Date: Thursday, May 23, 2013

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The first round of the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is complete. Of the 34 executive summaries submitted, 16 have been selected to submit full business plans to be reviewed by judges. 

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“Each year the quality of the businesses competing improves,” said Randy Pilkington, director of UNI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. “We were pleased to have a wide range of business types with broad geographic representation competing this year.”

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Of these competitors, 7 to 10 will be chosen as finalists and invited to present to a panel of judges. Based on the presentations, the judges will select the three winners who will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on September 26th in Des Moines.

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The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans ($25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third). Honorable mention and $1,000 will be awarded to additional companies.

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For more information, visit the competition Web site, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com, or contact one of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.

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