Ama AI Wins $25,000 in 21st John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition

NarrateAR, Inc., doing business as Ama AI, won second place and $25,000 in the 21st Annual John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. Finalists from across Iowa pitched to a panel of judges in Ames on August 19.

Co-founder and CTO Christopher Whitmer said families of children with autism are often left to carry goals and strategies between home, school, and care on their own, and that the award confirms the need for Ama’s work and will help it reach more families.

Judi Eyles, director of the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, said more than 60 founders applied this year and 11 were named finalists.

The competition is co-hosted by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers and the Iowa Economic Development Authority.