On April 13 and 14 the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) held the second phase of the Iowa Innovation Challenge and awarded $167,000 in prize money.

A total of 52 UI businesses applied to compete in the business model competition. Thirty-six were selected as finalists to compete virtually due to COVID-19.

In total, the Iowa Innovation Challenge awarded $276,500 during the 2019-2020 academic year to University of Iowa faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and incubator startups.

The is the first year the University of Iowa has hosted the Iowa Innovation Challenge. The contest is designed to provide support and funding to different startups, ideas and entrepreneurial projects on campus — no matter where an applicant is in their degree or professional career.

Four UI organizations partnered in the project to fund the contes — John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, UI Ventures, the UI Research Foundation and the Office of the Vice President for Research. 

Here are the startups that received awards:

Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, and Incubator Startup Awards

• 1st Place, $25,000 | CartilaGen – Jaison Marks
  Medical technology that is capable of preventing posttraumatic osteoarthritis.
• 2nd Place, $15,000 | VerdiLife – Mahdi Eghbali
  Strives to make the Earth a healthier place by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and replacing harmful chemicals used in agriculture with all-natural solutions.
• 3rd Place, $10,000 | Apollo – Jon Lensing
  A web-based platform that seeks to match physicians and other healthcare providers with hiring hospitals seeking shift coverage.
• 4th Place, $5,000 | Firefly Photonics – Michael Jones, Fatima Toor, and John Prineas
  A leader in the research and development of high performance mid- to long-wave infrared LED and laser technology.

Honorable Mention ($2,500 each)

• Cardio Diagnostics – Meesha Dogan
  A precision Medtech company that is developing the first at-home clinical, artificial intelligence-driven DNA test to help prevent cardiovascular disease.
• PaniClean – Joun Lee
  Develops key technological innovations to improve the energy efficiency of the water treatment process and lower freshwater cost.
• Graze Analytics – Daniel Machlab
  Helps restaurants improve their profitability by providing them with data analytics on customer feedback.

Undergraduate Student Awards

Best Technology/High Growth

• 1st Place, $10,000 | Track My Tummy – Farhanudin Syed
  A photo-based smartphone application to help patients identify foods triggering their chronic symptoms.
• 2nd Place, $4,000 (tied) | Avarupt – Caleb Marting
  Custom LED lighting solutions for businesses.
• 2nd Place, $4,000 (tied) | Palate Pal – Ally Carey, Jennifer Mount, Hannah Drkulec, and Taylor Deutsch
  A device that assists patients with limited upper extremity mobility to improve eating dependence.

Best Non-Technology

• 1st Place, $3,500 | CapturePro – Patrick Prosser, Lane Dethrow, Brittany Caskey
  A rental company that provides customers with a GoPro and other accessories needed to record an adventure, shipped directly to your destination.
• 2nd Place, $2,500 | Funny Nuggets – Jade Peterson
  Comedy clubhouse for kids.
• 3rd Place, $1,000 | Kimik Sustainable Solutions – Trent Katz
  A recycling bin that tracks how many bottles and cans are being placed in the bin.

Best Retail Business

• 1st Place, $3,500 | Schneider Custom Designs – Blane Schneider
  A woodworking company specializing in unique coffee tables, side tables, cutting boards, and other furniture using a mix of wood and beautifully colored epoxy resin.
• 2nd Place, $2,500 | Fruit for the Earth – Blake Quarrie
  A service company offering white label fertilizer to retailers produced from organic waste.
• 3rd Place, $1,000 | FoodCents – Erika Law
  A hands-on educational game about nutrition for elementary school students.

Best Social Impact

• 1st Place, $3,500 | HeadsIn – Matt Lewis
  Intelligent, communication application that monitors and tracks the mental health of student-athletes.
• 2nd Place, $2,500 | Assistance Technologies – Michael Westphal, John Tian, and Zach Combs
  RFID bracelet key for use within assisted living centers.
• 3rd Place, $1,000 | Socialite – Ethan Bennett
  A social media platform for making friends.

Best Lifestyle Business

• 1st Place, $3,500 | FestPlug – Michael Dankanich (Open Major) A digital platform that facilitates easy hiring at music festivals.
• 2nd Place, $2,500 | Eagers – Katy Misel (Entrepreneurial Management) An after school entrepreneurship program for upper elementary and middle school students.
• 3rd Place, $1,000 | Sunflower Mobile Dentist – Anna Fox (Health Science-Multidisciplinary Science) A nonprofit, faith-based dental clinic that offers free care to the homeless living in high need areas in Iowa.

Best Overall Pitch

• Context – Stewart Knights
  An interactive mobile application that provides a story-based way to learn about cultures across the globe.

Honorable Mention ($2,000 each)

• Golden Gloss Auto Detailing – Matthew Nicholson
  Luxury automotive detailing.
• Ergo Tech – Zoey Sletterhaugh
  A wearable motion capture device that aims to reduce musculoskeletal workplace injuries.
• PTXtension – Ryan Gudenkauf
  A mobile app aimed at improving patient accountability and boosting the success and cost-effectiveness of physical therapy.

Alumni Awards

Top Finalists ($10,000 each)

• Apollo Technologies – Jon Lensing
• Skilled Day – Megan Zalzala
  Scheduling solution allows providers and patients in skilled nursing facilities to access their schedules.
• Trigger Interactive – Tyler Brockel
  Manufactures, sells, advanced small arms, live-fire target systems that deliver dynamic firearms training solution at a fraction of cost.

Runner Ups ($5,000 each)

• Dhakai – Russel Karim
  B2B apparel sourcing marketplace connects US private labels and retailers to SE Asian apparel manufacturers.
• Goldfinch Health – Brand Newland
  Helps companies save money by empowering employees to better navigate surgery and recovery.
• Theion Agriculture – Justin Carter
  Developing growth promoter that improves crop yields for indoor agriculture, greenhouse ag and traditional row crop farming.
• Speeko – Nico Aguilar
  Tech startup dedicated to helping people become confident public speakers.

Best Overall Pitch ($2,500)

• Vertical Golfing – Brady Trent
  eCommerce business in niche of keeping golfers on course for as many years as possible using playing aids.

Previous coverage

Iowa Innovation Challenge awards $81,000 to UI startups -Nov. 21, 2019

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