Across Iowa, small businesses are ready to grow, hire, and expand. The challenge isn’t a lack of ideas — it’s access to the resources to turn those ideas into reality.
Since the 1990s, the number of publicly traded companies has been cut in half. At the same time, large institutional investors have increasingly dominated the market — leaving many Iowa entrepreneurs with fewer opportunities to raise capital and compete.
The problem: Right now, more than 80% of Americans are locked out of certain investment opportunities simply because they aren’t millionaires. And without clear rules and innovation, missed opportunities translate into real economic losses for Iowa communities.
I often think about it like taking a driver’s test. When I pulled up to the DMV, nobody cared that I was driving an ’82 Volvo — what mattered was whether I understood the rules of the road.
Investing should work the same way. I made that case in today’s Financial Services Committee hearing. ⬇️
Why it matters: New technologies are making it faster and more affordable for businesses to raise money by cutting out the middleman. Giving more Iowans access to these tools doesn’t just teach them the rules of the road — it opens up entirely new lanes for growth and opportunity.
Bottom Line: Iowa’s innovators are ready to create. I’ll keep fighting to make sure they have a fair shot to do it right here at home.