Featured News
Spring 2019 IdeaStorm Recap
The Spring 2019 IdeaStorm competition hosted over 250 students from across all areas of study on campus. IdeaStorms are entry-level pitch competitions open to all UI students. Here, the students pitched their business ideas in under two minutes with the event taking place across the span of four days each at different campus locations. 118 student pitches were heard at this spring's IdeaStorms.
The goal of IdeaStorm is to help familiarize students with the pitching process, sparking innovative ideas within themselves and then sharing those in front of a panel of judges and their peers.
The top five ideas were awarded cash prizes as well as the people's choice at each competition. This year, over $6,600 total in prizes were awarded.
Congratulations to our Spring 2019 IdeaStorm winners!
Recent News
Founders Club Fair 2019 Recap
On April 5, 2019, Iowa JPEC hosted our annual Founders Club Fair at the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City. Over 300 students and members of the community attended the fair, meeting all of the innovative UI student businesses that are apart of our Founders Club program.
Innovator Spotlight: Mahdi Eghbali of VerdiLife
VentureWell's latest Innovator Spotlight is Iowa JPEC's very own, Mahdi Eghbali, founder of VerdiLife.
Iowa Startup Games Spring 2019 Recap
The first weekend of March we had the privilege of hosting the Spring 2019 Iowa Startup Games. This is a three-day event where students, from all areas of study, pitch their ideas to have an impact.
University of Iowa to host 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
The University of Iowa is proud to announce that it has been selected as an Institute Partner to host the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for the fourth year in a row.
Educational Institutions across United Stated selected to host Mandela Washington Fellows
Twenty-seven U.S. educational institutions in 20 states will host Leadership Institutes for 700 Mandela Washington Fellows, the University of Iowa being among them for their fourth year.
University of Iowa Student Starts Business to Make Custom Prosthetic Limb Covers
Senior at the University of Iowa, Erica Cole, has taken advantage of a unique opportunity to start her own business, No Limbits, to help others in the same position as her.
Erica Cole Wins Both Days of the Rose Francis Elevator Pitch Competition
On November 13 and 14, the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) hosted the Rose Francis Elevator Pitch Competition.
IC Inventor Takes Chance on Water-Borne Drone
Mr. Simon, founder of Iowa City-based Clean River Solutions, is developing the RC Beaver, a drone device designed to cut through the tangle of timber, trash and other material that collects around bridge pilings and other inconvenient places.
UI Fosters Innovation on Many Levels
With plans to build a new center of innovation and the hiring of a chief innovation officer, the University of Iowa will continue to build on its reputation of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship for students and faculty.
Mandela Washington Fellow Wins ICT Awards
On October 24 in Kenya, one of our past Mandela Washington Fellows was the overall winner of The Connected Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Awards. Gervase Jeneri Wakoli had the SME with the largest social impact that aligned with the ministry of ICT. His Company Engho Kuku Farmer won both the agricultural category and the overall prize.
2018 Rose Francis Elevator Pitch Competition Results
On November 13th and 14th, the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) had the pleasure of hosting the annual Rose Francis Elevator Pitch Competition.
Fall 2018 Iowa Startup Games
This past weekend, October 26-28, the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) had the opportunity to host the Fall 2018 Iowa Startup Games. The weekend-long event was a success, with over 40 students participating to compete for $2,750 in cash prizes.
Sigma Nu Tau Ventures to Chicago
On October 11, 17 Sigma Nu Tau members traveled to Chicago to learn from Iowa JPEC alumni business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Hawkeye Pitch Off Recap
On Thursday, October 11 Iowa JPEC students and alumni came together at WeWork in Chicago for a night of networking and ideation.