Founders Club Application

About Founders Club

Founders Club is part of a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem at the University of Iowa led by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC). Dedicated to the success of student startups, Founders Club offers its members access to an exciting network of campus innovators and successful alumni entrepreneurs eager to share knowledge and resources. Member benefits include dedicated workspace at the Bedell Entrepreneurial Learning Lab (BELL), Business Model Canvas training, coaching, mentoring, access to support in marketing, accounting and business law, and numerous opportunities to compete for funding in pitch competitions throughout the year.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Students are encouraged to apply at the beginning of the semester to fully benefit from progressive curriculum.

Eligibility

Any currently enrolled University of Iowa student (undergraduate, graduate and PhD) who is serious about starting and growing a business is eligible and encouraged to apply to Founders Club. Both individuals and teams are welcome. A currently enrolled student must be the founder or co-founder of the company.

Admission Criteria

The criteria for admission into Founders Club includes:

1.) A clear idea for a business or have an active business underway

2.) Strong desire and motivation to create and build a successful business

3.) Must be currently enrolled in classes at the University of Iowa

4.) Committed to investing time outside of classes to growing and advancing a business

5.) Committed to completing program coursework, attending meetings, and being actively engaged in the cohort

Participation Requirements

To maintain membership in Founders Club, the following criteria must be met:

1.) Regularly schedule and attend coach and mentor meetings

2.) Show progress on the Business Model Canvas, Operations Plan or Growth Plan (depending on stage)

3.) Compete in required pitch competitions

4.) Attend weekly roundtables and meetings

5.) Actively engage with the cohort

Depending on progress to date, new member businesses will be admitted to one of three Stages, or learning tracks, within the Founders Club.

IDEA STAGE
Students are formulating and researching an idea for a product or service. They will actively engage in customer discovery, begin the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and participate in group coaching sessions.

STARTUP STAGE
This stage is for businesses that have completed the Idea Stage, have a robust BMC and Pitch Deck, and are actively working on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Businesses at this stage are assigned a one-on-one coach.

GROWTH STAGE
This stage is for businesses that have completed the Startup Stage, have a product or service on the market, have acquired their first customers, and are ready to accelerate growth. Businesses at this stage are assigned a one-on-one coach and have priority access to all specialists.

Are you and your team committed to launching and growing this business? *

Yes

Are you and your team able to fully engage in Founders Club, including attending all required meetings and completing all required business assignments?" *

Yes

How many team members does your business have? *

Team Member 1 (Primary) Information

The primary business contact MUST be a student currently at The University of Iowa

First Name *

Last Name *

Hawk ID *

Student ID Number *

Email *

Phone *

Hometown (City, State) *

T-Shirt Size *

Expected Graduation Date (Month, Year) *

Major(s) *

Minor(s)

Certificate(s)

College/Department

Is team member earning an Iowa JPEC certificate? *

Has team member taken any Iowa JPEC classes? *

Team Member 2 Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Hawk ID *

Student ID Number *

Email *

Phone *

Hometown (City, State) *

T-Shirt Size *

Expected Graduation Date (Month, Year) *

Major(s) *

Minor(s)

Certificate(s)

College/Department

Is team member earning an Iowa JPEC certificate? *

Has team member taken any Iowa JPEC classes? *

Team Member 4 Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Hawk ID *

Student ID Number *

Email *

Phone *

Hometown (City, State) *

T-Shirt Size *

Expected Graduation Date (Month, Year) *

Major(s) *

Minor(s)

Certificate(s)

College/Department

Is team member earning an Iowa JPEC certificate? *

Has team member taken any Iowa JPEC classes? *

Team Member 3 Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Hawk ID *

Student ID Number *

Email *

Phone *

Hometown (City, State) *

T-Shirt Size *

Expected Graduation Date (Month, Year) *

Major(s) *

Minor(s)

Certificate(s)

College/Department

Is team member earning an Iowa JPEC certificate? *

Has team member taken any Iowa JPEC classes? *

Team Member 5 Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Hawk ID *

Student ID Number *

Email *

Phone *

Hometown (City, State) *

T-Shirt Size *

Expected Graduation Date (Month, Year) *

Major(s) *

Minor(s)

Certificate(s)

College/Department

Is team member earning an Iowa JPEC certificate? *

Has team member taken any Iowa JPEC classes? *

Media Release

BY TYPING MY NAME IN THE FIELD BELOW, I AM AGREEING THAT I AM AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE, AND THAT I'VE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND GIVEN PERMISSION FOR THE USE OF MY LIKENESS OUTLINED HERE: I hereby provide permission for the University of Iowa and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center to use, reproduce, electronically publish and display my name and company name, photograph, and any information provided by me in all media including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and Internet websites for the purpose of promoting the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the University of Iowa. I understand that this media will be accessible throughout the world and that stories may be in written, video and electronic form.

Digital Signature *

2+2

Founders Club Application

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