VENTURE MENTORING SERVICE
The state-wide Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) is here to help Iowa startups and small ventures advance their businesses.
Venture Mentoring Service uses the Team Mentoring methodology licensed from the MIT Venture Mentoring Service to link entrepreneurial ventures with experienced mentors. It is a free service where entrepreneurs meet with a team of volunteer mentors in ongoing, confidential meetings.
WHAT IS TEAM MENTORING?
- A team of 3-5 mentors with diverse backgrounds meeting with the entrepreneurs/venture
- Sustained relationship throughout program
- Disciplined process & structured meeting with agenda
OUR MENTORS
- Skilled business leaders
- Experts in their field
- Volunteers excited to give back
- Some mentors may be participants in multiple Pappajohn Center VMS mentor programs
OUR VENTURES
- Passionate entrepreneurs and ventures
- Industries vary from high-tech and high-growth to local community businesses
- Varying stages of development from idea to startup to launch
WHICH CENTER SHOULD I CONTACT?
It's YOUR choice and you may attend any of the five VMS centers. Although anyone may work with any center, typically an entrepreneur selects an institution to connect with based on:
Stephanie Cardwell
Drake University
Jeralyn Westercamp
University of Iowa
Hannah Kirkendall
Iowa State University
Kelley O'Rouke
North Iowa Area Community College
Bart Schmitz
University of Northern Iowa