# Next Level Ventures

Next Level Ventures is a Venture Capital based in Des Moines, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** Des Moines, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Des Moines, IA, United States
- **Founded:** 2014
- **Assets under management:** $700M
- **Website:** www.nextlevelvc.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextlevelvc

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 305666
- **SEC file number:** 802-117412
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/305666

## About

Next Level Ventures is an Iowa-based strategic investment firm that manages hundreds of millions in assets across a portfolio of over 45 companies. It runs Curql Funds focused on fintech and credit unions and Iowa Funds for technology companies across industries. Typical investments are $0.5 to $5.0 million at seed through growth stages, with active support on financial, operational, and networking matters.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- AgriTech & FoodTech
- FinTech
- Healthcare Services

## People

- Craig Ibsen — Managing Partner
- Duane Harris — Partner
- Dave Tucker — Partner
- Roger Scholten — Partner and General Counsel
- Michael Perrin — Partner
- Liz Keehner — Partner
- Martin Walker — Principal
- Elizabeth Caven — Principal
- Stephen Schroder — Principal
- Barbara Gooch — Director of Administration
- Wyatt Powers — Associate
- Jacob Gaspar — Analyst
- Tej Dhawan — Senior Advisor
- Ryan Gerhardy — Senior Advisor
- Scott Hoekman — Senior Advisor
- Todd Skokan — Senior Advisor

## Questions

### How does Next Level Ventures source proprietary deal flow?

Sourcing relies on institutional relationships inside Iowa’s public university system — principally Iowa State University and the University of Iowa — as well as principals’ direct networks across Des Moines-based insurance, agricultural, and manufacturing ecosystems. Because the firm’s mandate is geographically captive, it can credibly claim to see nearly every institutionally ready startup inside the state before out-of-region funds do.

### What investment stages does Next Level Ventures typically target?

The firm invests from Pre-Seed and Seed through to expansion and growth-stage rounds. Public portfolio data confirms involvement in earliest-institution check sizes, alongside later-stage follow-ons when portfolio companies raise larger syndicated rounds with coastal co-investors.

### How is Next Level Ventures related to the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System?

IPERS is the firm’s largest and most structurally important limited partner, having committed across multiple fund vintages. The relationship makes each fundraise effectively a biannual state policy decision as well as a private-markets allocation, which introduces both concentration risk and recurring institutional validation.

## Related profiles

- [Next Gear Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/next-gear-ventures)
- [Next Wave Impact](https://altss.com/profile/next-wave-impact)

---

Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:34.613Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/next-level-ventures

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology