ABOUT

The Innovation Challenge will bring $175,000 in total funding during the 2025-26 academic year across the University of Iowa's campus. The Challenge is a university-wide competition with the goal to identify, advance and support the most innovative and entrepreneurial projects on campus.

There are two phases to the Challenge:

The first phase, an Elevator Pitch Competition, will be held Nov. 17-18, 2025. Applications are due Monday, Nov. 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. (CST). The second phase, a Business Model Competition, will be held in Spring, 2026.  Applications will be open for this phase at the beginning of the 2026 Spring Semester, with a deadline to enter April 1, 2026.

Coaching will be available for both competitions to help individuals/teams prepare. Contact Patti Fields for more information.

This competition is open to all University of Iowa:

  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Graduate students
  • Undergraduate students

  • Incubator startups
     

    * International students cannot create their own startup companies while engaged in studies on an F-1 or J-1 visa. CPT or Curricular Practical Training (which is one of the few ways an F-1 student can engage in paid or unpaid employment activity for an off-campus non-UI organization) cannot be authorized to students to work as an employee for a student startup, even if they are not an owner.

    *We define "Incubator startup" as either participating in the University of Iowa's Research Park, or active alumni members receiving support from the University of Iowa Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory.

    * We define "University of Iowa Program or Academic Alumni" as either having previously been enrolled as a student at the University of Iowa, or having participated in an Iowa JPEC outreach program. These outreach programs include Venture School alumni, Business Consulting clients, Small Business Development Center clients, Venture Mentoring Service alumni, and businesses who employed a student intern through our Iowa Innovation Associates program. University of Iowa Program or Academic Alumni will be eligible to participate in the second phase of the Challenge, the Business Model Competition, spring 2026.

* Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, and Incubator Startups: Winners from prior year Innovation Challenge are ineligible to apply for the same or similar project.

* Undergraduate Students: Winners of prior year University of Iowa Innovation Challenge are ineligible to apply for the same or similar project.

PHASE 2: BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS COMPETITION

How it works

The second phase of the Innovation Challenge is the Business Model Canvas (BMC) Competition. This competition is based on the methodology of the Business Model Canvas and requires that companies tell their story beginning from the idea stage including pivots along the way. It describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers and captures value. The Spring 2026 Business Model Canvas competition is scheduled for April, 2026.

This competition will be open to faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students and incubator startups. In addition, the Alumni Category of the competition will be open to University of Iowa Program or Academic Alumni.

  • If you are an undergraduate student, please see this page for more information and to apply.
  • If you are University of Iowa Faculty, Staff, Graduate Student, or Incubator Startup, please see this page for more information and to apply.
  • If you are a University of Iowa Program and Academic Alumni, please see this page for more information and to apply. 

NEXT STEPS

Deadline to enter is Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. (CST).

APPLY HERE

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

The Business Model Canvas is a tool to help entrepreneurs walk through what it takes to start a business. This video walks you through that process to help you build a successful business.

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS ACTIVITY

GET A JUMPSTART

Get a jumpstart on the competition! Check out our Innovation Training page for videos and worksheets from experts with quick and easy tips to help you succeed in competitions and take your idea to the next level.

Click HERE for an Innovation Training PDF. 

 

JUDGING CRITERIA

Developing your pitch...the following is criteria on which your pitch will be judged:

Identify Problem  Did they identify the problem? Provide evidence it exists?

Identify Solution  Did they identify the solution and the value it presents?

Feasibility  How easily could idea be implemented?  Do they understand the resources necessary?

Delivery/Engagement  Are they passionate about the idea?  Was the presentation engaging?