Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition

Contest Information and Requirements

This competition is sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, and the Pappajohn Centers. This competition is intended for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. Three seed grants in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition. Plans will be judged based on a) Content of Plan and b) Viability of Plan. Application materials, eligibility requirements, and guidelines are available at the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center in Business and Community Services 128 or by clicking on this link. Please note the Intent to Compete Form deadline is March 28, 2014. Click this link for the guidelines and entry form: 2014 Competition Guidelines in Adobe Acrobat PDF

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Full or part-time undergraduate or graduate students registered for 2013-2014 academic year at any Iowa post-secondary educational institution are eligible for the competition.
  • Plans may be submitted by an individual or by a team of students.
  • Teams must consist of at least one student member.
  • Teams must consist of five or fewer members.
  • Business plans must be for a start-up business only (not for an existing business).

2013/2014 TIMELINE

  • February 28, 2014 - Intent to Compete due to UNI JPEC in Business and Community Services Building 128.
  • March 28, 2014 - Applications and business plans due to UNI JPEC in Business and Community Services Building 128.
  • April 11, 2014 - Regional judging of plans completed. Winners notified and winning plans sent to state competition.
  • May 2, 2014 - Winning plans are presented by authors at the competition held at the Pappajohn Higher Education building in Des Moines. Three $5,000 awards are selected by the Equity Dynamics judges and presented at the luncheon this day. UNI STUDENTS: This is the Friday before finals week. Please plan accordingly. If you do not compete in Des Moines, you are not eligible to win the competition and an award.