The University of Iowa Venture School is expanding its footprint with a new location in Ottumwa and is now accepting applications for its spring 2026 cohort. The application deadline is Feb. 27, with sessions beginning the week of March 2. Venture School is an eight-week, hands-on entrepreneurship program designed to help early-stage founders test, refine and launch business ideas. Built on a curriculum developed through the National Science Foundation I-Corps program at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, Venture School emphasizes real-world customer discovery, business model development, and rapid iteration. Each team is paired with a local entrepreneur coach and participates in a final Launch Day Competition. The Launch Day Competition will be held the week of April 20 and the week of March 26 for Mason City. Applications and more information about locations and dates is available on the Venture School webpage.
