LAUNCHING STARTUPS
If you're looking to sharpen your entrepreneurial skills or validate a groundbreaking business idea in the state of Iowa - you've found your solution. Master the startup process with our premier statewide Venture School, an innovative training program designed for both emerging entrepreneurs and established business professionals seeking to drive innovation.
Our program uses the official National Science Foundation I-Corps curriculum to transform high-potential ideas into viable business ventures. Whether you're a startup founder, a corporate innovator, or a business leader looking to test a new product concept, Venture School offers a dynamic learning experience that goes far beyond traditional business training.
Tailored for Diverse Business Professionals:
- Startup Founders: Turn your innovative ideas into market-ready solutions
- Corporate Innovation Teams: Develop intrapreneurial skills and test new business concepts
- Existing Business Employees: Enhance entrepreneurial thinking and strategic innovation capabilities
- Business Leaders: Validate potential products through rigorous customer discovery
Program Highlights:
- Real-world experimentation using Lean LaunchPad methodologies
- Extensive customer discovery process
- Statewide hub locations for convenient access
- Hands-on learning that challenges traditional business assumptions
Unique Learning Experience: Test your business hypothesis by directly engaging with customers, partners, and competitors. You'll navigate the unpredictable landscape of innovation, learning to create and adapt your business model based on real-world insights. Embrace the chaos of commercialization while developing the agility to pivot or persevere.
Practical Requirements:
- At least one team member must have a computer
- Basic internet access
- Fundamental computer literacy
Our Application Process is Continuous
Apply today for a location near you. We'll reach out when a cohort is hosted in your region, providing an unparalleled opportunity to transform your entrepreneurial vision into a strategic reality.
Don't just study business innovation, experience it with Venture School. Your entrepreneurial journey starts here.
$299 PER TEAM
Upcoming Cohort: Spring 2025
Dates for Mason City ONLY: Feb. 6 (Orientation) through March 27
Dates for all other cohorts: Begin the week of March 3, final pitches the week of April 21
Application Period: TBA
Click HERE to read about Fall 2024 winners
Click HERE to read about Spring 2024 winners
Some locations are hybrid, meaning the first and last class will be in person and all other classes will be online. In-person locations will be given via email once applied. ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD FROM 5:30-9 P.M.
Iowa City/Cedar Rapids
Sponsored by Iowa SBDC
Days: Tuesdays (March 4, March 11, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22)
Location: BioVentures Center, Coralville
Des Moines
Sponsored by Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and MidIowa SBDC
Days: Wednesdays (March 5, March 12, March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23)
Location: DMACC Urban Campus Building 7 (1144 7th St, Des Moines, IA 50314) Room 170
Dubuque
Sponsored by The Innovation Lab Dubuque
Days: Tuesdays (March 4, March 11, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22)
Mason City (Hybrid -- first and last week in-person) Sponsored by North Iowa Area Community College Pappajohn Center, and North Iowa Area SBDC
Days: Thursdays (Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, Feb. 27, March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27)
Location: NIACC Business Center
Quad-Cities
Sponsored by Eastern Iowa Community College and Eastern Iowa SBDC
Days: Tuesdays (March 4, March 11, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22)
Location: Eastern Iowa Community College
Sioux City (Online classes only)
Days: Tuesdays (March 4, March 11, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22)
For specific questions about the program, email Shannon Henderson shannon-henderson@uiowa.edu.
404+
Teams Completed Training
775+
Entrepreneurs Trained
250+
Mentors
Get the answers you need
Get answers to frequently asked questions about the Venture School program.
Elizabeth Caven
FOUNDER, UPCRAFT CLUB
"In Venture School, I learned principles that would define my market position and value proposition. This helped us have over 2,000 users registered on our site within our first month!"
Bill Brown
FOUNDER, TREE PANS AND INSULIGHTS
"At the end of the day, choosing to participate in Venture School is one of the best decisions we have made. I really think that we have saved so much time and money through the customer discovery process. We changed our total direction that our expensive consultant was taking us. I believe in Venture School so much that I drove eight hours every week so I could go through the program again for a second business."
Sara Gotch
FOUNDER, GNARLY PEPPER, INC.
"Venture School was a great program for me to fully understand my entire brand, not just my product itself. Venture School gave me the confidence to speak efficiently about my company."
MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Benefits
- Bring focus and agility to your business idea.
- Test and prove your business hypothesis through guided customer discovery for product-market fit.
- Learn from top entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and instructors.
- Gain valuable connections with local communities and external groups that will help you get the resources you need to grow.
- Create a business model that is both strategic and tactical through an evidence-based approach, whether you are a profit or non-profit entity.
- All teachings are applicable to virtually all industries and company levels, whether you are a true startup or an early stage existing business.
Requirements
- Your team must be ready to work hard! Venture School mimics the pace of a real startup
- Teams must be fully committed to being open-minded and following the Venture School process
- All members of the team should be willing to work together and to contact 100 potential customers during the customer discovery portion of the course
- Must be an active participant in all Venture School classes and presentations
- NO TEAM? No problem. A team is not required to complete this program if you are working on your business independently.
Connecting Iowa Communities
The Venture School program Iowa connects communities by inviting local stakeholders to partner under a common program. These partners include but are not limited to Small Business Development Centers, Chambers of Commerce, University of Iowa resources, workforce development officials, marketers, attorneys, investors, local community executives, and state government resources. In turn, startups and early stage companies elevate their communities with their successes, including creating jobs for others. Venture School is comprehensive, and our alumni have done some amazing things across the state already which is the ultimate goal for supporting Iowa's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Cost
Venture School costs $299 to participate in. However, many monetary awards can be won at the end of the program!
GET A JUMPSTART
Get a jumpstart on your learning! 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.