Ref. 3304
Seven businesses have been chosen as finalists for the 2010 John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. The businesses selected to continue in the competition are: Cabin Coffee Franchising, Inc.; Energy Control Technologies; Growth Design Energy Mt. Valley LLC; IDx; J & J Solutions; LuCella Biosciences, Inc.; and Pathovacs, Inc. Two companies, Cabin Coffee Franchising, Inc. and Growth Design Energy Mt. Valley LLC, are based in the North Iowa region.
The finalists have already gone through several rounds of the competition to reach this level. In the first round, businesses submitted brief information about their business plans. Based on those entries, judges chose 24 entrepreneurs to submit full business plans. Those 24 business plans have now been narrowed down to the final seven.
“Now that we have selected seven finalists, each business plan competitor will interview with a panel of judges on September 9,” said Randy Pilkington, director of UNI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and competition judge. “Based on those presentations, we will choose the top three finalists to present at the Iowa Entrepreneurs Conference.”
The Iowa Entrepreneurs Conference and Venture Forum will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 5. Each business will give a brief presentation, and when all three have presented, the judges will announce the winners.
The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans ($25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third). Honorable mention and $1,000 will be awarded to additional companies.
For more information, visit the competition Web site, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com, or contact one of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide entrepreneurial education and business support, partnering with agencies like the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED), Entrepreneurial Development Centers (EDCs) and local entrepreneurs to assist with funding and other business needs.
#####
2010 Finalists in Alphabetical Order
Cabin Coffee Franchising, Inc
Cabin Coffee Franchising, Inc supports Cabin Coffee Company franchises in providing quality products in a warm environment. CCFI was founded in 2002 and is based in Clear Lake. Franchise locations include: Mason City, Iowa; Forest City, Iowa; Waterloo, Iowa and St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Contact: Brad Barber
641-425-0431
bradccc@netins.net
Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
Energy Control Technologies (ECT) develops control system solutions that provide one year payback on energy efficiency projects for machinery and industrial processes. ECT was started in 2008 and is based in West Des Moines.
Contact: Nikhil Dukle
515-223-1635
ndukle@energycontroltechnologies.com
www.energycontroltechnologies.com
Growth Design Energy Mt. Valley LLC
Growth Design Energy Mt. Valley LLC is seeking to bring a new biodiesel refining technology to the commercial market in north Iowa. Growth Design Energy Mt. Valley LLC is based in Forest City.
Contact: Byron L. Tweeten, Principal Owner
641-581-2400
btweeten@growthdesign.com
www.growthdesign.com
IDx
IDx is working to commercialize low-cost eye disease screening tools that have been developed at the University of Iowa. IDx was founded in 2010 and is based in Iowa City.
jgarber@eyediagnosis.com
www.eyediagnosis.com
J&J Solutions
J & J Solutions has developed and patented a proven medical device enabling safer, more efficient, and more affordable cancer care. The innovative medical device protects healthcare workers from exposure to chemotherapy and other hazardous IV medications used to treat cancer patients. J & J Solutions was founded in 2008 and is based in Coralville.
Contact: John Slump, CFO & Co-Founder
319-335-2547
john.slump@jjsolutionsinc.com
www.jjsolutionsinc.com
LuCella Biosciences, Inc.
LuCella Biosciences provides custom carbohydrate-based reagents to accelerate immunology, biology and vaccine discovery. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Ames.
Contact: Nicola Pohl, President
515-294-6032
npohl@lucellabio.com
www.lucellabio.com
Pathovacs
Pathovacs develops proprietary vaccines and is working to commercialize an antigen discovery technology. Pathovacs was founded in 2009 and is based in Ames.
Contact: Dr. Monohar John
781-244-4505
mjohn@pathovacs.com
www.pathovacs.com
