Repaint Studios LLC, a startup that participated in the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) Venture School, secured first place and a $40,000 prize at the Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition on Aug. 22 in Ames.
According to a release, Repaint Studios participated in the Mason City cohort of Venture School in Fall 2021. The woman-led company focuses on reducing the environmental impact of home improvement through reusable and recyclable painting supplies.
During the competition, 10 teams presented five-minute pitches. NeuroPred Inc., which participated in the university’s NSF I-Corps program, received an honorable mention and a $10,000 award. NeuroPred develops software aimed at improving clinical workflows in healthcare, with an emphasis on medical imaging for stroke patients.
Both Repaint Studios and NeuroPred have previously gained recognition in other pitch competitions. Repaint Studios earned $4,000 as an honorable mention in the 2023 Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition, while NeuroPred took home $5,000 for a fifth-place finish in the graduate/faculty/staff/incubator startup division of Iowa JPEC’s Innovation Challenge in April 2024.
Other winners include:
- Second place: Rise Energy, with $25,000
- Third place: HUDU, with $15,000
- Honorable mention: Upcycling+ and Upvote Inc., $5,000 each
- Other Honorable Mentions:
— Narrate AR LLC
— Presaj Inc.
— Tumbleweed Vida Inc.
— TRI Medical Inc.
The University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) provides educational programs and support services to foster entrepreneurship and innovation across Iowa, helping new ventures and small-to-medium-sized businesses grow and succeed.
