Four business ideas shared $5,000 in prize money at the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Venture School Spring Pitch Competition on April 11. Paul Altvater of Level Up Bouldering won $2,400, for his idea of a combined rock-climbing, weight lifting and yoga studio. Alan Murdock took second place and an award of $1,200 for his business Iowa Arts Media: Akademi, which focuses on developing the creative economy in eastern Iowa. Susanna Rodriguez of Kitchen Confidential developing a shared-use kitchen and Silvia Quezada of web-based escrow service Trust Solar each won $700. The pitch competition was held at the Kirkwood Regional Center in Coralville.
