Next Level Ventures Announces First Close of Third Iowa Strategic Investment Fund

Des Moines, IA - Today, Next Level Ventures ("NLV") announced the first close of its third Iowa strategic investment fund, Next Level Ventures Fund III ("NLV Fund III"), and fifth fund overall. NLV is the largest venture firm in Iowa, managing over $500M in assets across its five funds. NLV Fund III, like the firm's first two Iowa funds, is a certified Iowa Innovation Fund, and its investors qualify for the Innovation Fund Tax Credit.

"We are thrilled to launch our third Iowa Innovation Fund," said Liz Keehner, Principal at NLV. "Next Level Ventures has a long history supporting Iowa entrepreneurs and startups, and we're thankful to our initial investors who believe in our mission to foster innovation across the state."

The firm also completed its first investment from NLV Fund III, a seed investment in Genvax Technologies ("Genvax"), based in Ames, IA. Genvax, founded in 2021, is the developer of next generation mRNA + nanoparticle animal vaccines.

"Genvax is excited to welcome Next Level Ventures to our seed round," said Joel Harris, CEO & Co-Founder of Genvax. "Their support reinforces why Iowa is the ideal place to build and scale innovative animal biotech companies. With its deep agricultural roots, world-class research institutions, and strong investor network, Iowa provides the perfect ecosystem for advancing next-generation animal health solutions. We're grateful to have Next Level Ventures on board as we work to transform livestock disease prevention and strengthen the future of animal agriculture."

NLV Fund III remains open to accredited investors.

About Next Level Ventures. Next Level Ventures is an Iowa-based investment firm that manages over $500 million in assets across a portfolio of over 60 companies as part of two large-scale strategies. Our Iowa Funds provide capital investment for Iowa-based technology companies in a variety of industries.