The John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition contest is intended to encourage and promote entrepreneurial activity and create greater awareness of the resources available to entrepreneurs in Iowa. We encourage innovative, new ventures to participate. Judges selected by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers will review all submissions. Participants will be judged on the basis of their written submissions and, for participants who advance to later rounds, presentations to the judges. Judges will rank participants and, subject to certain limitations, the top three will be awarded. Prospective participants must read and comply with the rules of the competition set forth below to enter and participate in the John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. The John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is void where prohibited by law.

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The 2025 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is co-hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers and the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

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2026 Competition Timeline

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March 13, 2026 | Competition goes live

May 15, 2026 | Application due by 11:59 pm

June 1, 2026 | Applicants notified if they've advanced to Round 2

July 10, 2026 | Round 2 application questions due by 11:59 pm

August 3, 2026 | Finalists Notified

August 19, 2026 | Final Round Pitch and Awards Luncheon (Ames)

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2025 Winners:

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First Place: Immuno Nano Med, $40,000

Second Place: Hermes Biomaterials, Inc., $25,000

Third Place: Hanna Golf, $15,000

 

Honorable Mentions:

($10,000) S5G Therapeutics

($5,000) Tumblewwed Vida

($5,000) SABER Chemical

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