One of JPEC’s entrepreneurs, Lauren Aguilar

(BBA, ’15) of team SPEEKO, has relocated to

Hyde Park and the University of Chicago,

Booth Business School Incubator. She and

SPEEKO were accepted in July and knew it

was a great opportunity to advance

their startup.

As their new website states, “SPEEKO

provides users with an instant, objective

analysis of their speech that highlights the

individual’s unique problem areas. Users can

rehearse and practice their speech when it’s

most convenient for them. The same way

fitness apps measure a progress in physical

activity, SPEEKO tracks improvements in

public speaking skills.”

Part of the SPEEKO team is still working in

Iowa City while Lauren and her brother Nico

are making their contributions from Chicago.

“Startups are risky, but I thought now is the

time to take that risk,” Lauren said. Team

SPEEKO hopes to be Beta testing by next fall.

STUDENT STARTUP RELOCATES

eVENTURINGFALL 2015

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) presented its second annual EntreDays, which included three events: an IdeaStorm pitch contest, the John Hughes Lecture Series and a Startup Social. Prominent Iowa entrepreneurs and students gathered for the three events that had a record turnout.

The first event was the IdeaStorm Pitch contest. The student startup winner, Fight from the Feet Up, received the first-place prize of $500. Fight from the Feet Up strives to make a child’s hospital stay more comfortable by providing them with socks and gowns that make them feel like their favorite hero. Creators Billy Roediger (Marketing, Entrepreneurial Management Certificate, ’17) and Ahsan Mujeeb (Entrepreneurial Management Certificate, ‘16) developed the idea during an entrepreneurial course taught by JPEC lecturer Bob Walker.

“Participating in IdeaStorm has a ton of perks! I would say getting the confidence from other people supporting your idea, not only with compliments but also with the money rewarded, is pretty humbling and inspiring,” Roediger said.

On Tuesday, five successful entrepreneurs discussed the secrets of entrepreneurship at the Englert Theatre. The John Hughes Lecture Series, sponsored by Hills Bank, has been a part of the JPEC program for more than ten years. This year’s speakers were Tara Cronbaugh, president and owner of The Java House and Heirloom Salad Company; John Mickelson, founder and managing partner of Midwest Growth Partners; Traci Fenton, founder and CEO of WorldBlu; and Zac Voss, president of Voss Distributing, LLC. The event was moderated by Andy Stoll, co-founder of Seed Here Studio and the Iowa Startup Accelerator.

The Startup Social wrapped up the week’s events, which drew in a large crowd of experienced entrepreneurs as well as student entrepreneurs looking to network, discuss internships, job opportunities and share their knowledge.

“Meeting people with goals like your own and networking in a great place were outstanding experiences,” Roediger said. “There are crazy amounts of bright and creative people in those gatherings.”

SECOND ANNUAL ENTREDAYS DRAWS IOWA ENTREPRENEURS

JOHN PAPPAJOHN NAMED HONORARY UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LETTERMAN

During the University of Iowa vs. University of Pittsburgh football game on Sept. 19,

John Pappajohn was recognized as an honorary letterman. Mr. Pappajohn also served as the

Grand Marshal for University of Iowa’s Homecoming parade.

UI JPEC HOMECOMING CELEBRATIONThis year, the 2015 Homecoming festivities began with a keynote speech by John Pappajohn entitled a “Life with Phil.” At the end of Pappajohn’s talk, each student present was given $10 in an envelope. Pappajohn asked the students to donate the money back to the University to the college or department they wanted to support. $10,000 was donated that day! “We all believe in helping people,” Pappajohn said. “Philanthropy is a way of life. And, if you incorporate it in your DNA, it becomes part of your persona.”

JPEC FLOAT IN HOMECOMING PARADE One of the new parade entries in the UI Homecoming Parade was a JPEC float. The entrepreneurial fraternity Sigma Nu Tau and I-Envision group helped Professor Bob Walker to create the float. Students met for weeks in preparation

for the parade. Not only did they spend time building the float, but the students appealed to local entrepreneurs for the funds to create it. “Entrepreneurship is a team sport and the two groups worked well towards a common goal,” Walker said. “The float gave us a chance to get to know everyone better and both groups are stronger and more cohesive than they were before the float.”

Also celebrating the parade is style was this year’s Grand Marshals, John and Mary Pappajohn.

After the parade ended, UI JPEC alums gathered at FilmScene for the annual Homecoming Networking Reception.

PHOTO BY BRIAN RAY

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DIANA REEDDuring her years as a student, Diana Reed (BA, Performing Arts Management, BBA, Management, ’07), started her own business through the BELL, was named Miss Iowa and performed as the Golden Girl for the Hawkeye Marching Band. Eight years later, she is still pursuing her passion in performing arts by performing in production companies including Walt

Disney World, Universal Studios and New York Theater Ballet.

“Both degrees have been essential to the success of my career since graduating from the University of Iowa,” Reed said. “I have learned to manage, market, negotiate and promote myself for consideration by entertainment companies in various roles and shows. From the technical aspects of dance and theater to the negotiating and finance skills of business, I use the knowledge and experience from my degrees everyday in the performing industry.”

As a student in the Founders Club at the BELL from 2005-2007, Diana started her business, Diana’s Golden Twirlers, where she taught kids between the ages of 4-18 years the art of baton twirling.

“It started as a hobby with 10 students my freshman year and quickly

grew to over 60 students from all over Eastern Iowa,” Reed said. “My passion for the performing arts inspired me to become a student entrepreneur and grow a for-profit business.”

Since graduation, Reed has volunteered at many of the JPEC programs such as the Be Your Own Boss Entrepreneurship Conference, roundtables at the Founders Club and JPEC Homecoming events.

“I think the most rewarding thing is to witness someone turn their life’s passion into a business,” Reed said. “I hope by sharing my story with other upcoming entrepreneurs I can inspire them to take something they are passionate about and turn it into a profitable business.”

Reed is currently performing in the Festival of the Lion King show at Walt Disney World and for various shows on property at Universal Studios in Orlando. In December, she will become the announcer and media host of the More Monster Jam Tour. Reed still plans on opening a performing arts studio in the future.

“I decided it was important to expand my experience, knowledge and credentials in the performing industry so I can be more successful as a business owner down the road,” Reed said. “I am still a certified National Baton Twirling Association coach and judge, and continue to teach twirlers from all over the country.”

Corvida Medical™ founders, John Slump (BBA, Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, ’08) and Jared Garfield (BBA, Management Information Systems and Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, ’09), joined the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory in 2008 determined to “make cancer care safer for healthcare workers,” said Garfield.

“Both our families had been affected by cancer,” Garfield said. “We wanted to write a business plan for a relevant issue. So, we sat down and designed something that would offer a complete solution. That solution would protect those providing cancer treatment from being exposed to the toxic drugs necessary to treat the disease.”

“Seven years, many business plan competitions, family support, grants ($5 million in total from the National Institutes of Health, $1 million from the state of Iowa) and significant capital from outside investors has earned Corvida Medial the prestige of being the “only product in the space with the support of the National Cancer Institute,” Garfield said.

Their first product is known as the Halo™, which is a closed system transfer device (CSTD) that protects healthcare workers from exposure to hazardous drugs when preparing and administering chemotherapy. The device is airtight and leak-proof. According to the Corvida Medical website, it is easy to use and was designed to be compatible with existing therapeutic procedures.

Most importantly, the Halo™ has received a 501(K) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As Garfield boarded a plane to the next hospital meeting he said, “It is exciting. We are working with leading cancer centers across the country. People are excited when we present, Halo™. And, it’s made in America!”

2015 has been a thrilling year for UI student startup company Western Wise — a service that provides interactive one-on-one English lessons online to children in China.

Founded by Emily Roberts (Entrepreneurial Management and Spanish, ’16) and Chen Cui

(PhD student, Electrical and Computer Engineering, ’16), Western Wise won the Student Startup of the Year Award presented

by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, and also received one of three top prizes worth $5,000 at the statewide Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. The company was a finalist for the 2015 Prometheus Award and a quarterfinalist in the International Business Model Competition put on by Brigham Young University in Utah.

“I really became passionate about helping international students because they’re such hard workers,” Roberts said. “Their grammar is really good and they have a lot of strong vocabulary, but they struggle to communicate their ideas.”

The Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship completed its first

national entrepreneur competition for high school students this May. 151

students applied from 44 teachers across 16 different states.

One of the winners from the spring 2015 competitions was Emily Wills

with her business, Empire Designs. Empire Designs sells custom made

high-waisted shorts that support local communities and the green

movement. The extra fabric is saved and sewn into quilts for homeless

shelters and made into shoes for children in Africa. Her online presence

is huge—with 60,000 followers on Instagram and a thriving Etsy shop.

The competition would not have been possible without dedicated John

Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) alumni judges Patricia Miller,

Androu De Vera and Duane Wilson.

“This was a great experience to hear from young entrepreneurs around

the country and to be a judge that impacts their ventures,” Wilson said.

“The dialogue and coaching were priceless, like a virtual Shark Tank!”

The Jacobson Institute strives to create 21st Century thinkers for the

K-12 market. Its programs teach the ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ and

encourage creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem solving.

The next competition for K-12 students is the fall 2015 BizInnovator

competition. All high school students are eligible to compete.

JACOBSON INSTITUTE GEARS UP FOR FALL BIZINNOVATOR COMPETITION

A PASSION FOR SAFETY

WESTERN WISE WINS STARTUP OF THE YEAR, STUDENT VENTURE COMPETITION AND MORE

EMILY WILLIS

LAVENDER IN THE LOESS HILLS HELPED BY VENTURE SCHOOL AND JPEC CONSULTING CLASSAfter a visit to lavender fields in 2005, Mary Hamer was determined to create her own lavender farm in the Loess Hills, in northwest Iowa. Hamer did her research to find the right perennial variety of the culinary herb known for their essential oils and ornamental beauty capable of growing in zone five, where winter temperature can dip to -10 degrees.

The first five years of hard work launched the Loess Hills Lavender business as both a lavender farm, a small retail shop and a destination location with 25,000 visitors to the farm.

“Mary and Tim Hamer came to the Council Bluffs Venture School having been in business for five years and after experiencing a 90% crop loss in the winter of 2014,” said Elizabeth Hallgren, UI Venture School Instructor in Council Bluffs. “They were in a rebuilding phase and really put the UI Venture School methodology to work in order to take a clear look at their business and the opportunities and risks they faced.”

In addition to becoming an award winning team at Venture School, the Hamer’s will be participating in the business consulting class this fall. The team of four JPEC students working with Loess Hills Lavender is excited to work with a real-world client and help their business.

“It is an awesome experience to establish a relationship with the client and learn the ins and outs of their day-to-day operations,” said Madeleine Sell, (Interdepartmental Studies and Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, ’16). “I hope the research we do can

make Mary and Tim’s life and their business operations better.”

“I love this class,” said Colin Sloan, (Entrepreneurial Leadership, ’17). “As project lead, whether our group is working in or out of the classroom, I always look forward to the opportunity this class provides of real-world consulting experience. Especially for me, my dream career is to be a consultant, working for a firm that provides operations and marketing consulting for clients.”

“Mary needs our help to gain a much clearer understanding of the seasonal sales trends so that her farm can maximize profitability and avoid overproduction of less popular items,” said Sloan.

The Hamers are excited to work with the University of Iowa again on another business project and hope that the students in the consulting class can provide a fresh take on their business plan.

“We hope the team will help us identify sales, marketing and product trends over the past 24 months,” said Mary Hamer. “We sometimes are flying by the seat of our pants and want to become more intentional about running our business.”

“This class is about as close to real-world consulting experience as you can get in the classroom,” said Sloan. “Books can only convey so much knowledge, but there’s nothing like getting out there and really experiencing the world of consulting for yourself. From this class, I will gain a better understanding of the client-consultant relationship as well as learning to think innovatively and adapting to the inevitable obstacles that have and will come our way.”

JOHN SLUMP & JARED GARFIELD

COLIN SLOANMADELEINE SELL