Students
Business Plan Competitions
Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition
In September 2000, John Pappajohn created a statewide business plan competition to encourage and help Iowa college students pursue their interests in starting their own companies. Regional competitions are held at each of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers in Iowa. Regional finalists present their plan to John Pappajohn and his staff at Equity Dynamics Inc. Three awards of $5,000 each are awarded to the top teams.
- 2008 Results
- 2007 Results
- 2006 Results
- 2005 Results
- 2004 Results
- 2003 Results
- 2002 Results
- 2001 Results
- 2000 Results
Merle Volding Business Plan Competition
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) at The University of Iowa sponsors the Merle Volding Business Plan Competition for all undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Iowa. The event allows aspiring student entrepreneurs to compete for seed money to assist them in starting their new companies.
Student teams will compete for up to $10,000 seed in grant awards. In addition to the cash prize, teams will receive ongoing support from JPEC.
Hubert E. Storer Engineering Student Entrepreneurial Start-up Award
- 2007-08 Award Recipients
- 2006-07 Award Recipients
- 2005-06 Award Recipients
- 2004-05 Award Recipients
- 2003-04 Award Recipients
- 2002-03 Award Recipients
Through a generous gift from Engineering alumnus and entrepreneur Hubert E. Storer (BS 1959 in industrial engineering), president, owner and founder of Storer Equipment Company, Shreveport, LA, the College of Engineering has established the Hubert E. Storer Engineering Student Entrepreneurial Start-up Award – consisting of two endowed awards that support initial financial support of College of Engineering students' technological business plans.
Any University of Iowa College of Engineering undergraduate and graduate student is eligible to compete for one of two $2,500 Storer Entrepreneurial Start-up Awards available.
Additional Business Plan Competitions
JPEC strongly encourages students submitting applications to business plan competitions to contact and work directly with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. Any team hoping to have JPEC representation or to have JPEC listed on the application as a faculty advisor, must first submit their plan to JPEC for approval.Babcock Elevator Competition
The Babcock Elevator Competition is hosted by Wake Forest University Babcock School of Management. This competition is open to MBA students with venture opportunities and business plans.
Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
The regional and global awards are recognition for exceptional entrepreneurial skill and creativity among undergraduate students enrolled in universities, colleges and technical schools. The awards were begun in 1988 by Saint Louis University's Entrepreneurship Center.
Enterprise Creation Competition
The preeminent international undergraduate business plan competition held at the Midwest Entrepreneurial Education Center at Ball State University and the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University Competition guidelines.
SEED Business Plan Competition
The SEED Business Plan Competition is hosted by Entrepoint.com. The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
The $10,000 Boomer Business Plan Competition
The $10,000 Boomer Business Plan Competition looks for business plans or startup ventures that show significant business potential for the baby boomer market (born between 1946 and 1964). Presented by Mary Furlong & Associates, the American Society on Aging's Business Forum on Aging, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, this competition is open to all full-time students, faculty or staff at accredited four-year colleges and universities; entrepreneurs from seed or early-stage companies with annual revenues of $0 to $1 million; and independent business professionals.
Purdue University Life Sciences Business Plan Competition
Sponsored by Purdue University and Roche Diagnostics, the competition offers total prizes in excess of $147,000. Entries should describe the commercialization of products and services in the life sciences industry such as medical devices and equipment, software, manufacturing services and research services.
Palo Alto Software Business Plan Competition
Sponsored by Palo Alto Software Company, this competition is open to anyone who is starting a business, has been in business for less than one year, or who is writing a plan to expand their current business.
$100,000 Deloitte Business Plan Competition at the Fisher College
Sponsored by the Fisher College of Business, the Deloitte Business Plan Competition provides a forum for students and community members to win $100,000 in cash and services to use as start-up funds to transform an idea into a thriving business.
Ford $100,000 BEST Business Plan Contest
In partnership with SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business", the Ford $100,000 BEST Business Plan Contest offers a $50,000 Grand Prize and two First Prizes at $25,000 each.