MiDi LLC wins $20,000 at Venture School Statewide Launch Day   - innovationIOWA

North Iowa entrepreneur places third at 2026 venture school launch day

Cait Dillavou of Stone Heritage Jewelry won third place and $6,000 at the University of Iowa Venture School Launch Day at EntreFest, competing against teams statewide.

North Iowa Entrepreneur Wins Third Place at the 2026 Venture School Statewide Launch Day Competition

Cait Dillavou of Clear Lake, IA won Third Place at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day Competition on June 11, 2026. Ten teams from across Iowa competed in the event, which was held at EntreFest, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Iowa City, IA. Five teams competed in the final round. A total of $45,000 in prize money was awarded to competitors. Cait Dillavou of Stone Heritage Jewelry won the Third Place prize of $6,000. Ston…

MiDi LLC wins $20,000 at Venture School Statewide Launch Day   - innovationIOWA

MiDi LLC, a business founded by Barb and Steve O’Rourke that develops products to help premature infants safely build feeding skills, won first place and $20,000 at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day on June 11 in Iowa City. The event was held in conjunction with the annual ENTREFest conference. A total of $45,000 in prize money was awarded to 10 teams. Second place ($12,000) went to Popper Pets, a dog-training gear company found…