John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

For over 27 years, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has provided a strong foundation for Iowa entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders through the variety of services, programs and classes offered to UNI students, and community learners. 

With the recent merger of community student programming, the JPEC truly is the hub where Iowa entrepreneurs can find resources, explore programs, collaborate with peers, develop new businesses, and grow existing ventures. The JPEC is unique in that all student programming is privately funded.  Therefore, we rely heavily on the support of donors who believe in our mission to empower and support entrepreneurs and innovators at UNI, in the Cedar Valley and throughout Iowa.  

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Your gift to the JPEC’s campaign provides funding to create relevant programming for clients ranging from middle school, high school, and college students, to startups and growing companies across the state. 

Student Empowerment

Your investment allows our students to gain work and life skills through their engagement in service-based projects that grow new ventures, support small businesses and positively impact the Cedar Valley and Iowa economies. 

Accelerator Programs

Your investment allows our students to participate in extended programming that provides them with the opportunity to build the foundations of their own businesses.

Educational Opportunities

Your investment allows the JPEC to offer creative entrepreneurship and innovation workshops to diverse groups throughout the state of Iowa. 

Our Goal

The goal of the JPEC’s Entrepreneurial and Innovation #LivePurpleGiveGold campaign this year is to raise $10,000 through the support of 100 donors. 

As the director, I also #LivePurpleGiveGold and will donate $10 for each donor who supports our campaign. So please consider supporting the Entrepreneurial and Innovation campaign to allow the JPEC team to continue to create and provide relevant programming to meet the needs of our clients. 

For more information on the services that the JPEC offers, visit our website at jpec.uni.edu.

We appreciate your support of the JPEC and thank you for your consideration. Go Panthers!

Challenge Gifts 

JPEC Challenge

Laurie Watje, Director of the JPEC, will match $10 per donor up to $1,000.