Networking, knowledge and nuggets of inspiration and motivation were in abundance everywhere you turned throughout the conference, as well as great exhibits and fun surprises along the way.  Here’s what some attendees had to say about what they liked best at EntreFest!:

• Loved the energy that was created!  The enthusiasm was contagious!
• Great conference!!  Affordable, very affordable!  Please keep it that way!  I will be back next year!
• It set me back on the right track and gave me so many new ideas.  I’m going back to build my business, the sky’s the limit!
• Learning something new from a different perspective.  You think you understand something and then there’s the “Gotcha - I never thought of that before’ moment -  All the presenters I heard gave me that moment!
• The variety of speakers was awesome!   We were able to attend so many great breakout sessions and will go back to our business on Monday with a lot of new ideas!
• I’m starting a business and all the information was very helpful for me!
• I had a chance to meet people who gave me good ideas for my upcoming non-profit business
• EVERYTHING!

EntreFest! 2010 was coordinated by a collaborative committee of state service provi ders and entrepreneurs including: 

• Alliant Energy 
• Focusfirst, Inc.
• Iowa Area Development Group
• Iowa Credit Union
• Iowa Department of Economic Development/Main Street Iowa
• Iowa Farm Bureau/Renew Rural Iowa
• Iowa Small Business Development Centers
• Iowa State University Extension and Community Vitality Center
• Iowan’s for Social and Economic Development
• Nanny 2 Shoes
• Pow I-80 Economic Development
• Small Business Administration
• Strat Exe, Inc.
• UNI Business and Community Services Division
• UNI Regional Business Center and MyEntre.Net
• VentureNet Iowa

Check back often for updates on what’s coming for EntreFest! 2011!!

EntreFest! survey As we look forward to next year, we want to continue to improve and bring Iowa entrepreneurs the most relevant information and the best experience possible.   Your feedback is very important in those planning efforts.  Below please find a link to the conference evaluation form.  If you were not able to complete the form at the conference, I’d ask that you please take a few moments to share your thoughts.  The evaluation can easily be completed online and all responses are anonymous.

Click here to participate in the survey!

Congratulations to Randy Hoyt of Controlled Drainage Systems Inc. in Scranton, winner of the EntreFest! 2010 Market Research Project award of $10,000!

Controlled Drainage Systems Inc. is a design and installation contractor for farm drainage tile. The business was started in 1999 and now has three full time employees.  Randy is developing a Drainage Water Management Design Software to design for water quality and nitrate reduction through the use of controlled drainage areas.  The market research project awarded to Randy by the University of Northern Iowa’s Strategic Marketing Services at the 2010 EntreFest! conference will help determine the market potential for this product, the size of the market and help identify potential target markets other than  the those already identified.

Randy’s application was one of over fifty quality applications that were completed and reviewed during the conference.  Other finalists selected included: John Zhang, Omni HighTech International,Cedar Falls, Brad Magg, Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe, Mitchellville; Patrick Palmer, The Computer Guy, Hampton; and Ron Bupp, Repel Products, Marion.  Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to LaRico ‘Rico’ Harmon, owner of Urban Tech Iowa in Waterloo, this year’s winner of the Dell laptop giveaway! 

Networking, knowledge and nuggets of inspiration and motivation were in abundance everywhere you turned throughout the conference, as well as great exhibits and fun surprises along the way.  Here’s what some attendees had to say about what they liked best at EntreFest!:

• Loved the energy that was created!  The enthusiasm was contagious!
• Great conference!!  Affordable, very affordable!  Please keep it that way!  I will be back next year!
• It set me back on the right track and gave me so many new ideas.  I’m going back to build my business, the sky’s the limit!
• Learning something new from a different perspective.  You think you understand something and then there’s the “Gotcha - I never thought of that before’ moment -  All the presenters I heard gave me that moment!
• The variety of speakers was awesome!   We were able to attend so many great breakout sessions and will go back to our business on Monday with a lot of new ideas!
• I’m starting a business and all the information was very helpful for me!
• I had a chance to meet people who gave me good ideas for my upcoming non-profit business
• EVERYTHING!

EntreFest! 2010 was coordinated by a collaborative committee of state service provi ders and entrepreneurs including: 

• Alliant Energy 
• Focusfirst, Inc.
• Iowa Area Development Group
• Iowa Credit Union
• Iowa Department of Economic Development/Main Street Iowa
• Iowa Farm Bureau/Renew Rural Iowa
• Iowa Small Business Development Centers
• Iowa State University Extension and Community Vitality Center
• Iowan’s for Social and Economic Development
• Nanny 2 Shoes
• Pow I-80 Economic Development
• Small Business Administration
• Strat Exe, Inc.
• UNI Business and Community Services Division
• UNI Regional Business Center and MyEntre.Net
• VentureNet Iowa

Check back often for updates on what’s coming for EntreFest! 2011!!

EntreFest! survey As we look forward to next year, we want to continue to improve and bring Iowa entrepreneurs the most relevant information and the best experience possible.   Your feedback is very important in those planning efforts.  Below please find a link to the conference evaluation form.  If you were not able to complete the form at the conference, I’d ask that you please take a few moments to share your thoughts.  The evaluation can easily be completed online and all responses are anonymous.

Click here to participate in the survey!

Congratulations to Randy Hoyt of Controlled Drainage Systems Inc. in Scranton, winner of the EntreFest! 2010 Market Research Project award of $10,000!

Controlled Drainage Systems Inc. is a design and installation contractor for farm drainage tile. The business was started in 1999 and now has three full time employees.  Randy is developing a Drainage Water Management Design Software to design for water quality and nitrate reduction through the use of controlled drainage areas.  The market research project awarded to Randy by the University of Northern Iowa’s Strategic Marketing Services at the 2010 EntreFest! conference will help determine the market potential for this product, the size of the market and help identify potential target markets other than  the those already identified.

Randy’s application was one of over fifty quality applications that were completed and reviewed during the conference.  Other finalists selected included: John Zhang, Omni HighTech International,Cedar Falls, Brad Magg, Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe, Mitchellville; Patrick Palmer, The Computer Guy, Hampton; and Ron Bupp, Repel Products, Marion.  Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to LaRico ‘Rico’ Harmon, owner of Urban Tech Iowa in Waterloo, this year’s winner of the Dell laptop giveaway!