Business and Community Services Bldg., Suite 128 Creating a Culture for Entrepreneurship at UNI!
Introduction 2011 Winners 2010 Winners 2009 Winners 2008 Winners 2007 Winners 2006 Winners This competition is sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, and the Pappajohn Centers. This competition is intended for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. Three seed grants in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition. Plans will be judged based on a) Content of Plan and b) Viability of Plan. Application materials, eligibility requirements, and guidelines are available at the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center in Business and Community Services 128 or by clicking on this link. Please note the Intent to Compete Form deadline is February 29, 2012. Click this link for the guidelines and entry form: 2012 Competition Guidelines in Adobe Acrobat PDF
UNI Students Win State Business Plan Competition Winner Photo (l to r): UNI winners Greg Jass (center) and Therese Kuster (right) receive an award from John Pappajohn. CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - A University of Northern Iowa (UNI) student team has won one of three $5,000 first place awards in the Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition held in Des Moines on April 22, 2011. Greg Jass, a senior marketing major from Garner, and Therese Kuster, a senior public relations major from Boone, won for their business, SEO Solutions LLC. SEO Solutions is a comprehensive internet marketing firm specializing in search engine optimization, pay per click advertising, email marketing, social media management, and web design. SEO Solutions' primary goal is to increase the visibility of its clients' websites and improve their overall web presence. SEO Solutions is an education-focused firm that strives to manage internet marketing with a client rather than for a client. "We are pleased to have won. We were excited about the opportunity to meet with Equity Dynamics and receive input on our business. The award money will help with the growth of our business," said Kuster. Larissa French, a senior economics major from Johnston, and Eric Vander Schaaf, a sophomore marketing major from Maurice, were UNI regional winners with their businesses, CommishArt and West Branch LLC respectively. CommishArt is a hub in the online art market for buyers and sellers. West Branch LLC is an e-commerce business focusing on outdoor recreational products. The other two state-level winners were Scout Pro, a software application for farmers, from Iowa State University and Responsible Transportation LLC, a meat processor and pet food manufacturer, from the University of Iowa. UNI Student Wins State Business Plan Competition Winners
Photo (l to r): Dante Means, Nick Cash, Kay McClure, and Travis Lloyd Smith A University of Northern Iowa (UNI) student has won one of three $5,000 first place awards in the Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition held at North Iowa Area Community College on February 26. Nick Cash, a sophomore double majoring in computer science and economics from Cedar Falls, won for his business; Book Hatchery. Book Hatchery is a start-up located in UNI's student business incubator. Through the use of a comprehensive suite of software tools, Book Hatchery provides self-publishers the ability to manage and sell their texts as well as maximize their publications' exposure on the Internet. Book Hatchery also aims to create a strong community for self-publishers seeking a platform of support and an ability to share their expertise for the benefit of all authors. "Writing a good business plan takes a lot of work, dedication, and yes, planning! Market research is vital; without it I would not have been able to answer many of the judges' questions, and having accurate information from reliable sources lends a lot of weight to your words. The judges' level of professionalism was intimidating; they understand the merits of your idea, so they drill you on its weaknesses. It is great knowing that all of the effort paid off not just by winning the competition, but by also having produced a thorough and detailed business plan to guide my future efforts." Travis Lloyd Smith and Dante Means, a junior communications major from Waterloo, were a UNI Regional winner with their business, Band of Christians L.L.C. Band of Christians is an entertainment company dedicated to providing motivational speaking, professional workshops, and inspirational music for audiences of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Kay McClure, a graduate student majoring in exercise science from Denver, was a UNI Regional winner with her business, Sanctuary Yoga and Wellness Studio. Sanctuary is an eco-conscious green studio offering Hatha-inspired Yoga classes, Tai Chi, and specialty yoga. The other two state-level winners were Dibseez, a web-based auction site, from a University of Iowa team, and Lincoln & Lexi, a home party service for babies and moms, from Drake University. The annual competition is sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, and the Pappajohn Centers at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, The University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The competition is intended for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. A maximum of 15 regional-winner students or student teams can compete in the competition at the state level. Three seed grants in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition. UNI MBA Student Wins Business Plan Competition; Honorable Mention for Second UNI Team
In photo, left to right, are: Dante Means, Band of Christians LLC; Zach Hedrington, 3Fueled LLC; Matt Kinley, competition judge from Equity Dynamics; Travis Lloyd Smith, Band of Christians LLC. A University of Northern Iowa student has won one of three $5,000 first place awards in the Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition held at UNI on March 6. Zach Hedrington, a graduate student majoring in business administration from Cedar Falls, won for his business; 3Fueled L.L.C. 3Fueled consults with companies that want to produce energy and byproducts from renewable energy and annually renewable feedstocks. 3Fueled helps these companies attain economic utilization of the major fractions of biomass as well as minor components that can be functionalized into high-value specialty products. "The biggest challenge in the competition was going up against brilliant students from all over the state of Iowa who have as much passion and determination behind their ideas as I do," said Hedrington. "The win is a confirmation that my efforts paid off. The response I received from Equity Dynamics, one of the most reputable venture capital firms in Iowa, solidified in my mind that my concept could make a significant impact on the renewable energy industry." Travis Lloyd Smith and Dante Means, a sophomore communications major from Waterloo, received a $1,000 honorable mention for their business, Band of Christians L.L.C. Band of Christians is an entertainment company dedicated to providing motivational speaking, professional workshops, and inspirational music for audiences of all ages, races, and backgrounds. The annual competition is sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, and the Pappajohn Centers at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, The University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The competition is intended for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. A maximum of 15 regional-winner students or student teams can compete in the competition at the state level. Three seed grants in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition.
2008 UNI Regional and State Winners. Shown are: (front, l to r)Calvin Johannsen, UNI Regional Winner; Katherine Cota-Uyar of UNI JPEC; Ben Frein, State-level winner; Laurie Watje and Randy Pilkington of UNI JPEC. (rear, l to r)Joe Eibes, UNI regional winner; Dan Storck of Equity Dynamics; Travis Steffen, UNI Regional Winner; and Matt Kinley of Equity Dynamics.
UNI's Student Business Wins Business Plan Competition E-Holdings, LLC was one of the five winners of the 2008 Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition held at the Des Moines Marriott Thursday, March 27. E-Holdings, LLC is owned by Ben Frein, a senior majoring in computer science and finance from Garner. E-Holdings develops software and on-line applications for public and private use. These applications specialize in satisfying the user's needs and experience. E-Holdings submitted four e-commerce websites including bellybling.net and greatminiatures.com in the competition. Regional winners from the UNI Center were Theater by Demand owned by Joseph Eibes of Carter Lake and Synn Clothing owned by Travis Steffen of Muscatine and Calvin Johannsen of Denison.
2007 UNI Regional and State Winners. Shown are: (front, l to r) Randy Pilkington, JPEC Director; Ben Frein, Carlos Arguello, Dustin O'Leary (all UNI State winners), John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics; (rear, l to r) Eric Osmondson, UNI regional winner; Dan Storck and Mr. Thompson, Equity Dynamics.
UNI's Student Businesses Win Business Plan Competition La Presnsa Hispanic newspaper and E-Holdings were two of the five winners of the 2007 Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition held at Drake University in Des Moines on Thursday, March 29, 2007. La Prensa is owned by Carlos Arguello, a senior marketing major at the University of Northern Iowa. La Prensa is a free, twice-monthly Spanish-language publication that provides Hispanics in western Iowa with reliable, culturally tailored news and information. The newspaper, based in Carroll, has the largest circulation of all of the Hispanic newspapers in western Iowa. E-Holdings, LLC is owned by Ben Frein, a junior majoring in computer science and finance, and Dustin O'Leary, a junior marketing major. E-Holdings develops cutting-edge software and on-line applications for public and private use. These applications specialize in satisfying the user's needs and experience. E-Holdings submitted its Facebook application in the Competition. Eric Osmundson, owner of Contempo Solutions, was the other UNI regional winner who competed at the state-level competition on Thursday. Contempo Solutions provides a mobile platform for text-messaging business-to-consumer communication. The Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition is an annual event held in the spring semester of each academic year as part of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Iowa Conference. Iowa full and part-time college students with an original new business idea write a business plan and compete at the regional and state levels for monetary awards to help launch their new businesses. John Pappajohn, founder of the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers and president and founder of Equity Dynamics Inc., noted the level of the competitors and the business plans was impressive and for that reason he chose to present five businesses with awards this year. Normally, three awards are presented at the state-level.
2006 UNI Regional Winner at State Competition. Shown are: (front, l to r) Matt Kinely and John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics Judges; Justin Appenzeller, Carlos Arguello, Andrea Boyd, and Dan Storck, Equity Dynamics Judge.
2003 UNI Regional Winner at State Competition. Shown are: (front, l to r) Henry Munoz and Charity Yesis of Univerxis.com with Equity Dynamics judge Matt Kinely. Winners of the State Competition were: B. Michael Keller and Bryk Lancaster of Flexon Solutions (Univeristy of Iowa), Steven Davis and Brian M. O'Leary of Bio::Neos (University of Iowa) and Megan Wettach of the Megan Amanda Collection (University of Iowa).
2002 UNI Regional Winner at State Competition. Shown are: (front, l to r) Randy Pilkington, JPEC Interim Director; Glynis Worthington, UNI student; Katherine Cota-Uyar, JPEC Program Manager; and John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics. (back, l to r) Ben Long, Equity Dynamics; Maureen Collins-Williams, UNI Regional Business Center; and Joe Dunham, Equity Dynamics.
UNI Team Wins State-wide Business Plan Competition in December, 2002
Cedar Falls - Toothfairycentral.com won one of three $5,000 awards presented Friday at the Third Annual Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition. Toothfairycentral.com is owned by Glynis Worthington, a part-time UNI college student. Glynis began the business, which features all things tooth fairy, when she could not find the perfect tooth fairy items for her children. The website offers tooth fairy boxes, pillows, and gifts, as well as certificates of accomplishment for children and a travel log of tooth fairy visits around the world. Children lose their teeth from 4-12 years of age and the site is primarily of interest to adults in the lives of these children, such as parents, grandparents, and relatives. The Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition is an annual event held in the fall semester of each academic year. Iowa full and part-time college students with an original new business idea write a business plan and compete at the regional and state levels for monetary awards to help launch their new businesses. Three $5,000 awards are presented at the state level. The three state winners were toothfairycentral.com from the University of Northern Iowa; Cactusjo.com, an interactive, multimedia, subscription web page providing family entertainment, from Iowa State University; and Peace of Mind, which designs manufactures, and distributes affordable infant monitors, from the University of Iowa. "The competition makes you think about your business. . . We're betting on you to be successful," said John Pappajohn, founder of the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers and president and founder of Equity Dynamics Inc. at the awards ceremony at the Des Moines Marriott Friday afternoon. The Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide a range of innovative education, programs and support services designed for students, entrepreneurs, and existing business owners. The centers provide expertise in all stages of business planning and development, and serve as vehicles to bring new products and technologies to market. Additional information on Tooth Fairy Central is available from their website at www.toothfairycentral.com
This is the press release of the 2001 Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition Winners. 2001 Competition Winners
2000 UNI Regional Winners at State Competition. Shown are: (l to r) Trevor Hendrickson, TVi; Kai Stark, KaiAudio; Matt Kinley, Equity Dynamics; John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics; Joe Dunham, Equity Dynamics; Katherine Cota-Uyar, JPEC Program Manager; Bill Greer, UNI College of Business Administration Dean; and Dmitry Kravtsov, TVi.
UNI Team Wins State-wide Business Plan Competition in December, 2000
Des Moines--The Pappajohn New Venture Competition was held on December 8, 2000 at the Des Moines Marriott. 112 student teams throughout Iowa entered the regional competitions by submitting a business plan to an Iowa college of university. Twelve student teams were selected from the 112 entries and competed in the state-wide competition. Six Iowa colleges and universities were represented. They were University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake, North Iowa Area Community College and Des Moines Area Community College. The 12 teams submitted their business plan and made a formal presentation to John Pappajohn, Joe Dunham and Matt Kinley of Pappajohn Capital Resources, a venture capital firm located in Des Moines. UNI sent two student teams to the competition. They were KaiAudio (Kai Stark, UNI Management major) and TVi International (Trevor Hendrickson and Dmitry Kravtsov, UNI MBA student). TVi International received one of three $5,000 awards. The other two awards went to Human Capital Company from the University of Iowa and Wireless Innovations from Iowa State University. TVi International creates comprehensive marketing materials for companies focusing on web design and database solutions. They will use the money to purchase presentation equipment for the business. UPDATE: The company successfully established itself in Minneapolis and experienced rapid growth. The growth was not controlled and eventually the owners decided to close the business.
To contact us: John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Phone: 319-273-JPEC (5732)
JPEC Home | Who is John Pappajohn? | Calendar of Events | Student Business Incubator | Certificate in Entrepreneurship | Classes/Workshops/Counseling | Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute | Be Your Own Boss Youth Entrepreneur Camp | Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition | Small Business Information Handouts | CIPCO Business Enhancement Intern Program | Student Entrepreneur Awards | UNI Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization |
Media Kit | Archives | Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Iowa Conference | About Us |
Directions to JPEC | Links Elsewhere | BCS Home |
UNIBusiness Home | UNI Home |
