John Pappajohn Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year
Jim Coble (BBA marketing and management '04)
Coble Holdings, LLC
Coble's journey shows how originality and perseverance can lead to success. After graduating from the University of Iowa, Coble pursued his passion for fishing with Pure Fishing. Despite setbacks, such as losing his job when the company was sold, he founded 13 Fishing, challenging industry standards with innovation. His brand gained global recognition, and in 2019, Rapala VMC Corporation purchased 13 Fishing. Coble now focuses on his new venture, Coble Holdings, helping others achieve their entrepreneurial goals.
Alumni Entrepreneurial Leadership Award
John Slump (BBA finance, certificate in entrepreneurship '08
Atraverse Medical & Volta Medical
Slump's career has seen significant growth since 2022. He became CEO of Atraverse Medical, co-founded with two University of Iowa connections, and also serves as CFO for France-based Volta Medical. Previously, as CFO of Surgical Innovation Associates, he helped facilitate its acquisition for up to $140 million. Slump, a University of Iowa alumnus, has contributed to over $1 billion in medical device exits. His entrepreneurial journey began as a student co-founding Corvida Medical. Now, he has raised $16.5 million for Atraverse, leading the company through FDA approval while balancing multiple leadership roles.
Iowa Innovator of the Year Award
Melissa Bates
LSF Medical Solutions
Bates recognized that once lung disease symptoms appear, it's often too late to reverse them, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization. This realization drove her to partner with the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) to create LSF Medical Solutions. Initially developed during her graduate studies at Penn State, Bates refined a technology to measure lung airways. The COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to miniaturize this technology for remote monitoring. Iowa JPEC has been instrumental in the company's growth, supporting Bates through various entrepreneurial programs. LSF Medical Solutions has since expanded its focus to include solutions in hematology.
Young Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year
Dylan DeClerck (MBA '20, leadership certificate '20)
Can Play
DeClerck, noticing how refugee and immigrant friends struggled to afford organized sports, founded Opportunity on Deck at 16 to provide free sports opportunities for low-income children. This nonprofit grew to serve thousands through sports-based youth programs. In 2021, it merged with Courage League Sports to form Can Play, continuing its mission of accessibility. DeClerck earned his MBA from the University of Iowa and won the Young Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year award for his social entrepreneurship.
Iowa JPEC Mentor of the Year
Shamus Roeder (BS human physiology '17, BSE biomedical engineering '17, MS biomedical engineering '19)
Roeder transitioned from medicine to biomedical engineering to have a broader impact, seeing it as a way to help more people through innovation. Roeder has been deeply involved with Iowa JPEC since his undergraduate years, where he founded ABAL Therapeutics, a startup that achieved significant success. Now a senior product manager and government affairs lead for Whiterabbit.ai, Roeder continues to mentor and support students, encouraging them to get involved in entrepreneurship.
Venture School Business of the Year
Paul Richardson
CEO, Tumbleweed
Richardson, CEO of Tumbleweed, founded the company after a reflective moment on the road. Tumbleweed is a digital legacy planning platform that has evolved through various iterations. It gained momentum after winning $9,000 at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day. Richardson and his co-founders, Colleen Kinsey and Keisha Chandler, have redefined Tumbleweed as a preplanning tool for aging families, targeting the insurance industry. The company’s growth was supported by mentors and customer feedback. Tumbleweed has completed user testing, is preparing for further development, and looks toward future fundraising and partnerships.
International Entrepreneurship Impact Award
Dr. Lucy Amaniyo
Dr. Lucy's Medical Clinic & Amani Children's Clinic
Amaniyo of Uganda is a pediatrician and entrepreneur who has significantly improved healthcare in underserved communities. With advanced degrees in pediatrics, child health, and public health, she established Dr. Lucy's Medical Clinic and later founded Amani Children's Clinic, a pioneering pediatric facility in Nansana, Uganda. Amaniyo's innovative practices, such as 24/7 service and digitalization, set her clinic apart. Her entrepreneurial journey evolved during the 2017 cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, showcasing her commitment to children's health and community service.