In the heart of Sioux City, Iowa, a company is changing lives not through tech trends, but by solving real-world problems for real people. Ability Tech, co-founded by Dustin Rhoades and his father, began with a single goal: to help his son swing a bat during Miracle League games without intervention from him. This innovation, the Switch Hitter, has gone on to provide numerous children the same enjoyment realized by his son. But after posting their early work online, the overwhelming response inspired them to transform their personal project into a business, now steadily growing with a community-driven mission.

What began as a solution for a family need evolved into a powerful example of how personal experience, community support, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship can reshape lives. Dustin credits much of this transformation to the University of Iowa Venture School program, which guided them in customer discovery, business modeling, and marketing, all without formal training in business or engineering. “Without Venture School, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Dustin said. “We entered with passion, but we were missing the commercial side of things. We had a whole different perspective on marketing because of that program.” Rhoades will be one of the mentors for the upcoming fall 2025 Venture School cohort, in partnership with Morningside University’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development who identified a serious community need for entrepreneurs throughout Siouxland and decided to partner with the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship to address this need.

Perhaps the key player in the business is Dustin’s wife, Shanna, a 2020 Morningside University graduate in Pre-Med. Originally, pursuing a Pre-Med degree was to provide the best care for their son by understanding the breadth and depth of his medical needs and to fully work with his medical care team. However, her extensive medical background and great empathy have helped Ability Tech in gaining the trust of families who are frequently disoriented by complicated care networks and insurance systems. Dustin clarified, “we are not just building products, we are assisting individuals in becoming independent. And trust is essential for that.”

The impact of Venture School far outreached the immediate impact of gaining the tools to scale his business but further strengthened by taking part in networking events and pitch competitions. Getting funds, building connections (such as partnering with a St. Lukes hospital), and creating plans for engaging customers became essential components of their expansion.

However, it hasn’t always been simple. “Creating highly customized assistive devices with limited resources is one of Ability Tech’s toughest challenges. Money and time are limited, Dustin acknowledged. Because each person is unique, every product is complex”.

They remain consistent in their dedication to the community despite all of this. Ability Tech frequently contributes to activities that benefit those with disabilities through their non-profit foundation, Ability Tech Foundation, which offers care packages and communication boards to families in need. In addition, Dustin and Shanna, through Ability Tech, are proud member of the All-Ability Coalition.

Looking back, Dustin sees the pandemic as a turning point. “COVID pushed us. Bills didn’t stop, and people realized they could turn their passion into a business. If I could do it again, I would’ve joined Venture School earlier”.

For aspiring entrepreneurs — especially those working on socially impactful tech — Dustin’s advice is simple: “Just do it. Fail, learn, try again. There’s always more to learn. Your first idea might not work, but something else will”. “We feel like we’re 30 years behind the potential,” Dustin said. “But we’re catching up — one person, one product, one community at a time”.