Featured News
Winners announced in the 21st Annual John Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
The 2021 John Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition was held virtually with 13 students advancing to the final presentation round, where plans were reviewed by John Pappajohn and his team. Student entrepreneurs entering the competition came from Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The following businesses emerged as winners of this year’s competition, with each venture receiving $5,000.
- Thuy Nguyen, founder of Optic Origin, University of Iowa. Optic Origin provides vision correction to underserved communities through an intelligently prescription match platform.
- Mason Weh, founder of Mentoring for Change, Iowa State University. Mentoring for Change aims to mentor disadvantaged youth ages 15-19 through sports and art to help them reach their full potential.
- Anthony Piscopo, Hawkeye Surgical Lighting, University of Iowa. Hawkeye Surgical Lighting has developed a light worn by surgeons that lights up tumors during a surgical procedure.
Recent News
Congratulations to our Iowa Innovation Challenge Winners
On April 13 and 14 the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) held the second phase of the Iowa Innovation Challenge. The Iowa Innovation Challenge awarded more than $150,000 to students, faculty, staff, incubator startups, and alumni who competed in the business model canvas (BMC) pitch competition last month.
Congratulations to all the winners of the second phase of the Iowa Innovation Challenge!
Congratulations to our Game Changer Winners!
On March 26 - 27, JPEC’s new online event and competition, Game Changer, provided the 16 participating students a platform to develop “impact-driven entrepreneurship” that addressed the presented UN Sustainable Goal, "Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture." On Friday afternoon, students had formed four teams, and on Saturday evening, each won a cash prize during the competition.
Viewpoint Molecular Targeting sets sights on growth in 2021
Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, an Iowa JPEC Faculty Innovators alumnus, is starting 2021 with momentum. Over the last 6 months, the company accrued $18 million in funding, secured its own supply chain of radioisotopes, unveiled positive preclinical data; and secured its first investigational new drug application by the US FDA in the lead up to their first human trials at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Iowa.
Iowa Innovation Challenge Fall 2020 Elevator Pitch Competition Recap
On November 16-18, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) had the privilege of virtually hosting the first phase of the Iowa Innovation Challenge, the Elevator Pitch Competition. A total of 84 businesses pitched their ideas as a part of the first phase of the competition. $75,350 was awarded to the most innovative and entrepreneurial ideas across campus.
Fall 2020 IdeaStorm Recap
Congratulations to the winners of the Fall 2020 IdeaStorm Competition! This competition was recently hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) and for the first time ever, was held in a virtual format with students submitting video pitches.
Iowa City Business Chosen For Statewide SBDC Award
America's SBDC Iowa (SBDC) is pleased to announce that College Raptor, of Iowa City, is the winner of the organization's statewide October Small Business of the Month Award.
University of Iowa, Iowa State University share $100,000 Kauffman Grant
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University will split a $100,000 grant awarded to their respective entrepreneurial centers by The Ewing Marion Foundation in an effort to bolster each school’s entrepreneurial training and outreach capabilities.
Fall 2020 Venture School Cohort Begins with New Partnerships
The University of Iowa’s Venture School, a premier statewide program for entrepreneurs developed by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC), is coming to Mason City, Cedar Falls, Iowa City and Des Moines October 2020. Established in 2013, this seven-week program is built from a streamlined curriculum developed by the National Science Foundation I-Corps at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Iowa JPEC is excited to announce our statewide partners for the Fall 2020 cohort.
Venture School Launch Day 2020
Venture School Launch Day 2020 was held virtually in conjunction with EntreFEST. There were five businesses selected as finalists from the 2019/2020 cohorts to pitch at the event. A total of $31,000 was awarded.
Iowa Innovation Challenge Phase 2 Winners
On April 13 and 14 the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) held the second phase of the Iowa Innovation Challenge in partnership with the University of Iowa’s Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Iowa Research Foundation, and UI Ventures. The Iowa Innovation Challenge awarded $276,500 during the 2019-2020 academic year to support innovation across campus and is open to all University of Iowa faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and incubator startups.
Resources available for small businesses during time of uncertainty
The Coronavirus pandemic is creating a tough time for nearly everyone in the US economy. David Hensley, the Executive Director at Iowa JPEC, gives advice for small businesses.
Navigating small business aid isn't easy amid coronavirus
The impacts on small businesses from the coronavirus shutdowns is already seen as owners wait for the long-term impact. David Hensley, Executive Director of Iowa JPEC, said small business owners can come to them for support and help during these tough times.
Spring 2020 Iowa Startup Games Recap
On the weekend of February 28-March 1, we had the honor of hosting the Spring 2020 Iowa Startup Games competition. This three-day event brings together students from all areas of study to pitch their ideas to have an impact.
Spring 2020 IdeaStorm Recap
The week of February 10-13, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) hosted four uniquely focused IdeaStorm competitions across the University of Iowa campus. The top ideas selected by judges were awarded cash prizes at each competition, as well as a People's Choice award that was selected by students who attended the event.
Hawkeyes work to help end "fish for sex" trade around Kenya lake
Two directors at the University of Iowa - Patrick Johanns and Kelly Bedeian - received federal funds to help train a group of 30 women living near Lake Victoria in Kenya on entrepreneurial skills and tools for breaking into the fishing business.