The following are resources, both internal and external to the Universiyt of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC), that will help startup and early stage entrepreneurs continue to grow their businesses.
University of Iowa Resources
Venture Mentoring Service
Free service connects Iowa entrepreneurial ventures with a team of expert, volunteer mentors. Mentors trained in the Team Mentoring methodology licensed from the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS). Entrepreneurs scale their business, better secure investments, build networks, and solve problems with ongoing mentoring sessions.
Business Consulting
Free program where Iowa businesses work with a University of Iowa student team for a semester. Students are led by experienced faculty and mentors to create innovative solutions to company problems. Program offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
As a client you will receive:
- Competitive analysis
- Environmental analysis
- Insights from an expert
- Student team mentorship from experienced professionals
- Actionable recommendations
UI Ventures
- GAP funding initiatives for several of the colleges/departments across campus
- SBIR support program, incubator space on campus
- Concierge services and connection with national network of business experts
- Introduction to appropriate Angel and VC investors when ready
- Access to Entrepreneur in Residence
Protostudios
State of the art prototyping for Iowa inventors.
UI Research Foundation
Manages licenses of UI technology.
NSF I-Corps
NSF I-Corps is a public-private partnership program that teaches university entrepreneurs with a targeted Lean Launchpad curriculum to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research, and offers entrepreneurship training to participants.
Venture School
If you need entrepreneurial training in the state of Iowa, this is the place. Master the startup process with Iowa JPEC's statewide Venture School, an innovative training program focused on real-world experimentation, customer discovery, and Lean LaunchPad methodologies.
FUNDING
Venture Net Iowa
Iowa EDA Small Business Credit Initiative
- Loan participation program for manufacturing 4.0 investments
- Small business collateral support program
- Venture capital innovation fund program
- Venture capital co-investment fund program
SBIR/STTR Assistance
SBIR and STTR programs include a competitive, three-phased process to solicit proposals from small business concerns (SBCs) for research/research and development (R/R&D), production, services, or any combination to meet stated agency needs or missions; and to award funding agreements to qualifying SBCs.
UI Ventures
Supporting innovative, research-driven startups on the University of Iowa campus.
UI Ventures Licensing
The University of Iowa has a dedicated team to assist faculty, staff, and students interested in forming a startup company. These inventors are encouraged to reach out to UI Ventures, which will support the creation of the new startup and ongoing commercialization efforts.
UI Ventures Intellectual Property
InnoVenture Challenge
The InnoVenture Challenge is an annual pitch competition produced by InnoVenture Iowa and BioConnect Iowa. This event features the region’s only $100,000 prize, awarded to one early-stage Iowa startup company building in the industries of bioscience, advanced manufacturing or information technology.
National NSF I-Corps
The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) is a set of activities and programs that prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and broadens the impact of select, NSF-funded, basic-research projects.
VentureWell
VentureWell is on a mission to cultivate a pipeline of inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs driven to solve the world's biggest challenges.
OTHER MENTORING, ACCELERATORS, CO-WORKING, AND INCUBATORS
EDC Accelerating Iowa
Professional consulting service for companies in industries such as consumer products, medical, edtech, manufacturing, agriculture, and SaaS (software as a service)
NewBoCo
From the classroom to the boardroom, NewBoCo helps Iowans of all ages succeed in a changing economy because it believes that with the right tools, mindset, and opportunities, anyone can be a world-changing innovator. NewBoCo supports entrepreneurship and education through hands-on programming, technical talent, and community building.
Gravitate Des Moines
Co-working space in Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and Jefferson. A community space full of freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and startup team members who work independently, but don't want to work alone.
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Supports small businesses in the Greater Des Moines area.
Rural Idea Network
Helps entrepreneurs in rural counties start their businesses.
Innovation Lab
The Innovation Lab is working to spark economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. Locations in Dubuque, Monticello, Dyersville, Cascade, and Independence.
Global Insurance Accelerator
The Global Insurance Accelerator has endeavored to bring innovation, change, and fresh ideas to the insurance ecosystem.
Broker Tech Ventures
BrokerTech Ventures is the first and largest broker-led insurtech ecosystem in the world, convening broker-centric innovation, ideation, investment, and communication to propel the industry forward.
ISU Startup Factory
Startup incubator at Iowa State University for founders based in thge state of Iowa.
Maple Studios
Collaborative space that offers resources such as dedicated desks, private offices, and specialized labs.
Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
America's Small Business Development Center Iowa offers personalized, confidential, and no-cost business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Iowa.
IOWA JPEC COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS
Innovation Challenge
Innovation Challenge will bring $225,000 in total funding during the 2024-25 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, is held in November. The second phase, a Business Model Competition, is held in April. Coaching is available for both competitions to help individuals/teams prepare.
John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
A University of Iowa competition intended to encourage and promote entrepreneurial activity and create greater awareness of the resources available to entrepreneurs in Iowa.
- Cash awards
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Honors
The awards recognize alumni, faculty, staff, and JPEC program participants who create value through innovation and entrepreneurship.