Winners announced in the 16th Annual John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition
The 2021 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition was held on August 27, 2021, in Ames. Twelve teams advanced to the final presentation round, and the following businesses emerged as winners of this year’s competition.
Skroot Laboratory received first place and was awarded $40,000. Skroot Laboratory is launching SMART line products for glass and plastic culture ware. With its sticker sensors, Skroot makes any vessel smart. Skroot Laboratory, Inc. is headquartered in Ames, Iowa.
Dr. Nigel Reuel, Founder and CEO
info@skrootlab.com
Open Loop Health came in second place and was awarded $25,000. Open Loop is creating white-label telehealth and virtual care delivery customized to your organization. Serving clients nationally, Open Loop is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jon Lensing, CEO and Founder
jon@openloophealth.com
No Limbits received third place and was awarded $15,000. No Limbits is creating prosthetic covers and potentially adaptive fashion products for individuals who have experienced loss of limbs. No Limbits was launched in Iowa City, Iowa.
Erica Cole, CEO and Co-Founder
hello@no-limbits.com
www.no-limbits.com
Three companies were awarded $5,000 honorable mention awards including Mazen, Continuum Ag, and Dhakai, Inc. Three remaining finalists, InMotion Care, Taponit, and TAG Tech, Inc., each received $2,000.
“This was a tremendous lineup of Iowa startup companies, and they all presented extremely exciting ventures,” stated Judi Eyles, director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at Iowa State University.
The competition is a collaborative project of the Iowa 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. The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides funding to bring the total prize package to $100,000.
Details about next year's John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition will be announced in February 2022. For additional information about the competition, visit www.pappajohncompetition.com.