CALS Innovation + Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Reception

Please mark your calendars to join us in a reception to celebrate and learn from our 2022 CALS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows (representing nine CALS departments) and their students, and announce the 2023 Faculty Fellows Cohort.

More details and RSVP coming soon!

We'll give you a challenge. You develop a solution...in one week!

Grab your friends and challenge yourself to think critically and creatively. All teams walk away with a prize for their innovative solution!

All College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students returning to ISU next fall are encouraged to apply for a 2023 - 2024 Start Something CALS undergraduate scholarship.

Annually, Start Something CALS awards over $24,000 in scholarships to innovative and entrepreneurial students - no business or business idea required! There are roughly 7 scholarships available ranging in size from $1,000 to $10,000.

The application for all Start Something CALS scholarships can be found in OneApp under the "recommended opportunities" following the college section. There is just one application to fill out to be considered for all scholarships available through Start Something CALS.

The priority deadline for consideration is March 1, 2023.

On Tuesday, February 28th, Start Something CALS will be off on our next Startup Tour. Join us for a day of learning from agricultural entrepreneurs and innovators in the Carroll and Templeton areas.

Stops include:

A CIT charter bus will depart from campus at 8:15 a.m. and return by 6:15 p.m.

Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, a waitlist will be created. Registration is REQUIRED.

Join us for our annual Farmer Entrepreneur Panel on Tuesday, February 21st, from 5:45 - 7:00 p.m.

This event brings together farmer entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds and operations. The evening will include a moderated series of questions and conversation with the farmers about their operations, experiences, challenges, and more.

Invited entrepreneurs include:

The College-By-College Pitch Off is back! The event takes place in all seven colleges at ISU. Students have the chance to deliver a 90-second pitch about an idea or business they are working on and can win cash prizes!

Students will compete in one of two categories:

One $500 1st place winner and one $250 runner-up winner will be selected in each category from each college. Additionally, these four winners (per college) will advance to the College-By-College Pitch Off Finale for a chance at $15,000 more in cash prizes!

ISU Innovation Prize

The ISU Innovation Prize is an incentive competition co-hosted by the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 

Find more information about the event and registration on the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship site.

ECON 496: Business Development Study Trip in Brazil and Argentina

Consider joining Start Something CALS for the ECON 496 travel course to Brazil and Argentina. Check out the graphic below with trip details and apply today! Application for the travel course is now open! Deadline to apply is: Tuesday, September 16th at 11:59 p.m.

Change-Maker Academy Application

Change-Maker Academy is an extracurricular program of Start Something CALS. Change-Maker Academy contributes to the development of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs within the agriculture and life sciences fields. A variety of workshops, speakers, and networking are offered, and a scholarship is available upon meeting program requirements. 

Learn more about the program and consider applying. Application for 2022 - 2023 now open! Deadline to apply is: Friday, September 16th at 11:59 p.m.

Apply here. 

National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Team Application

The Iowa State University NAMA marketing team is comprised of students interested in advancing their knowledge of agri-business marketing. Each year through a full-year course, the selected team researches a new agriculture product or service to develop a comprehensive marketing plan which is presented to multiple panels of industry judges at the National NAMA Student Marketing Competition held during the Agri-Marketing Conference.

Learn more and consider applying. Application for 2022 - 2023 now open! Deadline to apply is: Tuesday, September 6th at 11:59 p.m.

Apply here. 

Student Incubator Program Application

The Student Incubator Program offers students the early resources required for starting and building a business. You'll join a cohort of aspiring student entrepreneurs who will be there to learn with you, support you and brainstorm ideas. All students are welcome to apply

Application for 2022 - 2023 now open! Deadline to apply is: Friday, September 2nd at 11:59 p.m.

Student Innovation Center Open House

Learn more about Start Something CALS entrepreneurship and innovation programs at the Student Innovation Center Open House. Interact with staff and students involved in Start Something CALS and enjoy free ISU Creamery ice cream and honey samples. There will also be door prizes and drawings you won't want to miss! 

Find more information about the event on the Student Innovation Center site. 

Business Development Study Trip to Brazil

The objective for this course is for students to develop knowledge and skills in international business development through experiential learning. Students will act as a consulting team for three to four early stage U.S agricultural technology businesses, assessing the market potential for their products in Brazil and creating a roadmap for developing their businesses there. They will interact heavily with the agricultural technology businesses, government and trade organizations, and Brazilian agricultural businesses and farms. The students will apply their knowledge to the final deliverable, a business development analysis for each agricultural technology business for Brazil.

By the end of the program, students will:

ChangeMaker Workshop

Panel Discussion: : ChangeMaking Leadership

Confirmed Panelists:

Start Something CALS Industry Tour

Join us in visiting the offices of two successful companies in the Iowa Falls area. This event is open to any ISU CALS student, but spots are limited and you must register! We will be leaving from campus at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning to head to Summit Agricultural Group and hear from founder Bruce Rastetter. We will then head to Iowa Select Farms to enjoy lunch and hear from a panel of leaders about running a successful business. 

To RSVP for this event, please fill-out your information here. 

Agricultural Entrepreneurship Unconference

Thursday November 08, 2018
Vermeer Applied Technology Building
Iowa State University Research Park
2710 S Loop Dr, Ames, IA 50010

Business Beyond Boundaries – How do we work together to build a more vibrant
ecosystem for agricultural entrepreneurs?

Founders Fireside on the Future of Agriculture

Join us on Wednesday, November 7 as we hear from three successful founders and entrepreneurs who founded agricultural businesses at different times, with each achieving an outsized impact. The discussion will identify questions and issues important to the future shape of agriculture. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Sun Room in the Memorial Union. 

Founder of Smart Ag

Founded two years ago, the business has developed one of the first commercialized autonomous tractor technologies.  The company aims to empower farmers to complete operations faster, more consistently and with less labor than ever before.

Founder of Kerns and Associates

90 Seconds for $900 Elevator Pitch Competition

To kick-off the second day of Ag Entrepreneurship Week, Start Something CALS will be hosing the second annual 90 Seconds for $900 Elevator Pitch Competition! This event will allow 16 brave participants to share their entrepreneurial ideas in hopes to win one of two $900 start-up prizes.  

Don't have an idea to share? You can still be involved by attending the event and voting for your favorite elevator pitch! Stop by the tent on the Central Campus Lawn anytime from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. to grab a slice of pizza and listen in to a round of elevator pitches. We will also have tables set-up around the tent with information on ways to get involved with Start Something CALS. We hope to see you there!

Sukup Safe T Home Build

On Monday, November 5, 2018 we will kick-off Agricultural Entrepreneurship Week with an event that involves students and staff from across the university.

After the January 2010 earthquake which devastated Haiti, Sukup Manufacturing Co. began designing and manufacturing metal grain bin homes, called the Safe T Home^®, to be shipped and built in developing countries to provide shelter and safety to families in need. Since 2011, more than 300 homes have been built across the world in countries like Haiti and Uganda. In 2016, all 200 homes in Haiti at the time withstood Category 4 Hurricane Matthew with just minimal damage. These homes can be built in just one day with simple hand tools and a passionate group of people.

Agricultural Entrepreneurship Week 2018

Agricultural Entrepreneurship Week 2018 will be marked from November 05 to 09.  The Agriculture Entrepreneurship Initiative at Iowa State University and affiliated entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and supporters will mark the week with a number of events in the second year marking the occasion.

Iowa has a rich history as home to agricultural entrepreneurs who have created world-changing technologies, products, services, and businesses.  The week will feature events on and off-campus to celebrate the past and create the future.

Events for the week include:

Monday, November 05

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Lunch, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 0030 Curtiss Hall
Sukup Safe T Home Build, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m., Central Campus

Tuesday, November 06