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, or graduate certificate program that can be taken alone or as part of an MBA. 

Contact Us

Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation


715 North Avenue
Spellman Hall (4-217)
New Rochelle, NY 10801

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Tiara Griffith

The Hynes Institute became a second home to me, and I enjoyed collaborating with the team and students. My involvement led me to participate in the Iona Innovation Challenge and the opportunity to study abroad in Italy at the European Innovation Academy!

Tiara Griffith ’20, Business Management
Read More About Tiara

Program Overview with Christoph Winkler

Charter your own path by building a strong entrepreneurial mindset.

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Christoph Winkler

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!

Iona Innovation Challenge

Students workshop together at the Hynes Institute.

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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.

See what makes the Hynes Institute unique

Three students at the Hynes institute have a discussion while one is reading to them from an open book.

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.

Explore the Space

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.

More on Coworking

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.