Eight entry-level student businesses shared $6,700 in prize money at the fall IdeaStorm competition Oct. 29 in the Black Box Theatre in the Iowa Memorial Union. The event was presented by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC).
First-place winners were Will Ryan and HealthWallet in the Tech Category and Kaden Barry and ReWrap in the Lifestyle Category. Ryan won $1,500, Barry took home $1,000.
A total of 22 individuals pitched 16 creative ideas. These students represented a variety of majors and areas of study making this competition a great example of multidisciplinary innovation across the University of Iowa campus. The top ideas selected by judges were awarded cash prizes, as well as a People’s Choice award of $500 to Pranev Karthik and Lane Neshiem for their business, SmartStack Systems.
IdeaStorm is an entry-level pitch competition open to all University of Iowa students. The competition is designed to introduce students to innovation by encouraging them to share their idea in one minute or less via an in-person pitch describing how they would solve a problem in a unique way. Students do not need a business plan, prior pitching experience, or a presentation to pitch — this allows them to enjoy a soft introduction to the world of entrepreneurship.
Tech Category
1st | $1,500 | Will Ryan (human physiology, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry)
HealthWallet: Secure patient-controlled platform that centralizes medical and dental information.
2nd | $1,200 | Ben Peterson (biomedical engineering, pre-medicine, minor in chemistry)
Tray Guardian: Keeps surgical tools sterile with continuous UV light.
3rd | $1,000 | Nicholas Gorsich (computer science, minor in business administration), Jackson Johannes (BBA), Austin Rowswell (pre-business), Braedin Zondervan (pre-business)
Portal: Makes recruiting easier for coaches and athletes.
Honorable Mention | $500 | Katie Butler (mechanical engineering), Ean Cummings (electrical and computer engineering)
Droplet: Wearable bracelet that analyzes sweat chemistry to provide hydration, stress, and wellness insights to your phone.
Honorable Mention | $500 | Nic VanArkel (exercise science and pre-physical therapy, minor in psychology)
VeriVid: Detects fake and AI-manipulated videos to protect people from digital deception.
Lifestyle Category
1st | $1,000 | Kaden Barry (enterprise leadership, minor in sport and recreation management)
ReWrap: Reusable mesh-style pallet wrap that replaces single-use plastic stretch film.
Honorable Mention | $500 | Ethan Hallberg (social studies, history)
Yesterday Was Weird: Podcast that uses humor and storytelling to make history feel personal and relevant for young people.
People’s Choice
$500 | Pranev Karthik (finance, business analytics information systems), Lane Neshiem (mechanical engineering)
SmartStack Systems: All-in-one stacked washer and dryer system.
About Iowa JPEC: Iowa JPEC fosters entrepreneurship and innovation across the state of Iowa by providing a range of educational, training programs, and support services for entrepreneurial ventures and existing small-to-medium size businesses. Iowa JPEC is dedicated to nurturing the growth of new ventures and assisting them in reaching their full potential.
