The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the Everyday Entrepreneur Pitch Competition on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The Everyday Entrepreneur Program is sponsored in conjunction with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), helping to provide access to entrepreneurial education and funding for students to take their businesses from an idea to a thriving enterprise. This innovative event offers vital assistance to student entrepreneurs by helping them craft their initial business models, refine their pitching skills, and gain access to invaluable mentoring and funding opportunities. The competition was open to all currently enrolled NIACC students (including concurrent enrolled students).
Nine students competed in the Semi-Finals on March 19, by submitting their business plan preparations. Four students advanced to the Finals and presented their business pitches to a panel of judges. The winners of the 2025 Everyday Entrepreneur Pitch Competition are:
1st Place – Josh Hanson, American RustGuard (Mason City, IA) - $1250 Prize
2nd Place – Christopher Madsen, Blast Off Power Washers (Northwood, IA) - $750 Prize
3rd Place – Caleb Renner, Renner Ag Solutions (Klemme, IA) - $500 Prize
4th Place – Holden Mathis, Mathis Speed Shop (Monona, IA) - $500 Prize
Honorable Mention – Jesus Juarez, PRO-I-NÓ Breakfast & Café (Clear Lake, IA)
Honorable Mention – Ansel Ramirez, North Iowa Beck and Call (Hampton, IA)
Honorable Mention – Karleen Roberts, Karl-Bean’s Coffee (Mason City, IA)
Honorable Mention – Justyn Rivera, Sharp & Justyn Time Barbershop (Clear Lake, IA)
Honorable Mention – Casey Zuehl, Intricate Military Media (St. Ansgar, IA)
The judging panel included: Matt Curtis of Wayne’s Ski & Cycle (Mason City), Cathy Rottinghaus of First Citizen’s Bank (Charles City), and Molly Watson of Home Style (Clear Lake).
The top three winners of the NIACC Everyday Entrepreneur Pitch Competition will advance to compete at the GPEC Student Entrepreneurship Summit to be held at NIACC on April 11-12, 2025. The GPEC Student Entrepreneurship Summit is a free entrepreneurship and business conference and speaker event for students at Iowa’s private colleges, community colleges, and the University of Northern Iowa. Learn more at https://www.eventleaf.com/e/iowa-summit.
The Everyday Entrepreneur Program + Fund (EE) program is funded through a grant provided by the National Association of Community Colleges for Entrepreneurship (NACCE). The EE Program provides community colleges the support needed and access to entrepreneurial education best practices, curriculum, and initial funding for their students to take their businesses from ideas to thriving enterprises. The EE Program furnishes education, funding, and mentoring support to aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.nacce.com.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is the expert in rural business innovation and success. In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. We counsel both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. Contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu. Visit the NIACC Pappajohn Center online at www.pappajohncenter.com.
