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UIowa and ISU named top entrepreneurship schools by Princeton Review

November 14, 2019

The Princeton Review has announced the results of its 14th annual survey naming the top undergraduate and graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies.

Based on data the education services company collected from more than 300 schools with offerings in entrepreneurship studies, The Princeton Review’s ranking lists for 2020 name 50 undergraduate and 25 graduate schools as outstanding choices for students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.

The University of Iowa and Iowa State University both made the list of top 50 undergraduate schools, ranking at no. 21 and no. 26, respectively.

Entrepreneurship has been a growing theme at both universities for more than a decade now thanks to the many successes at the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.

In 2014, the University of Iowa launched Venture School, a statewide training program focused on real-world experimentation, customer discovery, and Lean LaunchPad methodologies.

Iowa State launched CYstarters in 2016, a 11-week summer accelerator for Iowa State students or recent graduates to focus on their startup or business idea.  Students receive $6,500 for individual or up to $13,000 per student team for the opportunity to spend their summer dedicated to achieving their startup goals and pursuing entrepreneurial aspirations. Through its first four years, the program had provided $365,000 in funding to 50 different student businesses.

“Iowa State University is excited to be building a vibrant ecosystem where innovation and entrepreneurship are integrated into the curriculum,” said Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen. “With the opening of the Student Innovation Center in 2020, Iowa State will have a state-of-the-art, hands-on hub for students of all programs and majors to collaborate, design, create, and bring their ideas to life.”

The Princeton Review has posted the full lists here. On the company’s site, users can also access detailed profiles of the schools and find more information about the survey, criteria, and methodology for the rankings.

Previous coverage

New Iowa Innovation Challenge will award $225,000 in funding -Oct. 16, 2019

ISU Student Innovation Center will bring together students across campus -July 22, 2019

Entrepreneurship among top priorities for ISU President Wendy Wintersteen -Nov. 21, 2018

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UIowa and ISU named top entrepreneurship schools by Princeton Review | Clay & Milk
A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
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