Feb 26, 2025

UNI students put entrepreneurial skills into practice at Business Breakthrough

Business Breakthrough students and JPEC staff members

The University of Northern Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UNI JPEC) empowers and supports student entrepreneurs through coursework and events. The center also provides support for business owners throughout Iowa. In the 2024 fiscal year, the UNI JPEC:

  • incubated 13 student businesses in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator and assisted 20 additional students as affiliate tenants
  • supported 1,909 Iowa businesses with market information by the Business Concierge team, which is part of IASourceLink, a joint program of the UNI JPEC and the Iowa Economic Development Authority
  • served 325 new clients through UNI’s Small Business Development Center 

Twenty-four students involved with the UNI JPEC recently enjoyed a weekend of innovation and entrepreneurship, tackling real-world business challenges in the Cedar Valley at the inaugural Business Breakthrough event. Hosted by the UNI JPEC and the Wilson College of Business, the event provided an immersive experience in problem-solving, collaboration and strategic thinking.

The weekend kicked off Friday evening at SingleSpeed Brewing in Waterloo, where students, mentors and ambassadors from Grow Cedar Valley gathered for a dynamic networking session. UNI Entrepreneurs Club President Lane Kruger [Marketing and Interactive Digital Studies, ’26] reflected on the experience: “I had the opportunity to connect with professionals in both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, aligning with the career paths I aspire to pursue. It was an incredible experience to build relationships with people I deeply admire. I also witnessed many students — both within and outside the club — challenge themselves to grow in their networking and business development skills."

On Saturday, the competition heated up as six teams embarked on a 12-hour challenge, transforming business-related issues in the Cedar Valley into fully developed business concepts. The winning team — consisting of students Reyna Jorgenson, Haley Hamm and Macy Smith — developed a subscription box business showcasing local artisans in the Cedar Valley. 

Learn more about the UNI JPEC at jpec.uni.edu.