University of Iowa

UI, EdTech Collaborative hosting two DesignDash events this spring

The Jacobson Institute at the University of Iowa and the Iowa EdTech Collaborative are partnering to host startup events engaging high school students in one-day, fast-paced entrepreneurial excursions. High school students will work in teams and will be paired with entrepreneurs or business and industry partners to solve problems they face using entrepreneurial solutions. The Cedar Rapids DesignDash event is April 11 at the Grant Wood Area Education Agency, and the

Applications open for Venture School spring cohort

The University of Iowa Venture School, a statewide program for entrepreneurs, is accepting applications for its spring 2023 cohort, which will be held at multiple locations across the state beginning the week of Feb. 20. The sessions meet one night a week for seven weeks as either hybrid, fully remote, or in-person, depending on location. More information on the locations and the format of the classes at each one is

ISU, UI rank in 2023 review of entrepreneurship programs

Iowa State University and the University of Iowa were ranked in the top 50 undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies by the Princeton Review’s 2023 annual survey. ISU ranked 11th for the third year in a row, according to a news release, and the University of Iowa was ranked No. 22. Among programs in the Midwest, ISU ranked 4th, and the University of Iowa ranked 7th.

UI researchers to use $800,000 grant to study discrimination in machine learning

A team of University of Iowa researchers has received an $800,000 grant as part of an initiative with the National Science Foundation and Amazon to make machine learning less discriminatory. Algorithms learn to do their task and improve on accuracy by analyzing data, but the researchers said the algorithms can learn discriminatory things due to data that is not representative. “Machine learning is used to make many high-stakes decisions, but

UI JPEC opens business incubator geared toward graduate students, faculty

University of Iowa graduate students and faculty interested in commercializing their research can now pursue that at the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s new business incubator, the university announced Tuesday. The incubator is designed to be more flexible than the undergraduate incubator so students and faculty can participate no matter their schedule. The first cohort started this spring with 19 students and faculty from across academic programs, but many of the participants are

A case study in hybrid work arrangements

Pre-pandemic, many organizations only knew how to operate fully in person, but research from two management and entrepreneurship professors at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business shows how one organization is testing out hybrid work arrangements. Amy Colbert and Jennifer Nahrgang have been collecting data on two units within one organization in Iowa while it pilots flexible work arrangements. The organization started its pilot period in August, and

ISU, UI named in top 50 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs

Iowa State University and the University of Iowa both ranked on the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine’s list of the top 50 undergraduate programs for entrepreneurship, ranking at No. 11 and No. 28, respectively. The list was based on a 60-question survey of almost 300 schools with entrepreneurship offerings that included questions about student and faculty involvement in entrepreneurship, mentorship programming on campus, and available scholarships and grants for entrepreneurial

Registration still open for Girls Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by Pi515, University of Iowa John Pappajohn Center of Entrepreneurship

Jade Nettrour is a senior in high school and has already designed an early prototype of new Christmas tree lights to make the annual decorating process easier — and more cat-friendly — for her family and their five felines. Nettrour’s demonstration earned her second place in a student “Shark Tank” pitch competition in 2020, and she’s now exploring patent options. Zuali Bochung, a junior at the University of Iowa, is

Hawkeye startup accelerator accepting applications

The Hawkeye Startup Accelerator at the University of Iowa is accepting applications from student individual and team founders for its 11-week summer program, which takes place from May 17 to July 31. Founders will receive a $5,000 living stipend. The application is available online.

Second phase of Iowa Innovation Challenge approaching

Applications are opening for the business model competition of the Iowa Innovation Challenge, which will award $150,000 in prizes for startups associated with University of Iowa faculty, staff, students, alumni or Venture School alumni. The deadline to apply is March 31. More information is available online.