MiDi LLC, a business founded by Barb and Steve O'Rourke that develops products to help premature infants safely build feeding skills, won first place and $20,000 at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day on June 11 at Plaza Towers in Iowa City, Iowa.

A total of $45,000 in prize money was awarded to 10 teams.

Second place ($12,000) went to Popper Pets, a dog-training gear company founded by Jamie Popper that creates hands-free products for trainers and pet owners. Stone Heritage Jewelry, which creates custom heirloom jewelry tailored to each clients story, founded by Cait Dillavou, earned third place ($6,000).

Two finalists: An Enduring Legacy (Emily Zimmon) and Minarium (Rob Walczak), and five semifinalists, received $1,000 each. The semifinalists were Ambient Grid (Chris Beyer), The Makers Collective Hub (Bri Nicholson), Monarch Contracting (Laura Edwards), River City Silent Disco (Omar Munoz), and Sutton Analytics (Jennifer Sutton). 

MiDi LLC completed Venture School in the Des Moines cohort. Popper Pets attended Iowa City and Stone Heritage Jewelry is from the Mason City cohort.

Venture School is affiliated with the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC). The statewide training program focuses on real-world experimentation, customer discovery, and Lean LaunchPad methodologies. Partnering with Iowa JPEC for Venture School are Des Moines Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Eastern Iowa SBDC, Indian Hills Community College, Indian Hills Community College SBDC, MidIowa SBDC, North Iowa Area Community College, North Iowa Area SBDC, SCORE, The Innovation Lab, Dubuque, and the University of Iowa SBDC.

To learn more about Venture School, click HERE.