11 University of Iowa students win ‘pitch’ competition

IOWA CITY — Eleven University of Iowa students from multiple disciplines shared $4,400 in prize money at the Spring IdeaStorm “pitch” competition.

Thirty-eight students pitched their ideas to judges during the Feb. 22 competition at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory.

Students pitched their ideas in two minutes or less. They were not required to have a business plan since the goal was to provide a “soft introduction to the world of entrepreneurship,” according to a news release from the UI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.

In the health care module, Andrew Behrens won the top prize of $500 for an anatomical teaching model. Noor Alwaan and Marianne Said won $400 for an over-the-counter pharmacy helper, and Connor Doyle won $300 for a fitness attachment handle.

In the creative concepts competition, Megan Ertl won the top prize of $500 for her idea of turning movement into paintings. McKenzi Capito won $300 for her pitch on a science fiction/fantasy publishing house.

In the common good category, Carter Fitzgerald won $500 for a laundry tracking app. Benjamin Koruna won $300 for a subscription model platform for cars out of warranty.

In consumer solutions, Alex Itzenhuiser, Tyler Armstrong and Kyle McGuinness won $500 for their idea for point-of-sale with digital change. Maria Fey won $400 for a food sensitivity app, and Kiana Shevling-Major won $300 for an app to make car maintenance easier.

A Judge’s Choice award of $400 went to Allie Mulvey.