What started as a small-town Twitter account grew into Map Dot Media, a Midwest-focused media company connecting millions through Iowa Chill, Midwest Vs. Everybody, and a powerful influencer network. Explore our journey and meet the team driving authentic Midwest storytelling forward.

About us

Our History

  • 2013 – The Beginning

    Origins: What is known today as the Iowa Chill brand began as an anonymous high school confessions Twitter account under the handle @NIConfessions for “Northern Iowa Confessions”.

    Early Buzz: The account evolves into a regional content hub, posting humorous and relatable content about Iowa life.

  • 2015 – Entrepreneurial Spark

    Building Momentum: Nathan Krieps, the account’s original creator, leverages his college network at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) to explore turning the account into a business.

  • 2017 – Iowa Chill, LLC Is Born

    Official Launch: Iowa Chill, LLC is viable after a successful Black Friday merch sale just two days after filing the LLC.

    Early Viral Success: A photo featuring a cow busting through a barn wall goes viral, kickstarting the brand’s social growth beyond Twitter and Snapchat.

    Brand Identity: The Iowa Chill logo is submitted by a fan and later formalized through a $1 purchase agreement.

  • 2018 – Expanding Horizons

    Monetization Begins: The team starts selling merchandise regularly, transforming followers into loyal customers and fueling the brand’s early growth.

    First Major Campaigns: Sponsored memes and merchandise become core revenue drivers.

    New Brand Launch: The team expands beyond Iowa, launching Midwest Vs. Everybody, targeting shared Midwestern culture and humor across 12 states.

  • 2019 – Midwest Influence

    Establishing the Influencer Model: Early collaborations with iconic Iowa-based brands like Cookies BBQ and the Iowa Pork Producers helped define the Perfect Partner framework. These partnerships demonstrated how local businesses could authentically connect with Iowans through Iowa Chill’s growing audience, laying the foundation for future influencer marketing campaigns.

    Content Evolution: Social media expertise from Iowa Chill is applied to Midwest Vs. Everybody, leading to exponential growth.

  • 2020 - 2021 – Scaling Up

    Major Brand Partnerships: Collaborations with brands like Coors Light through the "Keeping Iowa Chill" campaign open new opportunities for larger-scale partnerships.

    Daily Engagement: Posting daily content backed by content pillars ensures continued relevance and engagement.

  • 2022 – Full-Time Focus

    Team Commitment: The founders commit an additional team member full-time to Iowa Chill and Midwest Vs. Everybody, accelerating growth through expanded social campaigns and influencer collaborations.

  • 2023 – Brand Maturity

    Content-Driven Success: Viral moments of submission and in-house content solidify Iowa Chill and Midwest Vs. Everybody’s reputation for creative, engaging content.

    Internship Program Expansion: UNI’s entrepreneurship program fuels a growing internship program, providing real-world experience and leading to full-time hires.

  • 2024 – Map Dot Media

    Official Rebrand: Iowa Media Company rebrands as Map Dot Media to reflect its growing network of in-house brands and geographically targeted influencer services.

Looking Ahead: 2025 & Beyond

Expanding the Network: Plans for continued growth and success with in-house brands while scaling the influencer network and building new Midwest-focused brand partnerships.

Creative Innovation: Continued emphasis on content, merch, and community-driven campaigns that connect businesses with authentic Midwestern audiences.

Spreading the Knowledge: Working with Perfect Partners on social media consulting services, offering tailored brand development and influencer campaign management based on proven strategies.

Our team

Who We Are

  • Bryce Bortscheller

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

  • Scott Burak Map Dot Media

    Scott Burak

    PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

  • Darian Jones

    ADVISOR & CO-FOUNDER

  • Nathan Krieps

    CREATOR & CO-FOUNDER

  • Emma Criswell

    CONTENT LEAD

  • Emma Martinson

    MARKETING LEAD

  • Carlos Ocasio

    ECOMMERCE LEAD

  • Cameron Opkis

    INTERN EXTRAORDINAIRE

What we do

Connect Brands with the Midwest’s Authentic Voices

Map Dot Media is a Midwest-focused social media and influencer marketing firm powered by our in-house lifestyle brands Iowa Chill and Midwest Vs. Everybody. These platforms, rooted in Midwest culture, serve as the creative engine behind our humor, storytelling, and industry expertise. By blending authentic content with data-driven strategy, we help brands connect deeply with region-specific audiences.

We’re more than marketers—we’re practitioners. Every meme, merch drop, and influencer activation starts with our team in the trenches, creating content that resonates with millions of Midwesterners daily. This hands-on approach has built a trusted network of influencers and creators who partner with us to drive powerful campaigns for our brand clients.

Our clients rely on Map Dot Media to craft tailored brand partnerships and multi-market influencer campaigns that feel genuine and culturally relevant. From content ideation to influencer activations, we manage it all—turning Midwest-inspired creativity into measurable results.

When brands want to connect authentically with the heart of the Midwest, they trust Map Dot Media to make it happen.