Five local businesses were awarded $4,500 in prizes for their performance in the University of Iowa Venture School. Winners included Real-Time Decision Pro, awarded $1,000 in the Best Business Opportunity category; Sexy Life, awarded $1,000 for Best Final Pitch; Integrative Health Innovations, awarded $1,000 for Best Customer Discovery; RealActs, awarded $1,000 in the category Most Improved; and FinnPrep, awarded $500 for Best Pivot.

The University of Iowa Venture School, developed by the UI's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, is a six-week, intensive program for entrepreneurs. Founded in 2013, the nationally recognized Venture School has supported more than 170 teams and awarded more than $120,000 in cash prizes, many to businesses across the state of Iowa.