Eleven University of Iowa students shared $4,400 in prize money at the Spring IdeaStorm competition Feb. 22 in the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory. The event was presented by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.
According to a news release, first-place $500 winners were Andrew Behrens (health initiatives), Carter Fitzgerald (common good), Megan Ertl (creative concepts), and Alex Itzenhuiser, Tyler Armstrong, and Kyle McGuinness (consumer solutions).
A total of 38 students pitched their creative ideas. They represented a variety of majors and areas of study making this competition a great example of multidisciplinary innovation across the University of Iowa campus. The top ideas selected by judges were awarded cash prizes, as well as a Judge’s Choice award of $400 to Allie Mulvey.
According to the release, IdeaStorm is an entry-level pitch competition open to all University of Iowa students. The competition is designed to introduce students to innovation by encouraging them share their idea in two minutes or less via an in-person pitch describing how they would solve a problem in a unique way. Students do not need a business plan, prior pitching experience, or a presentation to pitch — this allows them to enjoy a soft introduction to the world of entrepreneurship.
The winners were as follows:
Health Initiatives
Students shared ideas that help create better well-being through health care innovation.
- $500 | Andrew Behrens (Medicine)
Anatomical teaching model - $400 | Noor Alwaan, Marianne Said (Pharmacy)
OTC helper
- $300 | Connor Doyle (Finance)
Fitness attachment handle
Creative Concepts
- $500 | Megan Ertl (Industrial and systems engineering)
Turning movement into paintings - $300 | McKenzie Capito (English, creative writing)
Science fiction/fantasy publishing house
Common Good
Students share ideas that inspire change through social and sustainable solutions that benefit the common good.
- $500 | Carter Fitzgerald (Finance)
Laundry tracking app - $300 | Benjamin Koruna (Finance)
Subscription model platform for cars out of warranty
Consumer Solutions
Students share ideas that explore solutions to everyday problems through new products or services.
- $500 | Alex Itzenhuiser, Tyler Armstrong, Kyle McGuinness (Computer science)
Point of sale with digital change - $400 | Martha Fey (Sustainability science)
Food sensitivity app - $300 | Kiana Shevling-Major (International relations) App to make car maintenance easier
Judge’s Choice: $400 | Allie Mulvey (Entrepreneurial management certificate)
