Seven entry-level student businesses shared $3,400 in prize money at the spring IdeaStorm competition Feb. 25 at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory. The event was presented by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC).
First-place winners were Keaton Herzberg and Event ConnecTD in the Lifestyle/Tech category and Jeremiah Daniels and Break Gum in the Creative/Consumer Products division. Both took home $750.
A total of 14 individuals pitched 12 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 $300 to Daniels and a Judge's Choice award to Elliot Baughman with ICJAZZ. Baughman won Sony headphones.
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.
Lifestyle/Tech Category
1st | $750 | Keaton Herzberg (marketing and finance)
Event ConnecTD: An online marketplace for companies to find event staff. Staff create accounts to showcase their skills and experience, while companies can find, hire, contract, and pay them directly on site.
2nd | $500 | Malcolm Wilson (finance)
GrowWell: Toddler nutrition and development tracker.
3rd | $300 | Camden Richgruber (computer science and engineering)
STEM Note: A STEM platform combining note-taking, problem-solving, and feedback in one workspace. With infinite canvases and shared questions, it reduces fragmentation and helps students focus.
Creative/Consumer Products
1st | $750 | Jeremiah Daniels (interdepartmental studies, business studies-organizational practice and perspectives)
Break Gum: A functional gum that utilizes a specialized blend of charcoal and Bromaline to actively neutralize smoke odors and remove chemical buildup from the mouth. Developed in collaboration with the University of Iowa Chemistry Department, Break Gum is currently moving the prototype through clinical stages to validate its effectiveness over traditional gum.
2nd | $500 | Ryan Mulligan (business)
Flow State: A mint flavored, stimulant-free focus drink powder helps students lock in without jitters or crashes. It combines Alpha-GPC for cognitive support, L-Tyrosine for motivation, and L-Theanine for calm, focused concentration.
3rd | $300 | Ryan Breen (electrical engineering)
Restfuls: Pants using the BOA crank mechanism from snowboarding boots provide adjustable compression (and possibly heat) to relieve restless legs, shin splints, hip pain, and related discomfort, whether standing for hours or resting in bed.
People’s Choice
$300 | Jeremiah Daniels, Break Gum
Judge’s Choice
Sony headphones | Elliot Baughman (entrepreneurship and music)
ICJAZZ: A multi-venue concert series showcasing innovative jazz that engages young audiences. Multi-venue and artist-first, musicians get full creative freedom.
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.
