JPEC Stories & News

BCS Building
Sep 01, 2021

OEI Returns for 2021

After a year break due to Covid-19, the Obokoji Entrepreneurial Institute (OEI) was back for the week-long event. Bringing together over 30 students from five institutes - University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Buena Vista University, participants were immersed into an intense entrepreneurship program that is unmatched by any other in the state.

BCS Building
Aug 05, 2021

The Summer 2021 Early Founder's Program Wraps Up

The Summer 2021 Early Founder’s Program wrapped up their third summer cohort. Consisting of eight student teams, the program ran through the months of June and July in a virtual setting. The EFP was led by former JPEC tenant and program assistant, Maddie Palmersheim,“The Early Founder’s Program is an opportunity for student ventures to take a deep dive into their business. Whether they are validating a concept, testing their model, or growing their venture, the program connects them to a variety of opportunities and mentors to get them to their next level.” 

BCS Building
Apr 25, 2021

Virgo Takes Home Cash Prize at e-Fest

On Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23, 2021, Maddie Palmersheim (senior) and Grace Hartnett (senior) represented UNI at e-Fest hosted by the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. e-Fest was an online competition that consisted of a pitch competition and the Schulze Innovation Challenge that awarded participants with over $215k in prize money.

BCS Building
Apr 18, 2021

Virgo Represents UNI at 2021 e-Fest

A group of aspiring entrepreneurs from University of Northern Iowa will be among 25 teams vying for $215,000 this week at a national competition looking for the next big idea.

Virgo is competing this week at e-Fest, a virtual event being hosted by the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. 

BCS Building
Apr 18, 2021

Isaac Hackman and Maddie Palmersheim Receive Award and Recognition

On Thursday, April 15 the College of Business Administration held their annual Leadership Awards Ceremony. At the event, the UNI JPEC awarded two graduating student entrepreneurs who have excelled at our center.

UNI student Maddie Palmersheim
Apr 07, 2021

Reinventing the gig economy

Local business owner Rosie Daniels
Mar 10, 2021

Empowering Black businesses

BCS Building
Feb 26, 2021

YOU & I Care Launch

A.J. Reding, Nathan Anderson, Xavier Washington, and Imani Reed met when participating in the SHIPHT Entrepreneurial Discovery Series at the University of Northern Iowa. Now known as the executive team for YOU & I Care, their mission was to create a project that would help the community. Wanting to make mental health help more accessible and cheaper, they came up with a unique idea that asks people to simply listen.

BCS Building
Jan 21, 2021

USASBE Celebrates Winners of 2021 3E Competition

On January 8, The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) announced the 2021 winners of the Entrepreneurship Experiential Exercises (3E) Competition during the organization’s USASBE 2021: Be Boldly Unscripted annual conference.

Students at Competition
Nov 11, 2020

2020 UNI Entrepreneurs Elevator Pitch Competition

UNI students competed for $2000 in awards at the Annual UNI Entrepreneurs Elevator Pitch Competition. The 2020 competition took place on Tuesday, November 3rd at the Business & Community Services Building. There were two different competitions that the entrepreneurs could compete in: Ideation and Revenue. Ideation are students with business ideas that are in the early stages of development and have yet to earn revenue. Students in the Revenue competition have existing businesses and are making money.

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