Our Strategic Iowa Investment Team
Our team at Next Level Ventures is made up of experienced entrepreneurs, technologists, and executives, with a combined expertise of over 50 years in strategic investment management. As a leading Iowa investment firm, we bring a wide range of specialized knowledge to the table. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds, with experience spanning finance, accounting, sales, marketing, engineering, banking, and education. This breadth of expertise allows us to offer a comprehensive approach to strategic investment, making us uniquely positioned to guide businesses at every stage of their growth.
We specialize in providing capital and guidance for technology companies, supporting them from the early days of founding through high-growth stages and eventual exits via IPO or acquisition. We understand the complexities of scaling a company, especially in today’s fast-paced, competitive market. Our team has a deep understanding of what it takes to help companies thrive from seed funding through to significant growth, and we recognize the critical importance of building a strong network and managing additional capital to ensure ongoing success.
After making an initial investment, we don’t simply step back. We remain actively involved with our portfolio companies, offering strategic support in key areas such as financial management, operational efficiency, and networking. Our goal is to be a true partner in helping businesses navigate the challenges of scaling and positioning themselves for long-term success. We understand that a strategic approach to capital investment goes beyond just funding—it’s about creating lasting value by empowering entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. This experience and understanding combined with our funds guide our portfolio companies to lasting success.
NLV Full Team
Craig Ibsen
For the last decade, Craig has served as the Founder and Managing Partner of Next Level Ventures, the largest venture capital firm in Iowa. He leads the management of five funds with over $500M in assets. With his deep roots in financial technology and startups, together with long-standing relationships with...
Duane Harris
Duane has had over 30 years of experience in academics, business management, and private equity investing. He served as a professor at Iowa State University, worked as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and managed corporate M&A and business development activities at General Mills. Duane also helped...
Dave Tucker
Dave is the former Sr. Vice-President of Technology at Workiva, which he helped to grow from under 10 people pre-revenue to a public company with over $350M revenue. He also helped to grow the development organization to over 350 people. He has been in the technology industry for 30+ years...
Roger Scholten
Roger is a seasoned general counsel and business development executive with over 30 years of corporate governance, regulatory compliance and strategic planning experience. Prior to joining Next Level Ventures, he served as Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of Champion Home Builders headquartered in metro Detroit, where he was responsible...
Michael Perrin
Michael has over 10 years of experience in private equity, banking, corporate finance / M&A, and technology project management. Michael joined Next Level Ventures in 2019 from Great Western Bank, a publicly-traded regional institution in the Midwest, where he was a commercial banker. He previously worked at Walmart Inc. in...
Martin Walker
Martin has over 30 years of experience leading technology, innovation, marketing, product and sales teams. He joined Next Level Ventures in 2021 from Sound Credit Union, the sixth-largest credit union in Washington state, where he was the Vice President of Digital Experience & Innovation. Martin's previous experience also includes ten...
Elizabeth Caven
Elizabeth Caven is a seasoned entrepreneur with personal experience from the founder's perspective in venture funding and scaling through to acquisition. As a founder, she has received international recognition as a stand-out leader by acclaimed tech publications, the Small Business Administration, and APEC. Previously, Elizabeth invested in and worked with...
Liz Keehner
Liz has over seven years of experience in startup operations, venture capital and economic development. Liz joined Next Level Ventures in 2021 from Ag Ventures Alliance, an early-stage AgTech investment firm, where she led deal flow, due diligence and investments. Prior to Ag Ventures, Liz worked at VentureNet Iowa, 1839...
Barbara Gooch
Barbara has over 25 years of experience in all administrative activities for private equity fund management. She built the administrative infrastructure for both Churchill Capital and Northstar Capital where collectively she managed the administrative function for five separate funds. In addition, Barbara serves as the Managing Partner of Capital Management...
Wyatt Powers
Wyatt joined Next Level Ventures in 2020 out of public accounting where he worked with a diverse set of business entities of all sizes. He is originally from Boone, Iowa and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Iowa State University. Whether you’re looking for startup investing...
Jacob Gaspar
Jacob joined Next Level Ventures in 2024. Prior to Next Level, he was a Financial Analyst at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines. Jacob received his BSBA in Finance and Data Analytics from Drake University. Whether you’re looking for startup investing or growth-stage capital, our team can give your business...
Tej Dhawan
Tej remains a fixture in the startup community centered in Des Moines. With a background in co-founding and leading a technology firm, he remains deeply committed to technology and its applications. As a co-founder of StartupCity Des Moines, the Startup Iowa initiative, Plains Angels investment network, a member of the...
Ryan Gerhardy
Ryan has over five years of experience in investment banking, equities research and project finance. Most recently, he managed the M&A advisory team in Sydney, Australia for Grant Thornton providing middle market clients advice and execution services regarding their acquisition, divestment and capital raising activities. Ryan also worked in a...
Scott Hoekman
Scott Hoekman has nearly three decades of experience as an investor and strategic advisor to executives and boards. He currently has board roles with Constellation Digital Partners and Coviance, which are fast-growing fintechs, and he is the founder of Intrigue Capital, which is an investment firm. Scott was a Partner...
Todd Skokan
Todd is a proven and award-winning SaaS leader who brings over 25 years of experience in the human capital management industry with a track record of leading double and triple digit company growth. Todd currently serves the industry in many consultative capacities, including CEO and Founder of NPS Growth LLC,...
Next Level Ventures is an innovative investment firm in Des Moines striving to fuel innovation and economic growth in the Midwest and beyond. We provide strategic investment partnerships for technology companies ranging from seed funding to growth-stage capital management. Learn more about Next Level.
Our team’s experience and strategic vision, combined with our investment funds, enable us to guide companies toward sustainable growth. With a deep industry expertise in the strategic investment fund sector, we are well-versed in raising capital, assessing strategic options, and overseeing the management of growing businesses. This hands-on experience is integral to the support we provide to the companies we work with.
While a key metric of success for us is delivering strong returns for our investors, we are equally committed to making a meaningful contribution to the ecosystem. We do this by supporting not only the entrepreneurs within our portfolio but also the non-profits that help incubate the innovative ideas and opportunities that lead to the next wave of growth.
The expertise and dedication of our team are key reasons why Next Level Ventures stands out as a leading Iowa investment firm. We focus on companies that are founded, headquartered, or have significant operations in Iowa because we believe in the potential of this state as a fertile ground for building successful businesses. Iowa’s resilient, principled, and innovative spirit equips its entrepreneurs to lead and scale the world’s largest companies in the emerging economy.
Our vision for the future is rooted in Midwestern values and a steadfast drive to see entrepreneurs succeed. As part of our ongoing efforts, we are actively sourcing new investments in Iowa and encouraging eligible businesses to connect with us. If you’re looking for startup or growth-stage capital, we’re here to help your business reach its full potential. Contact us today to explore how strategic investment can accelerate your growth and success.