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BEYOND THE CHAIR

Circle Accelerates Smarter Healthcare Engagement with Rapid Growth and Product Momentum

Circle, a technology-driven healthcare engagement platform, is scaling rapidly after the successful launch of Circle Activate—a new lead generation and communication platform designed for insurers, providers, and supplemental carriers. Since presenting at The Founder’s Chair, the company has exceeded growth expectations and is now raising additional capital to meet rising demand.

Built as both a product and managed service, Circle Activate streamlines every step of patient and member engagement—from lead qualification to appointment scheduling and year-round communication. Designed with the unique complexities of healthcare in mind, the platform empowers organizations to grow, retain, and better serve their members, patients, and clients.

“The response from the market has been incredibly validating,” shared CEO Joseph Schneir. “We’re seeing strong pull from insurers and providers who need more scalable ways to connect, convert, and care for their populations.”

The company’s momentum comes at a time of significant industry shifts. With potential cuts to Medicaid on the horizon and increased pressure on health plans to evaluate eligibility and improve communication, Circle is offering timely, tech-forward solutions. Their tools are designed to reduce friction, simplify workflows, and ensure more people get the care and coverage they need—faster.

In addition to domestic growth, Circle is also eyeing international expansion, recognizing that many global insurers lack in-house capabilities to build and maintain engagement infrastructure. Circle’s technology offers them a fast track to modernize without overextending resources.

With continued traction, the team is now focused on strategic partnerships, hiring top-tier talent in sales and data science, and ensuring they have the right capital to meet this pivotal moment.

With continued traction, the team is now focused on strategic partnerships, hiring top-tier talent in sales and data science, and ensuring they have the right capital to meet this pivotal moment.

Circle is quickly becoming the vendor of choice for brokers and health insurers looking to diversify offerings, reduce vendor fatigue, and deliver seamless support across multiple lines of business. Their holistic approach and nimble operations make them a standout in The Founder’s Chair network—and one to watch as healthcare continues to evolve.

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Est. 1919 · Des Moines, Iowa

HOTEL FORT DES MOINES

A century of stories, one remarkable address

Famous Guests
Scandals & Secrets
Firsts & Innovations
The Beginning
1922
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1922

Helen Keller rang in the New Year here, staying at the hotel while in Des Moines for performances over New Year's Eve.

1927
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1927

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig had breakfast here before an exhibition game. Two of baseball's greatest, at the same table, in Des Moines.

1927
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1927

Charles Lindbergh hosted a banquet here after his famous transatlantic flight. The menu featured boneless squab — reportedly a rare Des Moines delicacy at the time.

1933
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1933

Amelia Earhart visited the hotel to speak about her solo flight across the Atlantic — a rare chance for Iowans to hear her story firsthand.

1947
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1947

Mae West stayed here during her performance of "Come on Up" at the KRNT Radio Theater. One imagines she made an impression on the staff.

1959
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1959

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev occupied the Presidential Suite during the height of the Cold War. This hotel has seen history made.

1960
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1960

JFK, LBJ, and Hubert Humphrey all attended dinner here and held a meeting on farm policy — three future or sitting presidents under one roof.

1980
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1980

Elizabeth Taylor stayed here during a Des Moines appearance. Hollywood glamour, right here in the heartland.

1980
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1980

Elizabeth Taylor stayed here during a Des Moines appearance. Hollywood glamour, right here in the heartland.

2003
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2003

Cher requested her own personal mattress be placed in room #1025. The hotel obliged. Room 1025 has never quite been the same.

2008
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2008

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both stayed here during the Iowa caucuses — rivals for the presidency, sharing the same address for a night.

1939
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1939

Police raided the Log Cabin Room on the 11th floor, seizing liquor and gambling equipment. The tip reportedly came from the men's own wives.

1927
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1927

When Lindbergh dined here post-transatlantic flight, he reportedly insisted on serving boneless squab, an extravagance that raised eyebrows across Iowa.

1959
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1959

The FBI monitored Khrushchev's stay closely. Guests on nearby floors reportedly had no idea who was sleeping down the hall.

1971
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1971

President Nixon greeted supporters in the lobby during his stay — a reminder that this hotel has always been where Iowa's political drama plays out.

1919
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1919

When it opened, every single room had a bathtub, purified chilled circulating water, and a window. Unheard of luxury for its era.

1938
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1938

The hotel announced the first air-conditioned guest room in Des Moines, a genuine technological milestone that made front-page news.

1953
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1953

100 rooms received TV sets in what was reportedly the largest single installation of televisions in Iowa at the time. The fee to operate yours? 25 cents.

1982
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1982

Governor Terry Branstad nominated the hotel to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its place in Iowa's official history.

1919
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1919

The hotel opened on July 15, 1919, built for approximately $1.5 million and designed by the architectural firm Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson.

1919
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1919

Its opening was a statement of ambition: every room had a private bathtub, purified water, and a window. In 1919, this was genuinely extraordinary.

1974
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1974

Ronald Reagan attended WHO Radio's 50th anniversary celebration at the hotel, proof that Fort Des Moines has always been Iowa's premier gathering place.

2021
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2021

After major renovations, the hotel reopened as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, a century of history, restored for the next hundred years.