ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship

Tackling Food Insecurity at Iowa State Over 100 students came together to combat food insecurity in the 2024 Food Insecurity Challenge. On Tuesday night, 21 teams presented unique solutions to this problem, many of which focused on local initiatives such as improving food access on the Iowa State University campus. Thank you to all the students who participated and who continue to be committed to making a change on campus and across the world. Thank you to Ivy College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for partnering with us to make this impactful event a success. Read about the ideas created and winners selected here --> https://lnkd.in/ggxXQzrA

On Tuesday night we celebrated Megan Graettinger, Pappajohn Center Assistant Director, who is officially a graduate of the Leadership Ames Class 37! Leadership Ames is a year-long commitment. Over the one-year period, the class splits into teams that work together to complete a community service project. Projects have ranged from fundraising events to issue awareness, to supply drives and remodel work for local non-profits. Megan and her team chose to work with the Foundations Learning Center to raise awareness and support for the program. The team fundraised to get them a new shed and classroom items from their Amazon wish list. Congratulations, Megan, on this exciting achievement!!

Last week, in collaboration with Iowa State University - Ivy College of Business, we received the award for Exceptional Contributions in Entrepreneurship Research at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers - GCEC 2024 Conference! This recognition celebrates Iowa State's groundbreaking contributions to entrepreneurship research and highlights the powerful collaboration between the Pappajohn Center and Ivy College of Business. Learn more about this incredible achievement --> https://lnkd.in/gyTX6zcB

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your financial skills! Be sure to RSVP so you can enjoy complimentary food and beverages at the event!

Check out CYstarter alum Jonathan Duron on the Innovators Podcast!

Calling all Startup Factory alumni, founders, mentors, and startup community supporters! Join us on Tuesday, December 10, to hear from ISU Startup Factory Cohort 16 for an exciting Demo Day event! Following founder presentations, stick around for a fun networking reception with drinks and appetizers to connect with founders and mentors, learn more about the Startup Factory, G2M, and VMS programs, and celebrate these founders’ successes. Learn more and register here: https://buff.ly/47B6M5R

Two Iowa State University students have been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Story County Community Foundation to advance their business, Frozen Gains. Zane Lenz, a Computer Engineering student in the College of Engineering, and Grant Veenstra, a Finance student in the Ivy College of Business, co-founded Frozen Gains, a unique weight-gainer ice cream designed for athletes looking to build muscle mass. Inspired by their passion for fitness and dissatisfaction with standard protein shakes, Zane and Grant crafted a product that combines great taste with high protein and high-calorie content. The grant was part of a competitive small business initiative supported by the Story County Community Foundation in collaboration with the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the Small Business Development Center. The competition offered up to $2,500 to emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners in Story County. Five local business finalists — including Beeler Lawn & Landscape, Blue Crib Customs LLC, Frozen Gains, PhotoSynthesis, and Piece & Freedom Bakery — presented live to secure one of two $2,500 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Grants. The only student-owned business in the competition, Frozen Gains earned the award alongside Piece & Freedom Bakery. Zane and Grant have previously participated in Pappajohn Center programs, including the CYstarters summer accelerator. Congratulations to Zane and Grant of Frozen Gains on this exciting milestone!

Join us for festive food, drinks, gifts, and more! The Holiday Market will be held in Beardshear Hall, central campus of Iowa State University. Learn more and register below!

Last week, 20 Iowa State University students from the Entrepreneur Club traveled to Tampa, Florida, to attend the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) national conference. The event featured a global pitch competition, where university students presented their business ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. Out of hundreds of entries, six ISU students representing five businesses made it into the top 100, and three students (two businesses) advanced to the top 20. Once at the conference, one additional ISU student, Cam Reiman, was invited to pitch her idea on the spot. In the end, Zackry Brannen, founder of Perfect Plantista, achieved an impressive fourth place overall, earning $2,000 in prize money. Congratulations to everyone who participated and represented ISU so well! Top 20: Joyita Sarkar and Ana Orescanin (My Sewing Hub) Cam Reiman (Spock's Sanctuary) Zackry Brannen (Perfect Plantista)

Congratulations to Ana and Joyita for qualifying for the finals at the CEO Global Pitch Competition! Ana and Joyita, both College of Health and Human Sciences, pitched their company My Sewing Hub and will pitch live this weekend in Tampa, Fl! Congratulations and best of luck!