116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
3 entrepreneurs win UI ‘pitch’ contest
Winners were SteerClear Mirrors, AgriNet, Act Write Here
The Gazette
Apr. 28, 2024 5:00 am
IOWA CITY — Three startups were first-place winners in the “pitch” competition held in April at Venture School, a program the University of Iowa that offers business training for entrepreneurs.
A total of $10,500 was awarded to 14 entrepreneurs. The three first-place winners were:
- SteerClear of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, founded by Courtney McClellan and Mike Flynn, is an after-market sideview mirror for skid loaders.
- The AgriNet, founded by Caleb Renner in Mason City, is a safe alternative to grain bin sweeps that saves farmers their fingers and lives.
- Act Write Here, founded by Laney Kraus-Taddeo of Des Moines, is a virtual playhouse for creatives that matches actors and writers for screen reads.
The seven-week Venture School is sponsored by the UI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and includes hub locations in Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Sioux City and the Quad Cities.
The training program focuses on real-world experimentation, customer discovery and Lean LaunchPad methodologies.
Venture School returns in the fall. Information about the program is at https://bit.ly/3CjKic3.
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