University of Iowa junior Linnea Rietz didn’t see herself as a businessperson—until she won $1,500 for her idea at IdeaStorm.

A former public health student with an emerging interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, Rietz developed a simple, low-cost sink attachment for renters. Despite nerves and a fast-paced pitch, her idea, FlexiFlow, took first place at the Feb. 26 event sponsored by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC), proving that even without a business background, a great idea can stand out.

“This is my first semester as a Tippie [College of Business] student, I was looking for ways to get involved, and I did my first pitch,” said Rietz, who is pursuing a degree in analytical economics with a certificate in public health. “They said I had a good idea but a terrible pitch.”

That message is not uncommon to hear for many students who participate in the entry-level competition. Rietz attended a pitch workshop to fine-tune her presentation and delivery and devoured the constructive criticism. The work paid off. 

“It gave me a lot of confidence for my first step into the business world,” Rietz said. “It was great to see that my idea had some importance.”

FlexiFlow is an attachable sink adapter for renters who do not have the ability to install a pull-out faucet. It was first introduced when Rietz used the idea as a project in a class called Entrepreneurship and Innovation during the 2023-24 academic year. She didn’t know at the time what opportunities would arise because of her introduction to Iowa JPEC.

“Being involved with Iowa JPEC is a great resource even if I don’t choose to pursue this idea,” Rietz said “The mentorship and resources that are here are great for anyone, even if they aren’t entrepreneurial or business students.”

Rietz is a native of Iowa City, Iowa. After graduating from West High School, she attended Loyola University in Chicago, where she dabbled in sports information duties alongside centurion Sister Jean, an icon in faith and basketball.

After transferring to the University of Iowa, Rietz became a renter and quickly encountered a problem when trying to wash dishes. Realizing that 56% of Iowa City's population were also renters, she recognized that many others faced the same issue. Determined to find a solution, Rietz took action to address the challenge.

That led her to IdeaStorm and an impressive result.

“I was shocked. It was a little like imposter syndrome,” Rietz said. “Everyone who was there was very well put together. When you think about your idea, you are like, no way, all these ideas are much better than mine.” 

But that’s the magic of IdeaStorm—it’s not just for business students, and no idea is too small or unconventional to make an impact. Whether you're an artist, an engineer, or simply someone with a spark of inspiration, the competition welcomes all voices. As Rietz discovered, any idea has the potential to win big—you just have to take the leap.