• Venture School is a statewide program for entrepreneurs; participants are challenged to test their business model and then adjust or preserve their original plans based on discovery.
  • This fall, Venture School is being offered at hubs across the state of Iowa, and the Des Moines cohort will meet once a week, Oct. 4 through Nov. 15, at the DMACC Urban Campus in downtown Des Moines.
  • Participants will also have the opportunity to compete for prize money in a final pitch competition at each hub.
  • Registration for the Fall cohort is open now through Sept. 18.

DMACC, the largest undergraduate institution in Iowa, is partnering with the University of Iowa’s Venture School again this fall to offer valuable entrepreneurial training in Des Moines.

Venture School is focused on real-world experimentation and customer discovery, and uses the official National Science Foundation I-Corps curriculum to help high-potential startups turn their ideas into reality.

“Venture School is an environment where you can fine-tune your messaging,” said Lori Palmer, an Iowa entrepreneur who participated in the Spring 2023 Venture School cohort in Des Moines and won the program’s final pitch competition with her new company, SimplSupport. “It’s a great experience to stand up each week, pitch your business concept, and see how it lands. There is no other environment that I've experienced where you can continuously receive helpful peer and mentor feedback on what it is you’re trying to convey.”

Jacki Boldt, Director of Business Support Services at DMACC, said Venture School is open to businesses from across all industries.

“If you have an idea for a new business venture or an innovative product, or if you’re a current business owner looking to expand with a new idea, Venture School is a great opportunity to test your business hypothesis and get meaningful feedback to inform your next steps,” Boldt said.

Venture School is offered at hubs across the state of Iowa, and registration for the Fall 2023 Des Moines cohort is open now through Sept 18. Classes will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. every Wednesday evening, Oct. 4 through Nov. 15, at the DMACC Urban Campus in downtown Des Moines. Additionally, an optional orientation session will be offered at 5:30 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 27, at the DMACC Urban Campus​. At the end of the fall session, participants will have the opportunity to compete for prize money in a final pitch competition.

The cost to participate is $299, and each participating team will have access to local mentors and coaches throughout the course. To learn more and register for the Fall 2023 cohort before the Sept. 18 deadline, visit venture-school.com.

With any questions, please email Jacki Boldt at jlboldt@dmacc.edu ​or Shannon Henderson at shannon-henderson@uiowa.edu​.

 

​Media contact: Jacki Boldt, (515) 313-8598, jlboldt@dmacc.edu​​