Summit Tribune Staff
Caleb Renner of Clem won third place at the University of Iowa’s 2024 Venture School Opening Ceremony on June 13. The event, which featured 10 teams from across Iowa, took place at EntreFEST, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Cedar Rapids. The total prize money was $37,000.
Renner won the third place prize of $6,000 for his company, Renner Ag Solutions, and his invention, AgriNet, a safe alternative to grain bin cleaning that eliminates the need for farmers to go inside while cleaning grain bins, saving both life and limb.
Lennar is currently a student at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. He is a graduate of the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s Venture School program, where he won first place in the Spring 2024 North Iowa Cohort Venture School Competition and was also the regional winner in the 2024 Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition.
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“EntreFest is the perfect capstone event to recognize the outstanding graduates from venture schools across Iowa and truly celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in Iowa,” said Candy Kartjens with the NIACC Pappajohn Center. “Participants did a fantastic job pitching their business ideas and representing North Iowa and the culture of entrepreneurship in this region.”
Kershens also received the Tom Trohn Mentor of the Year Award on the anniversary of the University of Iowa’s Venture School.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Center is an expert in local business innovation and success. In partnership with the Small Business Development Center of Northern Iowa, we provide tools, support and resources to Iowa entrepreneurs. We advise both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. For more information, contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu.
