Startup of the Year
SwineTech
As COVID-19 disrupted agriculture, SwineTech founders Matthew Rooda and Abraham Espinosa used the crisis as a catalyst to pivot their business. Originally focused on preventing piglet mortality through voice-recognition technology, the company evolved into a comprehensive point-of-care platform improving quality and compliance across swine operations. The shift fueled rapid growth, with SwineTech now operating in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and expanding globally in 2026. Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, SwineTech earned Iowa JPEC’s Startup of the Year honor and ranked No. 247 on Inc. magazine’s 2024 Inc. 5000 list.
Alumni Entrepreneurial Leadership Award
Tracy Ongena (BBA economics '01)
Alvita Care
Tracy Ongena built Alvita Care from a notebook and a belief in the “Iowa values” of grit, humility, and perseverance. Inspired by her grandmother’s experience in the healthcare system, Ongena founded the Manhattan-based private home health care company to help seniors age in place. Starting with no funding or connections, she scaled Alvita Care into a multi-state operation with more than 3,000 employees and no institutional investors.
Young Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year
Jade Peterson (BBA marketing '20, BA elementary education '21)
Jolt Education
From her first Startup Games as a University of Iowa freshman to launching education-focused ventures, Jade Peterson embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of Iowa JPEC. Her journey began with Funny Nuggets, a creativity-driven comedy program for kids, and continued in the classroom, where she earned a Teacher of the Year Award in 2022. That experience inspired Jolt Education, a Chrome extension that helps teachers spark student engagement through short, vetted videos. A marketing and education graduate, Peterson credits Iowa JPEC’s programs and mentorship for shaping her path as an entrepreneur who blends innovation with impact.
Iowa JPEC Mentor of the Year
David Oliver
For David Oliver, mentorship is a form of philanthropy. Guided early in his career by those willing to give their time, Oliver has paid it forward as a longtime mentor with Iowa JPEC. He has supported student and startup founders since 2014 through Venture School, accelerators, and the Iowa Venture Mentoring Service. Known for helping entrepreneurs tackle the practical, often overlooked steps of launching a business, Oliver was named Iowa JPEC’s 2025 Mentor of the Year. His commitment reflects a belief that strong mentorship helps Iowa-based innovation thrive.
Henry A. Johnson Entrepreneurship Teaching Award
Kurt Heiar
Kurt Heair is a clinical associate professor and director of the NSF I-Corps and Faculty/Graduate Student Incubator programs at Iowa JPEC, where he leads campus-wide efforts to commercialize research. He developed the statewide Tippie Venture School, supporting more than 800 Iowa entrepreneurs, and serves as a core instructor for the Big Ten Regional I-Corps Hub. A serial entrepreneur and former Baxter Healthcare vice president, Heiar has mentored nearly 400 companies worldwide. His expertise spans life sciences, medical technology, AI, and global entrepreneurship education.
International Entrepreneurship Impact Award
Freedom Mukanga
FreedPer Scientific
A 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow at the University of Iowa, Freedom Mukanga is founder of FreedPer Scientific, a company strengthening weather and water data systems across Southern Africa. His work has benefited more than 90,000 people while advancing STEM education and economic opportunity. Through youth mentorship, women-led entrepreneurship training, and global partnerships, Mukanga exemplifies how innovative business can create lasting social impact across Africa.