$4,000 in Prizes Awarded to Local Entrepreneurs

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the University of Iowa Venture School Launch Day competition on Thursday March 27, 2025. The NIACC Spring 2025 Venture School cohort competed in person after attending classes virtually for 7 weeks of training, customer discovery, and developing their business model alongside local entrepreneur coaches. A panel of judges selected First, Second, and Third Place winners. The judges were: Billie Asmus (Repaint Studios), Matt Curtis (Wayne’s Ski & Cycle), and Zack Smith (The Stock Cropper).

Seven teams competed in the Spring 2025 Launch Day competition. Four top prizes were awarded:

First Place – Georgette, Hallie Erdahl, Thornton, IA

Awarded $1800 prize. Georgette is a bridal and formalwear boutique that offers a luxurious yet affordable shopping experience. Through exclusive one-on-one appointments, customers can explore a curated selection of designer gowns in a private, upscale setting—complete with champagne and refreshments. With same-day take-home options and a seamless shopping process, Georgette ensures that every bride and formalwear shopper finds their dream dress while creating lasting memories.

Second Place – All About You, Katie Roderick, Clear Lake, IA 

Awarded $1400 prize. All About You Mental Health & Wellness is a clinic designed to provide women and teens with personalized care in a welcoming, holistic environment. From soothing amenities to specialized treatments, their mission is to support each client’s unique journey toward healing and well-being.

Third Place –Haven Grove, Ellie Reimer, Clear Lake, IA

Awarded $500 prize. Haven Grove is a thoughtfully designed event complex featuring a sailcloth tent, offering the elegance of open-air celebrations with every essential detail seamlessly in place. Offering both charm and flexibility, our venue features a stunning sailcloth tent paired with a permanent indoor structure, ensuring a graceful setting for any event, rain or shine.

Fourth Place – Magical Moments,Troy & Cindy Levenhagen, Mason City, IA

Awarded $300 prize. Magical Moments brings world-class magic, hypnotists, and live entertainment to North Iowa, offering unique, high-quality shows without the overhead of a permanent venue. By partnering with local event spaces and leveraging strong networking and promotions, it creates unforgettable experiences for tourists and families while filling a gap in the local entertainment scene.

Picture from left: Hallie Erdahl, Katie Roderick, Ellie Reimer, Troy Levenhagen, Cindy Levenhagen

Honorable Mentions

Cyber Strength, Justin Zimmerman & Kara Trettin, Mason City, IA

Cyber Strength is a comprehensive B2B service dedicated to reducing youth athlete injuries, minimizing rehab time, and enhancing performance. Their elite programs help club sports teams and athletes stay healthy, recover faster, and gain a competitive edge.

Hilltop Bakery, Emily Knecht, Charles City, IA

Hilltop Bakery began its journey in 2022. Owned and operated by Emily Knecht, this home-based bakery has been part of many celebrations including birthdays, baby showers, and weddings. Emily comes from generations of self-taught bakers and is looking forward to growing out of her home space and into a brick-and-mortar location.

BioFrye Solution, Brian Frye, Williams, IA

BioFrye Solutions is a sustainability-driven company revolutionizing the plastics industry by creating compostable bioplastics made from Iowa corn. Addressing the global crisis of plastic pollution, BioFrye provides businesses with an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics, helping corporations meet ESG mandates and reduce carbon emissions. Through a scalable licensing model, companies can produce biodegradable plastics in-house, minimizing costs and accelerating sustainability efforts. With a high-margin, capital-light business model, BioFrye Solutions is poised to lead the transition to a greener future—turning Iowa’s farmlands into the front line of the sustainability revolution.

The University of Iowa Venture School is a premier statewide program for entrepreneurs and is built from a streamlined curriculum developed by the National Science Foundation I-Corps at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Venture School emphasizes real-world entrepreneurship and innovation based on leading edge curriculum. Teams will accelerate the startup process by testing their business model hypotheses immediately. They get out of the building to talk to customers, partners, and competitors, rather than relying on statistics and secondhand market research.

Each Venture School team is assigned a local entrepreneur as their coach. On Launch Day, participants compete for seed money. In addition, eligible teams may compete for cash awards at the state level during the University of Iowa Venture School Launch Day at EntreFEST in Cedar Rapids, IA on June 12-13, 2025. The cost for Venture School is $299. If you have questions about applying to Venture School or are interested in becoming a Venture School coach, please contact Ashley Page at ashley.page@niacc.edu. To apply for the Fall 2025 cohort, visit www.venture-school.com and select the Mason City cohort in the dropdown menu.

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is the expert in rural business innovation and success. In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. We counsel both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. Contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu. Visit the NIACC Pappajohn Center online at www.pappajohncenter.com.

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The mission of North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is to enrich lives through comprehensive educational opportunities, a commitment to learner success, community engagement, and leadership. Founded in 1918, NIACC is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa, serving approximately 3,000 career and transfer students each year. Recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the nation’s leading community colleges, NIACC is where futures are found. Start your journey today at https://www.niacc.edu/apply-mkt/. Future, Found.