The first round of the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is complete. The judges reviewed and scored all entries and 16 have been selected to continue to the second round of the competition. Those selected will now submit a complete business plan to be reviewed by the judges.
HMR Supplies of Forest City was one of those selected to continue. The company is owned and operated by Christopher Holland, CEO and President and Natalie Hammer, CFO. Their target market provides engineered solutions to serve the heavy transportation and lift industry. HMR’s fabricated solutions allow over-the-road moves and on-site emplacement of massive, high value, long-lead time or irreplaceable structures and components.
“Through the foresight and generosity of Mr. Pappajohn, new startup businesses have support services throughout Iowa to help them with their plans,” said Jamie T. Zanios, NIACC vice president and director of the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
“This competition really provides them the opportunity to focus on those plans, get their plans in front of experienced business professionals, lenders and leaders and also have an opportunity to win important funding for their businesses. We have witnessed many very successful companies emerge over the years that got their boost from the work this competition requires of them in refining their plans for the competition, regardless if they won or not. Of course the funding is of immense help, too.” Zanios said.
“Each year the quality of the businesses competing improves,” said Randy Pilkington, director of UNI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. “We were pleased to have a wide range of business types with broad geographic representation competing this year.”
Of these competitors, seven to 10 will be chosen as finalists and invited to present to a panel of judges. Based on the presentations, the judges will select the three winners who will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on September 26 in Des Moines.
The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans ($25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third). Honorable mention and $1,000 will be awarded to additional companies.
