Linnea Rietz and Megan Mindy, students from the College of Public Health, earned first and second place in the spring IdeaStorm business pitch competition hosted by the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC).

Rietz, a third-year Business Administration major pursuing a Certificate in Public Health, won first place and $1,500 for her pitch of FlexiFlow, a unique, affordable attachable sink adapter created for renters who cannot install pull-out faucets.

“My business idea is a sink attachment that delivers the same functionality as a pull-out sprayer at a fraction of the cost, making it accessible for renters and young homeowners,” says Rietz. “This was my first time working with JPEC, and it has been a truly rewarding experience.”

Mindy, a fourth-year public health student, took second place and $1,200 for her venture, Beyond Inclusion, Co. The initiative aims to empower athletes with cognitive differences by providing coach training and athlete-centered support to help them integrate into existing club sports teams.

“I’m drawing on my experience in inclusive recreation and public health to create a curriculum that adapts competitive sports for athletes with disabilities,” says Mindy. “Beyond Inclusion Co. offers coach training and athlete support to incorporate athletes with disabilities into club teams. I’m currently beta testing the curriculum with the Iowa Flyers Swim Club’s (IFLY) Para/Adaptive group.”

IdeaStorm is an entry-level pitch competition open to all University of Iowa students. It encourages innovation by allowing students to share their ideas through a brief one-minute pitch. No business plan, prior pitching experience, or formal presentation is required, making it a relaxed way to dive into entrepreneurship.

Photos by Darren Miller