What & Who
An onsite startup event where high school students across Iowa team up to build a business in a day, with mentorship from community partners and their Iowa educators.
Target audiences: entrepreneurial-minded, startup and innovation, engineering, invention, design, hackers, tech gurus, problem finders and solvers, creatives, gamers, and artists
How
- Educators select a DesignDash event date/location.
- Use the educators register button to register yourself. Because you’re actively engaged during the event, you qualify to opt in for graduate credit during signup.
- Select up to 10 students you’ll bring to the event.
- Compile full name, t-shirt size, and media release permissions (check with your school) for each student.
- Return to the DesignDash webpage and use the educators: add students button to complete your registration. This step must be done four weeks before the event date.
- Line up a substitute teacher and transportation as applicable for you and your students.
Thanks to sponsors, DesignDash is provided to Iowa students, educators, and community partners at no cost.
Fall 2025 registration!
Sept 19, 2025
EVENT FULL FOR EDUCATORS & STUDENTS. WAITLIST ONLY.
Specialty DesignDash Program with Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Theme: Conquering Cancer One Idea at a Time
Iowa City, IA | 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Location: University of Iowa Memorial Union
Registration open. Educators, reserve your spot!
Register your students anytime between now and the end of August.
This event is great for High School STEM Educators!
Iowa City
Iowa City, IA | 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Location and Date: TBD
Registration will open late August
Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, IA | 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Location and Date: TBD
Registration will open late August
Des Moines
Des Moines, IA | 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Location and Date: TBD
Registration will open late August
DesignDash Sponsors
16
Total Number of DesignDash Events Since 2022
992
Total Student participants since 2022
111
Total Schools participated since 2022
"Design Dash is an excellent opportunity for students to collaboratively 'test-drive' entrepreneurship by solving problems that occur daily."
Read more
Read about the DesignDash Fall 2024 Event
Read about the DesignDash Spring 2023 Event
Read about the DesignDash Spring 2022 Event
Innovation programs for students and educators
Business Horizons
Students - Business Horizons is a five-day innovation simulation bringing students (grades 9-12) of all experience levels from across the state of Iowa together to gain a better sense of how their skills connect to the business world and the real world. Students have the opportunity to receive three college credits. Held annually in the summer.
Teachers - 2 day, onsite, professional development offered by BizInnovator Startup. Held annually in conjunction with Business Horizons.
Tippie Gateway Summer Program
Students - Tippie Gateway is your opportunity to experience life on campus at the University of Iowa. Free, weeklong program for high school students. Participants receive three college credits. Held annually in the summer.
"As a mentor, I was inspired and energized by the commitment and creativity of student groups... all in a day's work. If they can do it, so can I."
Educator opportunities
Professional development and opportunity for high schoolers to earn college credit
- BizInnovator Startup Deep Dive into Entrepreneurship Education for High School educators
Curriculum toolkits
- BizInnovator Startup for high school entrepreneurship education
- KidInnovator for upper elementary and middle school