Iona Innovation Challenge
WELCOME TO THE 9TH ANNUAL SPRING 2025 IONA INNOVATION CHALLENGE!
The Hynes Institute is excited to present the 9th annual Iona Innovation Challenge (IIC), which will be BIGGER & BETTER! This year's prize amount totals up to $20,000!
What's IIC about? Students creating solutions addressing real-world problems. After completing three milestones, they have the chance to compete in a pitch competition.
Idea Generation Workshop facilitated by Robert Kissner & John-Tsampalis.
Spring 2024 IIC Kickoff Event Hynes Institute Team with Keynote Speaker Charissa O'Connor.
Spring 2024 IIC Meet the Mentors.
Spring 2024 Kickoff Event Panel with prior IIC participants.
Spring 2024 Kickoff Event
Spring 2024 Meet the Mentors CEO Board Members speaking with New Rochelle Community Mentor
Spring 2024 Meet the Mentors: Student Ryan Doyle speaking with alumnus Juan Cadille
Storytelling Workshop
Students attending the Storytelling Workshop.
PRIZE MONEY
Iona students have an opportunity to win BIGGER than ever this Spring 2025!
$20,000 Prize Breakdown
- 1st place - $10,000
- 2nd place - $5,000
- 3rd place - $3,000
Fan Favorite Contest - $1,000 – Milestone 1 (1-minute video pitch) with the most likes/engagement on their video (to be uploaded to the Hynes Institute page) is selected as the Fan Favorite.
Superlative Awards - $1,000 ($1,000 total) Pitches will be selected at the judge's discretion for the superlative award giving honorable mention to outstanding solutions.
Total cash prizes: $20,000*
*As per Internal Revenue Service regulations, prizes and awards are treated as taxable income to the employee, student or non-employee that receives them. The value of gifts, prizes and awards provided to students, fellows, residents, and other nonemployees will be reported on Form 1099 if aggregate taxable payments received by such.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Empathize: Everyone has a problem.
Define: Identify the problem that you want to solve.
Ideate: Work with a robust network to help discover a solution to your problem, receive support and feedback.
Prototype: Attend workshops, networking events, and participate in coworking to bring your idea to life.
Test: Complete the milestones and present at the Pitch Practice Session for final feedback and a chance to compete at the final event.
Win BIG! Finalists compete at the Final Pitch Competition for a chance to win awards totaling $20,000!
Have Fun! Take your ideas to the next level. Enjoy the process, meet new people, learn to DREAM, CREATE, and LEAD the world through innovation!
Tap into the In-Residence Team at the Hynes Institute for additional support through this process. Meet the IR Team.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
- All Iona undergraduate and graduate students! A valid @iona.edu email address is required to enter the competition.
- Students can enter individually or as a team with other students.
- Students can only submit one idea.
HOW TO ENTER IIC 2024
Interested in participating? Email us at hynesinstitute@iona.edu today!
General Information
- Attend IIC Kickoff Event on 2/9/2024
- Submit your milestones:
- Milestone 1: 1-minute Video Pitch
- Milestone 2: Executive Summary
- Milestone 3: Pitch Slide Deck
- Connect with your paired mentors for feedback
- Finalists will be notified by mid April
- Finalists present at the Final Pitch Event during the first week of May*
*Date to be confirmed
1-MINUTE VIDEO PITCH
Submit a 1-minute video of your idea to our submission form. The video should address the following components:
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What issue or problem are you trying to solve, and why?
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How are you going to solve it with your idea?
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How is it going to create an impact for your customers/beneficiaries?
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Who is on your team and who are you working/partnering with (if applicable)?
Be creative with your video. You can record yourself delivering your pitch, you can narrate a slide deck (PowerPoint), you can create an animation (there are many tools available online), you can draw out and narrate your idea as a story on a whiteboard, or anything else that will allow you to stand out. Be creative and have fun with the process!
Once you have created the video, upload it to www.youtube.com as an “unlisted” video (unlisted videos are not searchable and can only be viewed with a unique link) and share the video using your unique link to our Milestone 1 submission form.
Resources and useful events:
Coworking & Mentorship
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Come to the Hynes Institute anytime from 9am – 5pm to work on your ideas.
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Schedule time with our Expert In-Residence team by contacting Zhane Ligon, Program Coordinator at zligon@iona.edu
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Engage with Mentors in our network using the GaelsConnect platform.
Workshops
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Brainstorming Workshop
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Storytelling Workshop
Websites, templates & examples
- How to create an unlisted video on Youtube
1-PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Your executive summary is about grabbing the attention of the judge/mentor in a matter of only 30 seconds. Only put in the Executive Summary what can achieve this goal, which is one page.
- Most Compelling Statement
- Problem Statement
- Solution Statement
- Market Opportunity
- Competitive Advantage
- Business Model
- Your Promise
- Your Ask / Action
Resources and Useful Events:
Coworking & Mentorship
-
Come to the Hynes Institute anytime from 9am – 5pm to work on your ideas.
-
Schedule time with our Expert In-Residence team by contacting Zhane Ligon, Program Coordinator at zligon@iona.edu.
-
Engage with Mentors in our network using the GaelsConnect platform.
Workshop
- How to Visualize your Idea Workshop
Websites, templates & examples
10-SLIDE PITCH DECK
The pitch deck is an extension of your executive summary and your visual support to grab your judges (or investors) attention. You need to TELL YOUR STORY, first and foremost. The focus should be on translating your idea into a (business) opportunity, and not on how to fill out a slide template. Again, this is YOUR opportunity to learn how to tell YOUR story with passion and data.
The following 10-slide structure will help you accomplish that:
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Title Slide including a one-sentence core statement
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Problem/Opportunity and some data/statistics justifying the opportunity
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Value Proposition and why your idea/product/service is differentiated
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Description of Product/Service including how it works, logistics and/or approach
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Business Model to explain how you are going to make money (including if it is B2C or B2B)
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Go-to-Market Plan including simple strategies and a timeline
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Competitive Analysis including a competitive chart of where the company stands
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Team including all core members and support partners etc.
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Financial Projections and Key Metrics including key milestones for development and launch
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Use of Funds upon award
Resources and Useful Events:
Coworking & Mentorship
-
Come to the Hynes Institute anytime from 9am – 5pm to work on your ideas.
-
Schedule time with our In-Residence team by contacting Zhane Ligon, Program Coordinator at zligon@iona.edu.
-
Engage with Mentors in our network using the GaelsConnect platform.
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Workshop
Workshop
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Elevator Pitch Workshop
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Perfecting your Visual Pitch Workshop
Finalist Pitch Practice Session
Websites, templates & examples
PAST IONA IIC WINNERS
First Place Award:
Adaptive Gamer
Mark Morris MSOT ‘24
Colton Tuma MSOT ‘24
Mikayla Ryan MSOT ‘24
Second Place Award:
OT Board Game
Chantelle Bueno MSOT’24
Victoria Bado MSOT ‘24
Third Place Award:
SkinLat
Emily Rosa ’22, ‘23MBA
Fan Favorite Award:
Adaptive Gamer
Mark Morris MSOT ‘24
Colton Tuma MSOT ‘24
Mikayla Ryan MSOT ‘24
Most Innovative Superlative Award:
Elite Co.
Gianna George ‘23
Social Impact Superlative Award:
Market 4 the Mission
Tonian Fullerton ‘24
Alesandra Payne ‘24
First Place Award:
Algae 3
Lazar Paroski ‘25
Cara du Preez ‘23
Second Place Award:
Immigrant Acculturation Program
Leah Figueroa ‘23
Kevin Mejia ‘23
Third Place Award:
Unused2Reused
Alfred Assaf ‘22
Hailey Gironda ‘22
Fan Favorite Award:
Stronger Families Through CommunOT
Jennifer Mora MS ‘23
Andrea Perez MS ‘23
Caroline Ines MS ‘23
Most Innovative Superlative Award:
Project Phood Group
Joey Conciatori ‘22
Xavier Negron ‘22
Social Impact Superlative Award:
Stronger Families Through CommunOT
Jennifer Mora MS ‘23
Andrea Perez MS ‘23
Caroline Ines MS ‘23
First Place Award:
The Love Wrap
Sabrina Finn ‘22
Hannah Schultz ‘22
Adebusola Ladotun ‘22
Second Place Award:
Just BeCause
Andrea Perez MS'23
Third Place Award:
SpotMe
Austin Ebanks ‘21
Jack Brandes ‘21
Fan Favorite Award:
Thinky
Riana Khan ’22, ‘23MBA
Laydon Owens ‘21
Superlative Most Needed Award:
PocketArm
Aishani Nalla ‘23
Khadiija Jackson ‘22
Maddie List ‘23
Taylor Alvarez ‘23
Superlative Most Resourceful Award:
Parkey
Lisbeth Baez '20, MBA'22
First Place Award:
Evital
Raymond Carapella ‘20
Second Place Award:
AccessiGear
Amanda Fitzgerald ‘22MA
Gurpreet Singh ‘22MA
Third Place Award:
NightCap
Cristina Bryde '20MBA
Fan Favorite Award:
JR10 Corp
Giuliano Santucci ‘21
Enzo Sangiacomo ‘21
Social Impact Superlative Award
The Entrepreneurial Guide
Riana Khan ’22, ‘23MBA
Social Impact Superlative Award
Giving Smiles
Amanda McCormick ’19, 20MBA
Social Entrepreneurship Track
First Place Award:
The People’s Kitchen
Alexandra Arluna BA ‘19
Technology Innovations Track
First Place Award:
StayPut
Vishnu Mackenchery ‘20
Phillip Raviele ‘21
Anthony Scimeca ‘19
Business Venture Track
First Place Award:
Redzone
Colin Logsdon BA’22
Wynn Johnson
Social Entrepreneurship Track
First Place Award:
Jobs Transition Initiative
Ali Reza-Reyes ‘20
Technology Innovations Track
First Place Award:
Backyard Blendz
Elijah Ware ‘19
Business Ventures Track
First Place Award:
Action Lift Limits
Alex Torres