Iona Innovation Challenge

WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2026 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.

Spring 2025 IIC Winners, Judges, and Hynes Staff.

Spring 2025 IIC Final Pitch Participant Dana Grosvenor (LUX-Juices).

The Spring 2025 IIC Final Pitch Judges.

Students engaging with mentors about their amazing ideas.

Mentor Nick Bhashyam and the Strendex Team.

Bracelet Buddy Team meeting with Mentor Gina B. Ramcharan.

The Spring 2025 Business Model Canvas Workshop facilitated by GaelVentures program manager John Tsampalis.

A student practicing her elevator pitch.

PRIZE MONEY

Iona students have an opportunity to win BIGGER than ever this Spring 2026!

$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.

Spring 2025 IIC Highlights

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 2026

Interested in participating? Register here!

STAY UP TO DATE

1. Attend IIC Kickoff Event in Spring 2026
2. Submit your milestones:
   1. Milestone 1: 1-minute Video Pitch
   2. Milestone 2: Executive Summary
   3. Milestone 3: Pitch Slide Deck
3. Connect with your paired mentors for feedback
4. Finalists will be notified by mid-April
5. Finalists present at the Final Pitch Event during the first week of May*

8 YEARS OF IONA INNOVATION CHALLENGE

Launched in 2018, the Iona Innovation Challenge is an annual student competition where solutions are presented that address real-world problems. At Iona, we want to make sure that students from all disciplines have a platform to collaboratively explore creative ways to solve the big challenges of today. Every spring semester, students work on their ideas by completing three (3) milestones and gaining valuable feedback through working with mentors from a variety of fields. Students have the opportunity to utilize our resources and bring their ideas to life. At the completion of the milestones, finalists will then pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to win cash prizes.

Spring 2025 IIC Winners & Judges.

Spring 2024 IIC Winners & Judges

Spring 2023 IIC Winners & Judges

Spring 2022 IIC Winners.

Spring 2021 IIC Winners & Judges.

Spring 2020 IIC Winners & Judges.

Spring 2019 IIC Winners & Judges.

Spring 2018 IIC Winners & Judges.

IONA IIC WINNERS

IIC Year 2025

The 2025 Iona Innovation Challenge was a remarkable event, with forty-three (43) teams and fifty-seven (57) student participants. Eight (8) teams comprised of thirteen (13) students advanced to the finals and presented their solutions to a panel of judges. 

Judges: James P. Hynes ‘69, ‘01H, Anne Marie Hynes, Esq., Daniel F. Doyle ’93, Rita Ramirez, and Stephen Reitano ’72, ’75MBA

First Place

SipSation

MaryBrigid McManus ‘26
Eunice Anderson ‘26
Colleen Slevin ’26
Yu Ting Lin ‘26

SipSation is a portable, customizable water bottle designed to help teens and young adults with sensory challenges reduce stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their focus. Equipped with scientifically backed fidgets, it aids sensory regulation and is self-soothing.

Second Place

Strendex

James Phelps ‘27
Anthony Zambrano ‘27

Strendex is an innovative rehabilitation device that mimics tendon movement, providing controlled resistance to aid in rehabilitation and uses a dynamic tension system that adapts to the user’s range of motion, allowing for progressive strengthening while preventing overextension.

Third Place

Bracelet Buddy

Nicole Karmin ‘25
Grace Massaro ‘25

Bracelet Buddy is a device designed with a stabilizing cuff that secures the wrist in an optimal position, reducing tremors and enhancing control. A precision-engineered clasp holder keeps bracelets steady, enabling users to fasten even the smallest clasps with minimal strength or dexterity.

Fan Favorite & Most Creative

PlanGenie

Kedarjah Lewis ‘25

PlanGenie is an app that offers AI-driven, personalized recommendations for local day and night activities including restaurants, events, outdoor experiences, and more based on user preferences, location, and budget.

Promising Prototype

FrostCore by Jay Restorations

Jaiden Houston ‘25

FrostCore V2 is the next evolution of sneaker restoration—an automated, at-home solution designed to reverse oxidation safely and evenly. By combining precision light technology, a proprietary gel-based solution, and a seamless locking system, FrostCore V2 ensures consistent, professional-grade results without the need for manual labor. From the comfort of your home, this technology reduces processing time, increases restoration efficiency, and guarantees high-quality outcomes every time for businesses and consumers.

PAST IONA IIC WINNERS