ABOUT THE HONORS
The Iowa Innovation and Entrepreneurship Honors, hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, recognizes students, alumni, faculty, staff, and JPEC program participants who create value through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Honors will recognize the 2024 award winners during a reception at the Old Capitol on Oct. 11.
Awards, Applications, and Nominations
The Iowa Innovation and Entrepreneurship Honors, hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial accomplishments of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, and Venture School participants.
Recipients of these awards exhibit passion, devotion and innovation in planning and deploying their startup/business, and have made significant progress over the years as determined by metrics such as jobs created and revenue generated.
General Application Guidelines
- Graduates, former students, faculty, and staff of the University of Iowa or past participants in any JPEC-affiliated programming such as Business Consulting, Iowa Enterprise Internships, Iowa Venture Mentoring Service, NSF I-Corps, and/or Venture School may apply. Please see individual award descriptions for additional details.
- We encourage entrepreneurs and innovators from any industry to apply for our awards.
- With the exception of the Entrepreneurial Leadership and Mentor of the Year Awards, the nominee must have played a central role in creating and/or developing a new business enterprise or have reimagined or significantly grown an existing business enterprise.
- The applicant should be respected as a leader in the industry and community, as demonstrated by involvement in industry, community, and service organizations and/or activities.
- The applicant should be a good ambassador for the University of Iowa and/or Iowa JPEC.
- If there are multiple applicants who meet the criteria within one business, they may ALL be recognized in a single application for each award.
- Current Iowa JPEC faculty and staff are ineligible for awards.
If you have questions regarding an application, email Jeralyn Westercamp.
Granted to an entrepreneur, who previously attended the University of Iowa, for their significant accomplishments in entrepreneurship and innovation. If there are multiple founders who meet the criteria within one business, they may all be recognized in a single nomination.
Granted to a University of Iowa alumnus for significant professional accomplishments and exemplary leadership of or within an entrepreneurial venture, corporation, or social enterprise. If there are multiple alumni who meet the criteria within one business, they may all be recognized in a single nomination.
Granted to an entrepreneur, who previously attended the University of Iowa, for their significant accomplishments in entrepreneurship and innovation. Individuals must be age 35 or younger at time of nomination. If there are multiple founders who meet the criteria within one business, they may all be recognized in a single nomination.
Granted to startup affiliated with faculty/staff at the University of Iowa that has completed Iowa JPEC's University of Iowa Innovators Workshop.
Granted to a startup company that has participated in the statewide seven week-long Venture School training program at a cohort location in the state of Iowa.
This honor is bestowed to an Institute for International Business (IIB) alumni who participated in an IIB entrepreneurship program and made outstanding accomplishments in their community
Created in 2023, this award honors individuals who are dedicated to volunteering time and talents in Iowa JPEC programs. These programs include Iowa Venture Mentoring Service, the Professional Preparation for Enterprise Leadership & Entrepreneurship class, and Venture School.