A two minute pitch
IdeaStorms are entry level pitch competitions across the University of Iowa’s campus that encourage students to share their innovative ideas with others, all while familiarizing themselves with the pitching process. They encourage students to come and share their new, never heard before ideas without the requirements of a business plan or proposal and provide a collaborative environment where students can get feedback and resources on how to make their ideas into a reality.
Does your idea solve a problem in a unique way? At IdeaStorm, all UI students are invited to share their business idea in two minutes or less with a panel of judges and an audience. The top five ideas at each competition will be awarded cash prizes to help take their idea to the next level. IdeaStorm awards $1,500 in cash prizes at each competition with top place winning $500 for their idea.
Check back in early 2019 for dates for our spring IdeaStorm Competitions!
Eligibility
IdeaStorms are open to every UI student and are entry level. No prior experience or preparation is needed! There are only two requirements you must meet in order to pitch at an IdeaStorm competition.
- You must be a UI student currently enrolled in courses
- Your idea must be new.
*Your idea cannot be a developed business that you have already been pursuing. If you have received revenue, funding, or professional support (including the Founders Club) for this specific idea it will not be eligible. If you are unsure if your idea is eligible or not, please contact us at iowajpec@uiowa.edu
Common questions
Q: If my business is too far along to pitch my idea at IdeaStorm, can I pitch a different idea?
A: Absolutely, we encourage you to pitch any new idea you may have.
Q: Can I pitch my idea at more than one IdeaStorm competition?
A: No. You cannot pitch the SAME idea more than once. However, we encourage you to pitch again sharing a new idea!
Q: I've never pitched before - do you have any suggestions on a format to follow?
A: IdeaStorms are specifically designed for students that have no pitching experience - you will fit right in! You do not need a presentation or to prepare ahead of time and will have up to two minutes to talk about your idea. When you arrive at the event, we will share a sample pitch and some helpful tips on key things you might want to include in your pitch.
How to get started
Watch this video made by past IdeaStorm participants to see just how easy it is to participate!
First steps
- Select which of the 4 IdeaStorm Competitions is the best fit for your idea
- Apply to pitch at that competition
- Think about your idea and problem
- Attend and learn how to pitch it in 1-2 minutes
- You will have time to write your pitch and practice it, if you haven’t already done so
- It’s fun, it’s easy – if you don’t have an idea, sign up anyway because you might come up with one
Pitch formula
- What’s the problem you are trying to solve?
- Give us a little story about it.
- What is your solution to the problem?
- Can you do it? What do you need?
"I participated in the IdeaStorm competition on a bit of a whim, after hearing a professor talk about it. I wasn’t even entirely sure what Iowa JPEC was. Immediately after winning the competition, I learned all about Iowa JPEC’s resources for students interested in entrepreneurship, including the Founders Club (which I joined later) and other competitions. I really encourage people of creative and strategic mindsets alike to explore Iowa JPEC – it could be a game changer, and they’ll meet you at whatever stage of the process you’re at." - Isabel Reed, Founder of Comigo
Benefits
- Familiarize yourself with the process of a pitch competition
- Network with students from across campus
- Win up to $500 to help bring your idea to life
- Get connected with the Founders Club and our student innovation programs
Requirements
- Must be a University of Iowa student
- Have an idea for a new business
- Have not yet started working on this business - you should be in the beginning idea stage
Next Steps
Bet on yourself. The next IdeaStorm competitions will be held in spring. Please check back in early 2019 for dates and to apply.