Seravita Therapeutics LLC, a startup developing therapies for dry eyes, won first place and $30,000 in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division of Innovation Challenge on April 15 at MERGE, Iowa City.

The competition is hosted by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC).

A total of $125,000 was awarded to 14 winners. Halide Biologics Inc. placed second in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division, earning $20,000.

Six teams in the Undergraduate division shared $25,000. In the Technology Product division, Kate Pavletich, Kristen Remley, and Jack Petersen won first place and $7,500 for FirstPass, a medical device startup focused on improving neonatal intubation. Carson Lane and Nicholas Gorsich placed second and won $4,000 for Stridelane, an LED pacing-light system for track training and races.

In the Technology Platform division, Daniel Mendez won first place and $7,500 for Easy Org, a platform that centralizes finances, communication and administration for student organizations. John Schwerha placed second and won $4,000 for Creator Credit, a marketplace and scoring platform for the creator economy.

Fifteen undergraduate teams pitched April 13 at the Pappajohn Business Building, while 12 teams competed April 14 in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division. There were also 18 alumni online submissions.

Jen Myers of Homeschool Foundry Inc. won the $13,000 first prize in the Alumni division. The company is developing a data-driven platform for homeschool curriculum discovery and evaluation.

Iowa JPEC is the hub for entrepreneurial education and outreach at the University of Iowa, supporting students, faculty, staff and community members in launching and growing businesses.