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
High school students tackling large problems, present solutions to community leaders
High school students from across eastern Iowa are taking the STEM Innovator Business Innovation class through the Jacobson Institute at the University of Iowa. These students have spent months problem solving potential issues in the state and are now presenting their ideas to a group of business and community leaders.
Students, faculty, staff honored for new business startup ideas
Numerous University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students received cash prizes for their new business start-up ideas recently in the Iowa Innovation Challenge.
University of Iowa and ISU named top entrepreneurship schools by Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has announced the results of its top undergraduate and graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies in the United States. The University of Iowa made the list of top 50 undergraduate schools, ranking at no. 21.
Iowa Innovation Challenge offers $225,000 in prize money to entrepreneurial projects
Four UI organizations, including the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, have come together to create the Iowa Innovation Challenge, a new contest with $225,000 in funding for innovation and entrepreneurial projects.
Fall 2019 Iowa Startup Games Recap
The last weekend in October we had the honor of hosting the Fall 2019 Iowa Startup Games competition. This three-day event brings together students from all areas of study to pitch their ideas to have an impact. $4,250 was awarded in cash prizes.
Institute for International Business celebrates 20 years of connective Iowans with the rest of the of the business world
The Institute for International Business (IIB) celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 10. The IIB has worked to connect to the local community and engage globally through international research, education, and consulting resources!
Fall 2019 IdeaStorm Competition Results
The week of September 30-October 3 the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) had the privilege of hosting three uniquely focused IdeaStorm competitions across the University of Iowa campus. The top four 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.
UI senior succeeds in ice cream and sweet treat business
Ramya Kolusu, University of Iowa senior, turned her dream of owning an ice cream business into a reality. With the help of the Founder's Club and her mentor, Keith Chiavetta, Kolusu opened up Sugar Fiend Sweets.
Business ideas bloom in Iowa, thanks to UI and young minds
Mike Kuennen, a teacher at New Hampton High School, helped his students come to a solution by drawing on the lessons he learned through STEM Innovator created by the University of Iowa's Jacobson Institute. The group of high school students decided to start their own business, a portable drive-in movie theater, to give people something to do on summer evenings.
Rantizo wins 2019 Pappajohn Pitch Competition, takes home $40,000
Rantizo today was announced the winner of the 2019 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition and was awarded $40,000. The competition is a collaborative project of the Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.
Something to Look At
Erica Cole founded No Limbits after losing her leg in a tragic car accident the summer before her senior year. She came up with the idea after the questions and stares about her prosthesis were getting too much to handle. Cole decided to turn the negatives into positives and gave people something to look at.
$12,500 in prizes awarded to Hawkeye Startup Accelerator companies
16 student-run companies from the University of Iowa pitched their business ideas last Friday as the 2019 cohort of the Hawkeye Startup Accelerator came to an end.
Iowa students helped towns prepare for the RAGBRAI spotlight
16 Iowa JPEC students worked with pass-through towns along the RAGBRAI route to help encourage riders to stop and explore the towns during their cross-state ride.
A group of African entrepreneurs come to the Quad Cities
A group of entrepreneurs, the Mandela Washington Fellows, visited the Quad Cities. The fellows are a group of 25 people from countries in Africa who are learning new techniques and methods to bring back to their home countries.
African fellows learn new business skills at the University of Iowa
African fellows participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship at the University of Iowa are studying American business and economics through the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.