2025 Venture School Applications Open
Applications Now Open for Spring 2025 Cohort North Iowa entrepreneurs are achieving success with the assistance of the NIACC Pappajohn Center cohort of the University of Iowa Venture School. Venture School is the premiere business training program in Iowa, emphasizing real-world entrepreneurship and innovation based on a leading-edge curriculum. Participants learn to overcome the chaos […]
North Iowa Entrepreneur Wins 2024 InnoVenture Iowa Challenge
Billie Asmus of Hampton wins $100,000 Top Prize at Pitch Competition Billie Asmus of Hampton, IA won the top prize at the 2024 InnoVenture Challenge on Thursday, December 5. The InnoVenture Challenge invites the best and brightest Iowa entrepreneurs to participate in a pitch competition where three early-stage startup companies compete on-stage for a winner-take-all […]
North Iowa Entrepreneurs Compete in Venture School Launch Day Competition
$3,700 in Prizes Awarded to Local Startups MASON CITY, Iowa— The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the University of Iowa Venture School Launch Day competition on Thursday November 14, 2024. The NIACC Fall 2024 Venture School cohort competed in person after attending classes virtually for 7 weeks of training, customer discovery, and developing their […]
Winners Announced at the 2024 NIACC Pappajohn Center Entrepreneur Gala
The 2024 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala celebrated North Iowa’s entrepreneurs on October 3, 2024 at a special recognition event at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. Entrepreneurs and businesses across North Iowa were invited to apply for four awards categories: Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Student Entrepreneur of the Year, […]
Finalists Announced for NIACC Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala Awards
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is proud to announce the finalists for the 2024 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala awards. The Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala will take place on Thursday October 3, 2024. The Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala will celebrate the remarkable journey of the Pappajohn Center, showcase the achievements of North Iowa’s outstanding entrepreneurs, and honor the […]
North Iowa Entrepreneur Wins First Place at the 19th Annual John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
Billie Asmus of Hampton, IA won First Place at the 19th annual John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition on Thursday, August 22, 2024. From more than 30 submissions, 10 teams advanced to the final presentation round, where the winners were announced at a luncheon at Iowa State University in Ames. The ceremony began with remarks […]
2024 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala to be held on October 3, 2024
Legacy Award to be presented to Stellar Industries, Inc. The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center will host the 2024 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at NIACC. The Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala celebrates the entrepreneurs and partners who make our communities a great place to work and live. The Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala will share […]
Venture School Helps North Iowa Entrepreneurs Succeed: Applications Now Open for Fall 2024 Cohort
North Iowa entrepreneurs are achieving success with the assistance of the NIACC Pappajohn Center cohort of the University of Iowa Venture School. Venture School is the premiere business training program in Iowa, emphasizing real-world entrepreneurship and innovation based on a leading-edge curriculum. Participants learn to overcome the chaos and uncertainty of creating new ventures by […]
North Iowa Entrepreneur Wins Third Place Prize at 2024 Venture School Statewide Launch Day Competition
Caleb Renner of Klemme, IA, took home Third Place at the 2024 University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day on June 13, 2024. Ten teams from across the state of Iowa competed in the event which was held at EntreFEST, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Cedar Rapids, IA. A total of $37,000 in prize money […]
NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Hosts Youth Entrepreneurial Academy
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center conducted the 2024 Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA) on June 3-7. YEA is a free one-week academic camp sponsored by the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, and is offered annually to all North Iowa high school students interested in entrepreneurship. Each participant receives a $500 NIACC scholarship sponsored […]
May 2024 Entrepreneur of the Month: The Trendy Pineapple Boutique
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Bethany Fisher of The Trendy Pineapple Boutique in Garner, IA as the May 2024 Entrepreneur of the Month. The Trendy Pineapple is a family-focused clothing boutique in Garner, IA. The boutique offers unique styles, from everyday wear to occasion wear, […]
Youth Entrepreneurial Academy
Applications due May 17 MASON CITY, IOWA – The North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center will hold the Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA) on Monday June 3 – Friday June 7, 2024, with pitch presentations on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Thanks to generous financial support from the John K. and Luise V. Hanson […]
NIACC Student Wins Top Prize at 2024 Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) student Catherine Dow was named one of the top three winners at The Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition, sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, Inc. Catherine was awarded one of three $5,000 prizes. Catherine is currently a freshman at NIACC where she is studying Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management. […]
North Iowa Businesses Compete in Venture School Launch Day
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the University of Iowa Venture School Launch Day competition on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The NIACC Spring 2024 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 […]
NIACC Student Entrepreneurs Advance to Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition Finals
Three students representing North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) competed in Round 1 of the 2024 Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition and advanced to the Finals. The competition was held during the Student Entrepreneurship Conference at Drake University in Des Moines, IA on April 5-6, 2024. The three NIACC student entrepreneurs competing in Round 1 […]