Student Pitch Competition Held June 30, 2026
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center held the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA) from June 15 to June 26, culminating in a student pitch competition on Tuesday June 30, 2026. The Youth Entrepreneurial Academy is a unique opportunity for North Iowa high school students to expand their horizons, discover their personal strengths, and practice real-world skills. This year, YEA was offered as a two-week hybrid model experience incorporating in-person sessions and an online classroom, designed to work around the lives of today’s busy teens.
YEA is free to attend thanks to the generous support of the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, and is offered annually to all North Iowa high school students interested in entrepreneurship. Every participant receives a $500 NIACC scholarship sponsored by John Pappajohn, and has the opportunity to compete for seed money for their business idea.
This year’s academy included eight high school students from across North Iowa. Four students opted to compete in the pitch competition. The competitors presented their business to a panel of three judges: Amy Hogg (Bank Iowa), Caleb Renner (Renner Ag Solutions), and Sherri Stensrude (Beach Buddies). The participants and schools represented at the competition were:
1st Place ($1000 Prize) – Eva Sayer of Osage, IA, The Mirror Framework (Osage High School)
The Mirror Framework is a toolkit utilizing new approaches to address mental health concerns in teens and adults. Self-help journals help individuals better understand the connections and differences between the mind and heart.
2nd Place ($750 Prize) – Pyper Satern of Mason City, IA, Satern’s Sandwiches (Clear Lake High School)
Satern’s Sandwiches is an all-organic food truck featuring hot and cold sandwiches made with fresh sourdough bread, drinks, sides, and desserts.
3rd Place ($500 Prize) – Kiefer Huling of Sheffield, IA, GENREad (West Fork High School)
GENREad is a personalized book discovery platform with an unlimited digital reading library. This app utilizes AI powered recommendations that improve with each book rated, and includes built in book clubs integrating synchronized reading progress.
4th Place ($500 Prize) – Tiffani Carpenter of Clear Lake, IA, Whiskers of Help (Clear Lake High School)
The Whiskers of Help cat café helps cats find homes by partnering with the Humane Society. When customers buy homemade sweet treats, half of all profits will go to help cats in need.
