations and drive innovation. With over 25 years in tech—including 12 years in eCommerce and leadership roles in media companies—I specialize in building strong, scalable tech foundations without the need for a full-time hire. As a Fractional CTO at Altus CXO, I focus on digital transformation, automation, and AI readiness. I enjoy mentoring founders and teams navigating growth and operational challenges. Let’s connect and explore how technology can fuel your success.
Matt Arnold helps teams and leaders navigate complexity, clarify direction, and move from insight to impact. With 25 years of experience in brand strategy, human-centered design, and innovation, he’s worked with early-stage startups, pre-IPO growth companies, and mature global brands—including John Deere, ACT, Medtronic, Pearson, Capella University, and Discover.
As co-founder of Spark Consulting Group, Matt partners with organizations to tackle fuzzy, high-stakes challenges—whether launching new initiatives, developing deep customer insights, improving team dynamics, or designing systems for sustainable innovation. He holds certifications in usability, experience analysis, and product management, and his academic research focused on computer-augmented group decision making.
A seasoned speaker, Matt has presented at global forums including EntreFEST, Big Design, World IA Day, and the World Business Angels Investment Forum on topics such as collaborative sensemaking, futures thinking, and effectual innovation. He’s also the creator of The Iowa Idea Podcast, where he’s explored the craft of creativity and collaboration with leading thinkers across disciplines.
Matt lives in Iowa City with his family and their loyal (and very photogenic, at least that’s what we tell him) dog, Bowie.
Through her role with the Office of Innovation, Liz helps tell the stories of the innovative initiatives and successes of the Office's various units, including UI Ventures, Protostudios, MADE, the Iowa Research Park, and the Medical Innovation Hub.
Beyond marketing and communications, Liz plays a key role in managing a network of external mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs-in-residence, as well as building relationships with local and statewide business leaders.
Prior to joining the Office of Innovation, Liz led the marketing, communications, and entrepreneurial ecosystem building efforts for the Iowa City Area Development Group (Greater Iowa City, Inc.), the local economic development organization for Johnson County, Iowa.
A true Iowan, Liz was born and raised in Iowa City and is a proud graduate of the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. Liz lives in Iowa City with her husband John, and spends most of her free time outdoors on two wheels, biking the gravel roads and singletrack trails in Iowa City and beyond.
Raised by a serial entrepreneur, Devon learned how to speak to a dreamer about cold hard numbers at an early age. He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina with a Minor in Entrepreneurship and worked in various C-Suite role sin home health and senior health until becoming a Financial Advisor in 2018, becoming a Chartered Financial Consultant in 2020, a CFP® in 2021, and an Enrolled Agent in 2024.
Loeka Wiltz is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) Aloha Entrepreneur who specializes in Hawaiian Ethnographic Neuroeconomics—a unique field that explores how cultural values, identity, and emotion shape how people lead, decide, and grow in business.
With over 20 years of experience across healthcare, defense, Indigenous innovation, and education, Loeka blends ancestral wisdom with modern systems thinking to help founders, teams, and investors grow with clarity, intention, and integrity.
As a strategist, automation architect, and executive team coach, he designs culturally rooted solutions that improve decision-making, team synergy, and organizational wellness. His work connects automation with aloha, turning strategy into story, and leadership into legacy.
Known as the Insightful Navigator, Loeka brings data, neuroeconomics, and deep cultural knowledge to every table he sits at—guiding ventures beyond surface metrics into meaningful, pono (aligned) growth.
If you’re building something that matters, Loeka helps you align what you do with who you are—and grow with soul.
Joey holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University. He has worked in biofuels research, aerospace innovation labs, and for the Army Corps of Engineers. In 2015, he founded Dream Forge, LLC, an engineering firm specializing in early-stage product development. With a heavy focus on bringing physical products to market, Joey’s expertise lies in designing, prototyping, and manufacturing.
Joey’s current work revolves around identifying the development needs of “dreamers” and connecting them with resources. By leveraging a talented internal team, as well as a network of fellow small business owners, Joey is able to empower tomorrow's entrepreneurs, today. Currently, he manages projects in farm equipment, aerial drones, consumer IoT devices, and automated construction.
Thom has a 40+ year career in educational technology, human resources, learning and development, and performance improvement. He now mentors entrepreneurs (e.g., through EntrePartners Braintrust, JPEC's Venture Mentoring Service and Venture School, Techstars Startup Weekend, and 1 Million Cups). Thom has experience in many industries including education, financial services, and professional services. He earned a BBA and MA in Management from the University of Iowa and taught in the Graduate School of Education at Drake University.
Alex is the Director of Entrepreneurship with NewBoCo (a non-profit org.based out of Cedar Rapids focused on economic development) where he works with startup founders and businesses to launch and grow their businesses. He also works with community economic development leaders/orgs. throughout Iowa to develop entrepreneurial support networks and systems.
In addition to that, he is an adjunct instructor in the Tippie College of Business (University of Iowa), and with his wife (Laura) co-owns a national manufacturing and distribution company (Woofables Gourmet Dog Biscuit Bakery). He’s currently on the board of directors for TRAIL of Johnson County - a non-profit org. that helps elderly age safely and healthily in the place they call home.
Alex has a wealth of professional experiences (Business Development, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Public Relations, HR, Consulting, and Executive Leadership), in a range of industries (Telecom., Computer Hardware/Software, Manufacturing, Retail, Consulting, Higher Ed, Med.Tech., Economic Development).
Alex and Laura live in Coralville, have four amazing adult children (Iowa City, Chicago, Denver, CO, and Decorah), and a grandson. In his spare time, Alex is a recreational distance (trail) runner, bird watcher, and avid reader.
Kaylee Williams is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and business strategist for early-stage startup companies. She is the Investment Director at InnoVenture Iowa, a $40 million co-investment designed to support early-stage startup companies in bioscience, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. She is the Co-Founder of VolunteerLocal, a volunteer management software company, and the former Head of Customer Development at Roboflow, a Y-Combinator backed startup pioneering the adoption of computer vision across industries. Williams graduated from the University of Iowa in 2012 with a degree in English, and she is passionate about the arts, community service and inclusion/equity in tech. She is the recipient of the 2022 Young Alumni Entrepreneurial Leadership Award from the University of Iowa.