In addition to the Start Something LAS Academy, students have access to a multitude of support, resources, and hands-on experiences to develop your ideas and passions. Start Something LAS can help prepare you to take advantage of all the opportunities that are part of the innovation ecosystem at Iowa State!
Opportunities

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Pitching
Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can compete in various pitch competitions and challenges hosted by the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, the Student Innovation Center, or engage in on and off campus opportunities to develop their pitching skills. Students in the Academy are asked to pitch on several occasions, encouraging them to dive deep and practice their public speaking skills.
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Networking
Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can get to know innovators, entrepreneurs, faculty and staff, and community members at various events hosted by Start Something LAS to develop their personal and professional networks. Events like Sharkuterie Connections allows students to engage with local entrepreneurs and judge their pitches, all while learning about different businesses and experiences. Students in the Academy can participate in socials and field trips, building strong connections within their peer cohorts.
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Ignite Innovation Showcase
Each spring, the Student Innovation Center hosts the Ignite Innovation Showcase, a week-long campus wide event that celebrates student-led innovation and creative thinking. Students across campus can come to the Student Innovation Center to view displays, exhibitions, presentations, panels and speakers, celebrations and awards, poster sessions, and explore what innovation looks like at Iowa State. First year Academy students participate in an open house style showcase where they present their ideas, engage with guests, and receive valuable feedback.
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Alumni Innovators
The Alumni Innovators program encourages students to think beyond the classroom and explore the possibilities in their chosen field. Start Something LAS partners with other LAS departments to create programs that connect students with alumni who have pursued paths in innovation or entrepreneurship. These connections help students expand their professional networks, see the wide range of career possibilities, and understand that they have the opportunity to shape their own journey. Read more about our most recent Alumni Innovators program with the Department of Music and Theatre.

Start Something LAS gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by inspiring innovators whose energy and ideas motivated me to keep moving forward with my own.
Sithmi Hewage, chemistry
Innovation across LAS
Innovation is thriving in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Whether through coursework, research, or programs like the Start Something LAS Academy, students are continually encouraged to think creatively and outside the box. Faculty and staff across the college are aligned with the university’s innovation goals and are working to create more opportunities for students.
While the university’s entrepreneurship minor is housed in the Ivy College of Business, it is open to all students. The minor consists of 15 credits, including electives that explore topics in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Below is a list of the LAS-approved courses that are available that help foster innovative thinking and entrepreneurial mindsets across the college.
Approved LAS electives
- COMS 4020: Computer Science Senior Project
- COMST 2140: Professional Communication
- COMST 2180: Conflict Management
- COMST 3270/PSYCH 3270: Persuasion & Social Influence
- ENGL 2500: Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition
- ENGL 3090: Proposal and Report Writing
- FRNCH 3040: French for Global Professionals
- GER 3040: German for Global Professionals
- JLMC 3910Q: Media Entrepreneurship: Launching a Media Brand
- LAS 4900E: Entrepreneurial Studies Independent Study
- LAS 3450: Innovation and Entrepreneurship I
- LAS 3460: Innovation and Entrepreneurship II
- LDST 3700: Special Topics: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
- POLS 3350: Science, Technology, & Public Policy
- POLS 4770/5770: Government, Business, & Society
- SOC 2100: Social and Civic Innovation
- SPAN 3040: Spanish for Global Professionals
- SPCM 3120: Business and Professional Speaking
- WLC/MKT/M E 4840/WLC/MKT/M E 5840: Technology, Globalization, & Culture