More than a program. A movement.
The BELL is the University of Iowa's student founder ecosystem — a community built for ambitious students who want to create, collaborate, and build something that matters.
We outgrew the old model.
For years, entrepreneurship on campus looked the same everywhere: a center, some workshops, a pitch competition.
Helpful — but not enough.
We believed students deserved more. Not just resources, but a real community. Not just programming, but a culture. Not just support, but an identity.
So we rebuilt.
The new BELL is part startup ecosystem, part founder community, part movement. It's a place where students discover what they're capable of building — and find the people to build it with.
What we believe.
Entrepreneurship is for everyone.
You don't need a business degree, a polished idea, or a five-year plan. If you're curious, you belong here.
Community
The best thing you'll find at the BELL is your people. The collaborators, co-founders, and friends who push you forward sharing similar mindsets.
Bias toward action.
We learn by doing. Experimentation is encouraged. Failure is part of the process. Waiting is the only real risk.
Everyone starts somewhere.
Every founder you admire started without experience, without funding, without certainty. So do you. So does everyone here.
Learn today. Build tomorrow.
Every experience teaches you something, especially the ones that don’t go as planned. Pay attention. Learn fast. Take what you discover today and use it to build something better tomorrow.
Own your future.
Agency is a skill. We help students build it — through programs, community, and a culture that rewards initiative over perfection.
THIS ISN'T A CENTER. IT'S AN ECOSYSTEM.
The BELL is made up of interconnected parts — each one designed to meet students where they are and move them toward where they want to go.
Ecosystem Breakdown:
Students at the BELL
The cultural and community engine of our ecosystem.
Programs & Pathways
A flexible, student-driven journey from curiosity to launch. Whether you're exploring an idea or scaling a startup, there's a clear next step waiting for you.
Events & Experiences
Pitch nights. Socials. Workshops. Pop-ups. The BELL is always in motion — and there's always a reason to show up.
You belong here if...
You have an idea you can't stop thinking about. — You don't have an idea yet, but you want to find one. — You want to be surrounded by people who think bigger. — You're a builder, a creator, a problem-solver, a dreamer. — You want to do something with your time here that actually matters.
You don't need to be a business major. You don't need experience. You just need to show up.
Ready to be part of something bigger?
The BELL is open to every student at the University of Iowa. Come explore, get involved, and start building — whatever that looks like for you.
