Most college seniors don’t expect to compete with the biggest names in medical technology. Connor Vicory does. 

His startup, Vicory Solutions, has developed Control, software that helps hospitals standardize room cleaning and reduce the risk of infection.

The medical technology industry is filled with giants. But rather than shy away from the competition, Vicory has developed something they haven't. Armed with confidence and an innovative product, Vicory embraces the old saying: It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog.

“There are some big dogs,” Vicory said. “But those big dogs have never done anything like I am doing.”

Control trains hospital staff, standardizes room cleaning procedures, tracks completed tasks, and helps staff locate equipment. The goal is simple: reduce the risk of infection caused by improperly cleaned rooms.

The mission is personal. Years ago, Vicory’s mother developed an infection caused by dirty hospital equipment.

Vicory is an industrial engineering major who will graduate in December of 2026. For a senior design project, he completed a four-month study doing an engineering systems and analysis of what was currently happening in hospitals. His mock solution (a proof-of-concept Version 0.0 of the software) offered ways to standardize and verify the cleaning routine. But that’s where Vicory thought his business idea would flatline. 

“I was told the University of Iowa owned all my IP (intellectual property), so I couldn’t continue if I wanted to,” Vicory said. 

Then everything changed. University of Iowa Health Care reached out with an unexpected request: We don’t care how it’s done and we want you to do it.

By mid-June, Vicory had confirmed he owned the intellectual property.

Within days, he formed an LLC, opened a business bank account, secured insurance, and began building Version 1.0 of Control.

“There was little sleep that first week,” Vicory said. “I was communicating with the hospital and iterating quickly. I was approved by Apple to build the app and got Version 1.0 of the physical product created, which is a smart hospital room marker.”

During the summer, Vicory joined the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) Summer Fellowship Accelerator. His original business was for an email marketing company, but he switched to focus on Control once it was confirmed that he owned the IP.

“I am driven to do this because my goal in life is to help as many people as possible,” Vicory said. “This is a great way to help people.”

Vicory is no stranger to Iowa JPEC programs. In the summer of 2025, he went through the summer accelerator with Archaneon Supplements.

“I like [the Summer Fellowship Accelerator] because you surround yourself with people with the same energy. That motivates me to do better,” Vicory said. “I’m competitive; I know they are working hard and that pushes me to work hard.”

Vicory, a native of Aurora, Illinois, grew up in what he calls “a huge healthcare family,” with numerous relatives working in hospitals.

“They know the problems nurses face,” Vicory said. “I made [Control] for that front-line worker to give them tools to succeed and be less stressed because nurses are so understaffed.”

How does Control work? Once a patient is discharged, a customizable timer begins and a live checklist appears. Staff can see what has been completed and what is left to be done. If the cleaning staff is unsure of how to complete a task, an icon is pressed, starting a 30-second how-to video. When the room checklist is complete, a head nurse or unit clerk gives a final inspection before approving. The software has multi-language translation for English, Spanish, and French.

On July 23, Vicory won first place and $3,000 at the Summer Fellowship Accelerator Demo Day. The prize money will help fund the next stage of development, including enhanced software security, a mobile app, a finished prototype, and a provisional patent covering the company's workflow and physical device.

Whether Control becomes a breakthrough in hospital technology or simply another chapter in Vicory's entrepreneurial journey, one thing is clear: he isn't waiting until after graduation to make a difference.

“Even if this doesn’t go anywhere, I have learned so much,” Vicory said. “I have bettered myself.”

To read more about Iowa JPEC's Summer Fellowship Accelerator Demo Day, click HERE.