NetAngel, a Waukee startup and University of Iowa Venture School alumni, received the Judge’s Choice award and a $1,000 prize at the Venture School Surge Summit last month. Co-founders Brian McKellar and Eric Terry developed a web content filter that alerts a parent, spouse or partner if pornography is accessed on a monitored computer. They received a tuition scholarship from the Waukee Community and Economic Development Department in 2016 to attend the six-week startup program in Des Moines.
After completing the program last year, they took first place in a statewide pitch competition, and returned this year to capture the alumni award. NetAngel was one of three teams to receive the tuition scholarship from Waukee through its partnership with the UI Venture School Program. Other teams included Bublins, a home décor company, and Telemekus, a company that developed an online platform to match job-seekers with experienced mentors. The City of Waukee provides the scholarship to two Waukee teams per year; entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply directly to the University of Iowa Venture School to be considered.