Tech Talk: $50,000 from Pappajohn contest up for grabs

Startups can vie for $50,000

A competition in its 10th year is making $50,000 available to Iowa startups.

Organizers announced the 2015 Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition last week. By the end, three startups will receive money with first place winning $25,000, second winning $15,000 and third winning $10,000.

The contest's first round started April 13 and runs through June 8, during which companies can submit information via Gust, an online program. A link to Gust can be found at www.pappajohnentrepreneurialventurecompetition.com.

In June, some businesses will be asked to submit full business proposals. Seven to 10 companies will move forward and present to judges in September.

A Sept. 24 luncheon in Des Moines will honor the final winners.

Clean Energy Challenge nets Igor $125,000

Last month, I wrote about Johnston-based Igor heading to the Clean Energy Challenge. Well, the results are in.

The smart-lighting company won a combined $125,000 from a pitch contest held Tuesday in Chicago.

The Clean Energy Challenge is a Midwest accelerator program geared toward innovation in clean energy.

Igor was the only startup hailing from the Hawkeye State. The others came from Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Minnesota.

In total, the challenge provided $1 million to Igor and other participating startups.

Igor's winnings came from the Wells Fargo Prize and the McCaffery Lakeside Building Efficiency Prize.

Matthew Patane covers business, technology and the economy for The Des Moines Register. Contact him at 515-284-8211 or mpatane@dmreg.com. Follow him on Twitter via @mattpatane.