MASON CITY, IOWA – The 2026 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala celebrated North Iowa’s entrepreneurs on September 24, 2026 at a special recognition event at 51ÁÔÆæ in Mason City, IA.The 2026 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala presented Dean Snyder Construction, Inc. of Clear Lake, IA with the prestigious Legacy Award. The Legacy Award recognizes a […]

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Tickets Now Available to PurchaseThe 51ÁÔÆæ Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is excited to announce the finalists for the sixth biannual Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala, taking place on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 51ÁÔÆæ. This special evening will showcase the achievements of North Iowa’s outstanding entrepreneurs and honor the recipient of the prestigious business Legacy Award, presented this year to Dean […]

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The 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Lance Studer of Lance Studer Custom Automotive in Hampton, IA as the August 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.Lance Studer has built his business by taking on challenges, learning from others and staying committed when the path forward was uncertain. After […]

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. of Garner, IA as one of the five finalists advancing to the grand finale of the SBA Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition. As part of the nation’s Freedom 250 celebrations, the competition spotlights the small businesses who leveraged SBA capital products to innovate, scale operations, and strengthen […]

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Applications Now Open for Fall 2026 CohortThe 51ÁÔÆæ Pappajohn Center is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 cohort of the University of Iowa Venture School program. The Fall 2026 program will begin with an online orientation session on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Classes will be held online via Zoom on Thursdays, October 8 through […]

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The 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Eric Burt of EB Edits in Mason City, Iowa as the July 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.EB Edits provides photography and videography services for sporting events, teams, businesses, organizations, concerts, livestock shows, FFA events, races, and community events. “I do […]

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. of Garner, Iowa as one of the ten semifinalists advancing in the Patriot Pitch Competition, the agency’s Freedom 250 initiative celebrating 250 years of American small businesses that drive innovation, create jobs, and generate economic growth for local communities.Plas-Tech Tooling is an advanced manufacturing company specializing in precision […]

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 The 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Jeff and Lori Otto of Otto’s Oasis in Charles City, Iowa as the June 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month. Since purchasing the business in 2007, Jeff and Lori have continued to expand and adapt Otto’s Oasis. The business is a […]

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Zack Smith of Lake Mills, IA won Second Place at the 2026 EntreFEST Pitch Competition on June 12th, 2026. The EntreFEST Pitch Competition, presented by Hy-Vee, brought together community leaders, founders, investors, and supporters In Iowa City to hear from five entrepreneurs as they competed for $15,000 in prize funding. Now in its second year of […]

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Cait Dillavou of Clear Lake, IA won Third Place at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day Competition on June 11, 2026. Ten teams from across Iowa competed in the event, which was held at EntreFest, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Iowa City, IA. Five teams competed in the final round. A total of […]

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