Return to index Give them what they want Talk to potential customers. That was the first advice staff at the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship gave to Greg Dace when he sought help for his new business, Acumen Instruments Corp., in Ames. We hadn't perceived the importance of interacting with customers in this way. Iowa State's Pappajohn Center helps new companies get started and existing companies expand.
Acumen specializes in technologies for data collection, storage and analysis.
In addition, they received help with accounting, investments, networking and infrastructure. Acumen also participates in an internship program through the center. Students enrolled in entrepreneurial classes get practical business experience while the firm has a creative employee base. And if the students see other people go through starting a business, it knocks down their mental barriers to doing it themselves.