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The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is nearing its final stages. Over 80 applicants submitted business plans from all over the state, and reviewers selected just over 50 for additional consideration. The judging panel, which includes representatives from each of the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University and North Iowa Area Community College; a representative from the Small Business Development Centers; and a representative from the Iowa Business Acceleration Centers, selected seven of those businesses and business plans as the semi- finalists after careful review. They will be reviewing and interviewing the finalists in person this week.

Following the presentations to the judging panel, a determination of the finalists will be made and the three winning businesses will be presented at the Venture Capital and Entrepreneur Conference on October 11, in Des Moines at the Polk County Convention Complex.

The conference is open to the public and business owners, entrepreneurs, economic development specialists, community leaders and others interested in starting or growing a business are encouraged to attend. This exciting and dynamic conference will be the setting for presentations by successful entrepreneurs and leaders from across the state. The three winners will present a short summary of their businesses and their plans adding more excitement and energy to the conference.

More information about the conference can be found at www.iowalifechanging.com/business and clicking on Venture Capital Conference or by calling the Iowa Department of Economic Development at 515-242-4700.

“Economic Development through entrepreneurial activity is one of the key avenues of growth and this conference is designed to assist businesses in meeting the challenges of starting and growing a business while highlighting successful entrepreneurs and allowing them to help other entrepreneurs and business persons succeed by sharing their experiences,” Jamie T. Zanios, director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, said.

This year, with the advent of the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition, three businesses will be chosen based upon their business plans and the probability of success.  John Pappajohn is providing the prize money, $50,000 in total, split amongst the top three business plans. The top prize is $25,000 in cash to help the company grow and prosper, the second prize is $15,000 and the third prize is $10,000.

The goal of this business plan competition is to provide an incentive for businesses to get their business plans completed and enhanced leading to increased economic development through business launches and business expansions and growth. “I am excited to meet with the winners and award them their prize money in October and I am thrilled by the participation from across the state,” John Pappajohn, said.

For more information, please contact Jamie T. Zanios at zaniojam@niacc.edu or 641-422-4162.

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