hree finalists for Pappajohn Business Plan contest announced

Judges of the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition have narrowed the field to three finalists who will learn their final ranking and receive cash awards at a luncheon on Nov. 16.

All three are technology businesses located in either Ames or Iowa City.

The Pappajohn judges listed the finalists in alphabetical order as follows:

M&S FlowMatics is an Ames business founded in 2009. The  has developed a unique flow meter for real-time measurement of granular materials, including gravel, grain, sugar or sand, through a pipe.

Radiology Protocols is and Iowa City business founded in 2008. It created an online medical imaging process to make radiologic imaging more efficient and accurate.

VSI Aerospace Inc. was founded in Ames in 2008. It has a product that combines software and air pressure sensors to alert pilots of trajectory changes that can enhance safety and fuel savings.

This year’s contest began with business plans from 50 Iowa businesses. The field was narrowed to seven semi-finalists in August. The three finalists will each receive cash prizes provided by Iowa venture capitalist John Pappajohn. The prizes are $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place and $10,000 for third place.

Judges for the contest included officials of the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University and the North Iowa Area Community College, and of the Iowa Small Business Development Center.

Tags: David Elbert, M&S FlowMatics, Pappajohn Business Plan, Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Radiology Protocols, VSI Aerospace