Innovation and entrepreneurship are a part of Iowa State University’s DNA. Established in 1858 as the first land-grant institution, Iowa State’s mission is to educate, innovate and make the world a better place. From inventing the first binary computer, the round hay baler, lead-free solder and various animal vaccines, Iowa State is living its land-grant mission every day. Iowa State continues to respond to the needs of our community through a deeply embedded entrepreneurial ecosystem that is cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs and supporting economic development. Every year, 800 businesses partner with Iowa State to develop proactive and innovative solutions. All seven colleges (144 majors) participate in a comprehensive “Start Something” entrepreneurship ecosystem. The university’s integrated entrepreneurship curriculum is available to ISU’s 30,000 students, including an undergraduate Entrepreneurship Major, cross-disciplinary Entrepreneurship Minor, Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Master of Entrepreneurship, and a PhD in entrepreneurship. Course learning is enhanced through broad experiential learning opportunities, a strong technology commercialization program, startup accelerators for students and faculty; and business assistance for campus, community, and alumni entrepreneurs. Key programs include the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and its vast menu of learning opportunities, accelerators, and startup programs; a five-story Student Innovation Center complete with several unique makerspaces; the 550-acre ISU Research Park, home to 144 companies, 21 buildings, 2,500 employees, and impressive amenities; and a broad-reaching economic development operation connecting founders with industry partners, leaders, investors, mentors, and access to the state’s many resources for supporting entrepreneurs. We Innovate at Iowa State!
Finalist
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of the Year Award
INNOVATION IN ACTION | START SOMETHING AT IOWA STATE!! Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Finalist Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of the Year Award
Iowa State University - United States
"Innovation in Action | Start Something at Iowa State University!"
Engage on social media
@IowaStateUNews(Iowa State University News Service)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/isu-pappajohn-center-for-entrepreneurship/(Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship)
https://www.linkedin.com/school/iowastateu/posts/?feedView=all(Iowa State University)
https://www.linkedin.com/school/ivyiowastate/posts/?feedView=all(Ivy College of Business)
https://www.instagram.com/isu_jpec/(Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship)
https://www.instagram.com/iowastateu/(Iowa State University)
https://www.linkedin.com/school/ivyiowastate/posts/?feedView=all(Ivy College of Business)
https://www.facebook.com/isuentrepreneurship/(Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship)
https://www.facebook.com/IowaStateU(Iowa State University)
https://www.facebook.com/IvyIowaState(Ivy College of Business)
(Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship)
(Iowa State University)
(Iowa State University News Service)
Have a say and vote for this entry to win the People's Choice Award!
500 points per vote
Provide your email address and click on "vote". You will then receive an email that enables you to verify your vote by clicking on a link.
1500 points per tweet. 1000 points per retweet. 250 points for a like.
Support this entry by engaging with it on Twitter. Tweet or retweet using the following two hashtags to support this entry (use both hashtags in the same Tweet). Also, if you "like" an existing Tweet with these hashtags, the entry gets points.
#ACEEU_Awards
#2025Entry1156
Summary
Key People
Wendy Wintersteen
President
Iowa State University
Judi Eyles
Director
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
David Spalding
Vice President
Economic Development and Industry Relations,
Iowa State University
Raj Agnihotri
Dean
Ivy College of Business,
Iowa State University
Peter Hong
Director
ISU Startup Factory,
Iowa State University
Jim Oliver
Director
Student Innovation Center,
Iowa State University
Andreas Schwab
Director of Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs
Ivy College of Business,
Iowa State University
Dave Sly
Director of Start Something
College of Engineering,
Iowa State University
Linda Niehm
Director of Start Something
College of Health and Human Sciences,
Iowa State University
Kevin Kimle
Director of Start Something
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Iowa State University
Jeff Bull
Director of Start Something
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Iowa State University
Patience Lueth
Director of Start Something
College of Design,
Iowa State University
Brandon Mueller
Director of Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs
Ivy College of Business,
Iowa State University
Daniel Robison
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Iowa State University
Luis Rico-Gutierrez
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Design,
Iowa State University
Sam Easterling
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Engineering,
Iowa State University
Ben Withers
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Iowa State University
Daniel Grooms
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Iowa State University
Laura Jolly
Dean and Member President's Entrepreneurship Council
College of Health and Human Sciences,
Iowa State University
Megan Graettinger
Director of CYstarters and Student Ventures
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Hannah Kirkendall
Program Manager of Startup Factory and Venture Mentoring Service
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Alex
Director of CyBIZ Lab Student Consulting
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Jean Walsh
Director of Entrepreneurship Programs and Events
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Leah Locke
Regional Director
Small Business Development Center,
Iowa State University
Patrick Klepcyk
Director
Office of Innovation Commerciaization and Tech Transfer,
Iowa State University
Mike O'Donnell
Director
Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS),
Iowa State University
Rick Sanders
President
ISU Research Park,
Iowa State University
Lindsey Murray
Communications Specialist
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Donna Ramaeker Zahn
Entrepreneur in Residence
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Eric Bentzinger
Development Director
Ivy College of Business and Pappajohn Center,
Iowa State University
Tim Scheve
Marketing Specialist
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Ashley Sawyer
Administrative Assistant
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Taryn Johnston
Program Manager of CyBIZ Lab
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
Iowa State University
Dr. Michael Howard
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management
Ivy College of Business,
Iowa State University
Acknowledgements
Our sincere gratitude to John and Mary Pappajohn and Roy and Bobbi Reiman, entrepreneurs providing early and continued significant gifts to the center; the Iowa State Legislature and Iowa Economic Development Authority for making startups a priority in Iowa through dedicated funding to support university entrepreneurship and economic development programs as well as offering funding opportunities for founders; President Wendy Wintersteen whose leadership established Iowa State as a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation and led the launch of our Start Something network; Vice President for Economic Development and former Ivy College of Business Dean David Spalding for cross-campus leadership of the undergraduate through PhD academic degree programs in entrepreneurship and who oversees the five outreach units under the Economic Development and Industry Relations umbrella; the college academic Deans for their leadership, collaboration, funding, and for embracing the “Start Something” initiative in their colleges; private donors and alumni for contributing financial gifts, and more importantly, time and mentoring; “Start Something Faculty Leaders” for developing and running college programs in entrepreneurship and for collaborating with the center on many levels; Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship team and mentors; and huge kudos to our student, faculty, staff and community founders for “starting something” with us at Iowa State University.
Images
Student All Campus Pitch Competition Winners
Student Innovation Center
GCEC Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center of Excellence Winner
USASBE Model Accelerator Award
CYstarters Student Accelerator Demo Day
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Winner
Iowa State Fair - 150 Pitches over 9 days
College-by-College Pitch Competition in Entrepreneurship Hub
CyBIZ Lab Student Consulting Program 10 Year Anniversary
Iowa State University
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Martin Gross first learned about algae in a genetics class at Iowa State University and was immediately intrigued. He reached out to the professor, set up a meeting, and began research that would eventually lead to the launch of Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT).
His path from undergraduate research assistant to CEO of a nationally recognized startup was fueled by the support and resources offered through Iowa State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Gross developed a cost-effective method for cultivating algae to treat wastewater but initially struggled to secure funding and customers. That changed after joining the first cohort of the ISU Startup Factory in 2016, where he gained the business knowledge and support network to scale GWT. He is the only graduate student to receive the John and Mary Pappajohn entrepreneur scholarship twice.
In 2019, GWT established its headquarters in a small community near Iowa State, built its water treatment plant that can process 1 million gallons of water daily, and added a 7,000 sq. ft. R&D facility nearby in 2021. GWT has raised more than $20 million in capital.
Aligning with the world’s Global Goals, GWT now provides communities with a sustainable system for removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, reducing environmental and health risks. The algae grown in the process can be repurposed into biofuels, fertilizers, and bioplastics.
Dr. Gross’ innovative work has earned national recognition, including winning the 2017 Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition, 2019 Prometheus Award and most recently, being named the 2025 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Since inception in 1996, Iowa State’s entrepreneurship program has thrived through interdisciplinary collaboration, dynamic partnerships, and evolving educational approaches. The university’s early decision to embed entrepreneurship across all academic disciplines—and the launch of the “Start Something” initiative by university leadership—set the stage for success. Each college adopted entrepreneurship at its own pace, gradually building tenured faculty support and deeper departmental buy-in.
Cross-college collaboration has amplified the program’s reach, allowing students to access entrepreneurship education beyond their major. Faculty share best practices, and experiential learning opportunities equip students with skills that apply to any career path.
Institutional leadership buy-in has been critical. Through strong advocacy, data, and storytelling, university leaders have embraced entrepreneurship as a strategic priority, resulting in a cultural shift guided by the president and academic deans. These efforts reflect the university’s land-grant mission and have sparked impactful partnerships across industry and community.
This commitment has earned Iowa State consistent national and international recognition, including the 2021 USASBE Model Program Award, 2022 GCEC Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, 2023 ACEEU Entrepreneurial University of the Year – Americas, 2024 USASBE Top University Accelerator Award, the 2024 GCEC Award for Exceptional Contributions in Entrepreneurship Research, and five APLU Innovation & Economic Prosperity awards over the past seven years. Iowa State has been ranked by The Princeton Review among the top 15 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs nationwide for five consecutive years—#1 in Iowa.
These accolades highlight a proven model of innovation, vision, and long-term institutional commitment.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The success and growth of Iowa State University’s entrepreneurial programs is directly linked to interdisciplinary collaboration, expanded access and integration across our campus, community and state. We are working every day to expand our impact and accessibility to the “Start Something Network” and other programs to foster even greater entrepreneurial success.
As part of our future plans and goals, Iowa State is working to establish a new on-campus entrepreneurship space to offer a more visible and accessible hub for entrepreneurship on central campus. The space will address some of the limitations that have resulted from our success, including a need to expand our team, provide co-working space, training facilities and event space.
Additionally, it will create an inviting environment for students across disciplines, make it easier for faculty and students to engage with staff, utilize entrepreneurship resources and network. Ultimately, the space will foster a stronger community of innovators and enhancing collaboration across the university.
Our focus is on inspiring students, commercializing scientific research into viable startups, providing resources for community entrepreneurs, and supporting rural businesses across our state.
This initiative reflects our commitment to continuous growth and dedication to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit at Iowa State. Securing transformational gifts will help expand our efforts to connect students with programming as well as create, fund and support more startups. As we look to the future, we are excited about the potential to significantly increase startup support, drive innovation, and contribute to the university’s legacy of excellence in entrepreneurship and engagement.
