Innovation Index: Two views on how to attract millennials, plus EntreFEST is next week

We Create Here was an initiative within the Gazette Company to develop evolving narratives and authentic conversations throughout Iowa's Creative Corridor. read more

Welcome to the Innovation Index. This is our spot to round up links and news items from around the web relating to startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in Iowa's Creative Corridor and beyond, so you never miss a thing.

News and notes:

Iowa City was ranked the number one employment destination for college graduates, among cities with similar populations. The new ranking from The American Institute for Economic Research looked at the density of people with a college degree, the unemployment rate and the ability to get around without a car, among other factors. Congrats! (ICAD Group)

If you haven't started planning out every minute of your EntreFEST experience, now's the time. Here are the 114 speakers you could meet. Here is the full schedule. If you want to bring a friend, the Work Hard/Play Hard fashion show, local pop up shop, BarCamp, and all semi-final and final-pitches of Dream Big Grow Here are open to the public.

How do you make millennials want to work for you? Keevin O'Rourke breaks it down at TedXUNI.

Know a high schooler with entrepreneurial leanings? Applications are open for the UI's Innovation Institute, a two-week program focused on STEM. (education.uiowa.edu)

Congrats to new Venture School Cedar Rapids grads!  Eight more teams have completed the University of Iowa's six week customer discovery program. (#UIVS)

Cool ag innovation: Check out a zero carbon emission tractor developed in Benton County. It runs on hydrogen and ammonia. (The Gazette)

While we tend to focus on more high-growth concepts on this blog, let's take a moment to salute local businesses and those who support them: 'Farmers markets are big business and a big job,' via The Gazette.

Reminder there will be no 1 Million Cups next Wednesday - Enjoy EntreFEST!

Quotable:

Trace Steffen, CEO of Cedar Falls' HowFactory, reflects on the team's recent pitch at TechCrunch (plus the results).

Mark your calendar:

May 18: Growth Hacking tips with Pear Deck. Information on meetup.com.

May 19: How to expand your customer database by SCORE. Information on marionpubliclibrary.org

May 19: Using Google Analytics (for artists). Information on eventbrite.com

May 20-22: EntreFEST 2015. Information on entrefest.com.

May 26: How the venture capital industry really works. Information on eventbrite.com.

May 27: Invest in She application deadline. Information on IWLCleads.org.

May 28: SEO Lunch and Learn by Iowa Tech Chicks. Information on meetup.com.

June 9: Workplace (R)evolution 2015. Information on eventbrite.com.

June 11: Invest in She. Information on IWLCleads.org.

June 12: Advance in 60 (marketing meetup). Information on eventbrite.com.

June 16: Gender intelligence in the workplace. Information on eventbrite.com

June 16: Digital Marketing basics for business (Anamosa). Information on eventbrite.com.

July 15: SBIR Road Tour. Information on eventbrite.com.