Iona University’s Hynes Institute Hosts Seventh Annual Iona Innovation Challenge
Students across multiple disciplines pitched real-world solutions at the final event
Jared Balcacer ’26
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Iona University's Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation recently hosted its seventh annual Iona Innovation Challenge (IIC) final pitch event. Those in attendance heard from nine team finalists tackling a range of issues from sustainability and immigration to speech development – with a total of $11,000 in cash prizes on the line.
“Each year, I am so impressed by the groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions our students present,” said Christoph Winkler, Ph.D., endowed professor and founding program director. “This is such an exciting event and to all our students, I want to say that your passion and commitment to being change agents are the driving force behind its success. Congratulations to all who participated and thank you to our esteemed mentors and judges who offer such incredible guidance to our students.”
Known for its “Shark Tank”-style format, the competition this year included the following judges: James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H; Anne Marie Hynes, Esq.; Marina Falisi ’17, ’18MBA; Tony Goncalves ’95; and Maz Malik ’07, ’10MBA.
Criminal justice major Jared Balcacer ’26 took home both the top prize and fan favorite award, for a combined total of $6,000.
His business idea, Balcacer’s Bouquets, aims to redefine floral arrangements by offering a more affordable alternative to real flowers that are biodegradable.
“Balcacer’s Bouquets' products last forever because they are allergy friendly, made of silk, scented and low maintenance,” said Balcacer, a criminal justice major with a passion for entrepreneurship. “Attending Iona University has provided me with a diverse network of people and connections to make my dreams come true.”
Established in 2017, the Hynes Institute was established at Iona through a record-setting $15 million gift by James and Anne Marie Hynes. The goal was to inspire and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders. In launching the Hynes Institute, its benefactors had a vision for an interdisciplinary program that would be transformative for students throughout the University – a goal that continues to be realized every day at Iona.
“The Iona Innovation Challenge fosters students’ entrepreneurial spirit and exemplifies Iona’s educational approach to learning outside the lines,” said James Hynes, vice chair of the Iona University Board of Trustees. “It is exciting to witness students develop solutions to today’s most pressing issues.”
To qualify for the IIC final event, students had to complete three milestones consisting of a 1-minute video pitch, an executive summary, and a pitch of slide decks. Over the past two months, Iona’s Hynes Institute engaged 17 mentors which included alumni and business experts.
Students shared ideas within the following themes: social entrepreneurship; media ventures; social networking; web/app technology; business technology; service innovations; e-commerce ventures and traditional business ventures.
Winning Teams:
- First Place & Fan Favorite – $6,000
- Balcacer's Bouquets, Jared Balcacer ’26: Redefining floral arrangements, through timeless beauty and long-lasting fragrances.
- Second Place – $2,500
- On the Hook, Ryan Doyle ’27: Get on the hook with a purpose.
- Third Place – $1,500
- TalkTrack, Kathleen Casey ’24: Welcome to the soundtrack of speech development.
- Superlative Most Courageous - $500
- Thriveability, Alyson Goodman ’25MSOT: Breaking barriers through knowledge.
- Superlative Social Impact - $500
- New Beginnings, Yasser Sequeira Blandon ’26; Noa Solorio ’25: Empowering immigrants in need with one-on-one guidance, helping them establish roots and thrive in a new community.
2024 Team Finalists:
- Boujee Batz, Aidan Brown ’24: Inspiring love for America's game one swing at a time.
- Emursify, Idan Tretout ’24MBA: Helping students discover life-changing summer internships.
- Little Heros, Isabelle Spino ’27: Pioneering nonviolent heroism in children's entertainment.
- Power Off, Blessing Forson ’25; Tanya Koshy ’24; Amani Rabadi ’25, Senad Skejovic ’24: A movement that encourages people to live in the moment and not behind the screen.
The IIC’s focus on real-world solutions is evident in the success of students like Jaiden Houston ’25 and Ryan Doyle ’27. Both students secured first place prizes in their respective tracks at the Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition. Doyle also came in third place at the New York State competition.
Their accomplishments underscore how Iona is equipping students with the necessary skills and mindset to address real-world problems.
Learn more about the Hynes Institute today!
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.