Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
At Iona University, we know that everyone — regardless of major or program — can be an entrepreneurial and innovative leader.
The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.
Learn to Lead
The Hynes Institute has curricular offerings for every type of Iona student. Get a taste of entrepreneurial thinking, then dive deeper into design thinking, business modeling and leadership with our undergraduate minor, two undergraduate majors, health and wellness entrepreneurship track or graduate certificate program that can be taken alone or as part of an MBA.
Ready. Set. Innovate.
The Iona Innovation Challenge is an annual pitch competition where students present solutions to real-world problems. Throughout the course of a semester, you’ll complete a series of milestones — a video pitch, an executive summary and a pitch slide deck — and receive feedback from industry and faculty mentors. Finalists will be invited to a live pitch event where the winners receive monetary prizes!
![Christoph Winkler works with students on the business models canvas.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape/public/2023-02/primary-images/c-winkler-students.jpg?itok=GogpSDeb)
Take a Virtual Tour
Dream. Create. Lead.
With a free-flow workspace and 3D printer, the Hynes Institute offers space for students to learn and grow as they develop their entrepreneurial spirit.
![Three students at the Hynes institute have a discussion while one is reading to them from an open book.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape/public/2020-07/primary-images/Ben_Hider_BH109504.jpg?itok=8hE3oMxK)
Space to Create
The Hynes Institute is located at the center of campus at Spellman Hall; a 3,800-square-foot state-of-the-art coworking space offering a modern and sustainable home for creativity on campus.
GaelVentures
In this program, you’ll have access to GaelVentures, Iona’s own community incubator space. Work alongside fellow students, mentors, entrepreneur-in-residence and faculty members to develop your ideas and gain new perspectives on your work.
Hynes Institute By the Numbers
$15 Million
gift from James ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes established the Institute in 2017.
3,800
square feet of new, modern space was created to house the Institute in 2019.
$6,000
in total prize money awarded each year at the Iona Innovation Challenge.
Recent News
More News from the Hynes Institute![A student works at the white board in the Hynes Institute.](/sites/default/files/styles/post_thumb/public/2024-05/ancillary-images/student-whiteboard.jpg?itok=5_nK2SPF)
Iona University’s GaelVentures Summer Incubator Empowers Students to Launch New Business Ideas
Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s GaelVentures program is designed to support individuals from all disciplines to develop entrepreneurial ideas
In the News