Business and Community Services Bldg., Suite 128
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0130
(319) 273-JPEC (5732)     Fax: (319) 273-5733
E-mail: [email protected]     www.jpec.org

Creating a Culture for Entrepreneurship at UNI!

The UNI Student Business Incubator is an educational learning laboratory and a program of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center designed to inspire and educate students interested in entrepreneurship and small business. The SBI program was originally funded by the Small Business Administration and private donations. These funds allow student business owners to explore business ideas with the assistance of JPEC staff and others. Current UNI students and teams of students are eligible to apply. Students are admitted on a semester basis and must demonstrate adequate progress to remain in the program. Students are required to participate in programs designed to increase the chances for entrepreneurial success. There are two types of incubation in the SBI -- physical (full) incubation and affiliate incubation. Students involved in full incubation receive a suite in the JPEC's facility located in the Business and Community Services building on the UNI campus. Students in the affiliate program may not be ready to occupy physical space in the incubator or the nature of the business may not warrant physical space. Affiliate businesses will receive all of the services except physical space. Students will graduate from the program equipped with the skills and experience necessary to create a positive influence on the Iowa economy.

SBI benefits include: One-on-one technical assistance Legal and accounting services Seed capital programs Market research assistance Professional office space State-of-the-art technology Dedicated server space Standard office equipment Access to meeting facilities Small business resource library Training programs Mentoring programs Networking Opportunities

Professionals who are working with SBI businesses include:

• Laurie Watje, CPA
• Judy Schindel, CPA
• Kris Gulick, CPA
• Ann Robinson & Jay Schares, PDCM Insurance
• Eric Johnson, Attorney
• Kate Mitchell, Attorney
• Steve Dickinson, Attorney
• Katherine Cota-Uyar, Management, Marketing, Communications and Financing

The first step to being considered for the Student Business Incubator program is to study this presentation on business opportunity development and incubation. Click here for a pdf presentation about the SBI. Once you have finished the video, please contact Laurie Watje at 319-273-JPEC (5732) to schedule an appointment to take the quiz over the material in the presentation. At the time you take the quiz, you can submit your application for the SBI program. Click here for an application for the SBI program,. For more information on the SBI, you may call the JPEC at 319-273-JPEC (5732). Click here for a pdf of the SBI brochure.

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LUNCH & LEARN/FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Students enrolled in the Student Business Incubator program may register for any of the classes and workshops that will help with personal or business development. The classes and workshops change from semester to semester. Check with any JPEC or SBI staff member for a current list or click on the Calendar of Events page on this website for a list of what is being offered for the current semester. Classes and workshops are usually held on the University of Northern Iowa campus in the Business and Community Services Building. All classes are free to UNI Incubator students. The series is supported and sponsored by the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.

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WALLS OF FAME

The JPEC selects certain SBI students and businesses to honor with displays on the Walls of Fame. The profiles in these displays are designed to educate and inspire other students entrepreneurs. Here are the current honorees:

• Band of Christians -- Dante Marcellous Means and Travis Lloyd Smith
• Carlos Arguello, Tylson Hanish, Stephen Rausch
• Ben Frein
• Travis Steffen
• Beth Nybeck
• Mark Watje, Amy Coombs Kern, and Chris Harms
• Adam O'Leary

FALL 2011 STUDENT BUSINESSES

• Book Hatchery is owned by Nick Cash. Book Hatchery is a web community for self-publishers to manage and sell their texts as well as maximize exposure of the material. Nick is a junior majoring in computer science and economics. Nick was one of the five finalists for Entrepreneur Magazine's College Entrepreneur of the Year 2010. Check out Book Hatchery at BookHatchery.com .
• Cedar Valley Research Labs is owned by Bibek Sahu. It focuses on the development of technology products with an educational adaptation benefiting populations that are most in need.
• Glass Cannon Games is owned by Ian James, Cody Bardell, and Conor Koenig. It is currently developing an X-Box game.
• GS Solutions, LLC is owned by Thomas Gilbert and Jeffrey Short. The company's websites are: Alcohawkbreathalyzer.com, alcohol-analyzer.com and Breathalyzershop.com
• Hungry4Huh is a company specializing in a food product called a "kurrito", which is a fusion between Korean and Mexican. The cart is located on College Hill many weekend nights.
• Legerity means "to be quick in mind and body" and is the name of the motorcross clothing company owned by Kyle Tucker.
• Recycle Rite is a single-stream, curbside recycling collection and handling company in the Cedar Valley owned by Brian Hoyer. The company's website is Recycle Rite and the company is located on Facebook at Recycle Rite.
• Roggendorf Pick-ups makes customer guitar pickups. The company's owner is Jeff Roggendorf.
• Smothers Properties is owned by Taylor Smothers and Paige Woodruff. It is focusing on properties in the Des Moines market.
• West Branch is owned by Eric Vander Schaaf and sells products for outdoor enthusiasts.

STUDENT BUSINESS GRADUATES

• Render Orange is owned by Blaine Motsinger. Render Orange is a web development company. Check out the website at http://render-orange.com

• Harris Graphics, owned by Chris Harris, provides vinyl graphics for racing and other needs. Chris graduated from UNI in December 2011 and continues to operate Harris Graphics as a side business.

• 3-D Glasses Galore is owned by Greg Jass. The online site provides 3-D glasses for use with the new 3-D televisions. Greg graduated from UNI in May 2011. He closed 3DGlasses due to a change in the industry.

• SEO Solutions was owned by Therese Kuster and Greg Jass. It provided search engine optimizations for small business websites. Check out the webiste at seosolutionsllc.com In June 2011, Greg and Therese joined Doug Drees (merging SEO Solutions and TargetClick) to form TargetClick Marketing Solutions. Check out the website at TargetClick Marketing Solutions.

• Myers Enterprises is owned by Jason Myers and has several businesses under development including a baby boutique, a restaurant ceiling tile cleaning business, and a printing business. Jason graduated in May 2011.

• Commish Art is owned by Larissa French. It is an online art community. Larissa graduated from UNI in May 2011.

• Cedar Valley Web Design was owned by Matt Rice and Jeffrey Short. Matt Rice graduate in May 2011. The company has shutdown to focus on a new venture.

• Supplement Shelf -- co-owner Stacy Chinander is a graduate student in physical education. Supplement Shelf

• Travis Steffen operated several businesses while in the SBI. Synn Clothing offers clothing for 18-26 year olds interested in style, action sports, and mised martial arts. WorkOutBox.com is an on-line personal fitness training website with more than 5,000 members. It has trainers from arounf the world developing specific content for specific fitness goals. Travis is also a co-owner of Supplement Shelf. Travis graduated in December with an exercise science masters. Travis' first book for poker players is available on Amazon.com at Peak Performance Poker . You can find out more info on: Synn Clothing by visiting Synn at synnclothing.com and visit WorkoutBOX at WorkoutBOX.com

• Nathan Weimers, a finance major at UNI, left the incubator to take an internship overseas. His business is Skyed Ultimate, a business focusing on ultimate Frisbee by providing equipment, training, and tournaments for players. Nathan has returned and is exploring a coffee shop venture.

• Kay McClure is the owner of Sanctuary Yoga and Wellness Studio. Kay is a May 2010 graduate with a Masters in exercise science. She will finish her additional yoga certifications in 2010 and eventually plans to open Sanctuary. She is teaching several Cedar Valley yoga classes for several organizations. Kay prepared the exercise/activities for the students involved in the JPEC's Youth Entrepreneur Camp in June.

• Beth Nybeck was a May 2010 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. She was in the affiliate incubator program and graduated to the Arts Incubator of Kansas City. She has been creating and installing public art for several years. Since moving to Kansas City, she has received numerous other commissions or awards. One of her sculptures hangs in the Business and Community Services building which houses the Student Business Incubator. Check out Beth's works at Beth Nybeck .

• Dante Means and Travis Lloyd Smith worked on their Band of Christians education and entertainment business while part of the SBI affiliate program. Dante is a May 2010 graduate with a degree in communications/electronic media. Travis Lloyd previously graduated from Allen College. As of July 2010, Travis explores the newest business, Changing Lives Entertainment. You can check out Travis Lloyd at Travis Lloyd . In Fall of 2011, Dante launched DanteNow on Facebook to highlight his change in music style.

• Rich Judas, owner of Wind Rich Energy Solutions, has won a bid to install a 100-foot wind turbine on the south side of the UNI campus. Wind Rich has installed several turbines throughout Iowa. Check out the website at: Wind-Rich Energy Solutions

• SMJ Photography & Creations Stacey Jambura, owner of SMJ Photography, graduated in May of 2010 with a degree in early childhood and elementary education. Stacey continues to take photographs and sells her photos through SMJ Photography and Creations on Facebook or at SMJPhotography on etsy.com.

• Zach Hedrington graduated in December of 2009 with an MBA from UNI. He owned 3Fueled while in the SBI. 3Fueled focused on a biomass production and delivery system for renewable energy derived from feed stocks. He has turned the management of 3Fueled over to a new partner and Zach is pursuing other opportunities while awaiting changes in legislation to make the company more viable.

• E-Holdings LLC E-Holdings has been very successful in the SBI program. At one point in the SBI, E-Holdings was running eight businesses. Ben Frein, owner of E-Holdings, graduated from the SBI and sold its businesses to Click Stop of Urbana, Iowa. Ben Frein is pursuing other investments (in real estate) and business opportunities in Des Moines while transitioning the E-Holdings companies to the Click Stop portfolio. Ben graduated in May of 2009 with a degrees in computer science and finance. Here are links to many of E-Holdings websites, www.bellybling.net , www.greatminiatures.com , Gold Belly Rings ; and www.myhairstylingtools.com

• Millenial Marketing & ManagementDrew Kahler, the owner has currently taken a position with a Cedar Falls company.

• Mark Watje, who owned two businesses while in the SBI, currently works for Wayne Engineering in Cedar Falls and is in the MBA program at the University of Iowa.

• Chris Harms, who owned Breakaway Consulting which provided alternative energy consulting to industrial and commercial clients, works for Principal Group Investments in Des Moines. He graduated in December of 2009 with degrees in investment finance, real estate and a certificate in entrepreneurship.

• Green's Organics Green's Organics is continuing to expand its farming operations in Northeast Iowa. Some of its products can be found in local stores such as Roots Market in Cedar Falls.

• Big League Analysis.com Learn how Tyson Hanish, a former professional baseball player with the New York Yankees organization, took his skills, knowledge, and contacts and is using them to help little league and high school ball players improve their skills. Read about Tyson's third-place win at the National Elevator Pitch Competition in Chicago in November, 2008. Hanish Wins! Here's the link to his website, bigleagueanalysis.com

• Rausch Brothers Trucking Rausch Brothers Trucking continues to be one of the largest construction trucking operations in Iowa. Feel free to call them at their Ionia location at 1521 220th St, Ionia, IA 50645; 641-394-4384 for your trucking needs.

• Razor-Sharp Window Cleaning Joe explored several businesses while in the SBI and graduated with a successful window cleaning business. He currently works for Mechdyne of Marshalltown doing MIS project installations around the world.

• The first graduate from the SBI in May of 2007 was Carlos Arguello with his businesses La Prensa (Hispanic Newspaper) and CAAL Translation Services. Check out La Prensa at its website.

• Enderton Strength -- Jared Enderton continues to explore health and nutrition. Visit it at enderton-strength.com