Check back for information about the next Johnny's Innovation Challenge! Coming Fall 2025!
A dynamic ideation competition where creative minds come together to brainstorm, innovate, and pitch groundbreaking sustainability solutions. Join us for a full day of collaboration, innovation, and competition with the chance to win exclusive opportunities and internships.
Students of all disciplines are welcome.
2025 Recap
Students Put Entrepreneurial Skills to the Test at Johnny’s Innovation Challenge
Students from St. John’s University and elsewhere gathered in St. Augustine Hall on the Queens, NY, campus to showcase their entrepreneurial instincts on Saturday, February 22, during the first-ever Johnny’s Innovation Challenge.
How to Participate:
- Registration Link: NOW CLOSED!
- Eligibility: Open to all students enrolled at St. John’s University.
- Team Formation: Participants must form teams of 2-3 members prior to the registration deadline.
For more information, please contact:
Radhika Jha
Associate Dean of Graduate and Academic Engagement
jhar@stjohns.edu
About the Event:
Overview
Johnny’s Innovation Challenge is a student-led event designed to foster innovative solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Interdisciplinary teams will work together to develop and present their ideas to a panel of expert judges.
Challenge Highlights
Student-Run Initiative: Organized and run by students, empowering participants to lead, innovate, and create.
Interdisciplinary Participation: Open to students from all academic disciplines, fostering diverse perspectives and promoting cross-field innovation.
Competitive Pitch Format: Teams pitch their solutions to a panel of expert judges, with top awards for the best ideas.
- Exciting Incentives: Finalists can unlock exclusive internships, secure a spot in the Venture & Innovation Center's (VIC) Incubation Program, and earn scholarships to attend European Innovation Academy, a summer accelerator program in Portugal!
Why Join In?
Showcase Your Ideas or Skills: Present your innovative concepts to a panel of industry leaders.
Win Big: Finalists can unlock exclusive internships, secure a spot in the Venture & Innovation Center's (VIC) Incubation Program, and scholarships to attend European Innovation Academy, a summer accelerator program in Portugal, and the first-place team goes to the Hult Prize National Competition in Boston, with a chance to advance to the finals in London for $1,000,000.
Network: Connect with industry experts, mentors and our sponsors.
Participate in Skill Workshops: Gain valuable insights and hands-on skills through workshops led by faculty and industry experts, designed to enhance your problem-solving, creativity, and business acumen.
Make an Impact: Drive meaningful, sustainable solutions that can create real-world change.
This is a unique chance to connect with a network of like-minded innovators, industry mentors, and sponsors, expanding your professional reach and opening doors to future opportunities!
🏆 Prizes
$750
Sponsored by: Collins College of Professional Studies
Criteria: Awarded to the team demonstrating exceptional global entrepreneurship, showcasing innovative solutions with a broad, international impact.
The winning team for this award secures a spot to complete in the Hult Prize* National Competition in Boston. *Teams must have registered for Hult by February 15
$750
Sponsored by: Venture and Innovation Center (VIC), in partnership with the St. John’s University School of Education.
Criteria: Awarded to the team focused on advancing the 4th UN Sustainable Development Goal, “Quality Education.” This prize would recognize innovative ideas that promote inclusive, equitable, and accessible education.
$750
Sponsored by: Steve Farella
Criteria: Awarded to team with the most impactful, socially-conscious innovation focused on social justice and community betterment. This award doubles as the Farella Vincentian Innovation Award, underlining the recipient’s commitment to the Vincentian mission and the importance of ethical, community-focused entrepreneurship.
🗝️ Finalists Can Unlock:
*Finalist opportunities are eligible for St. John's University Students only.
VIC’s Incubation Program
Finalists can secure a spot in the Venture & Innovation Center's(VIC)Incubation Program to advance your idea with a summer stipend.
Internships and Summer Accelerator Programs
Protiviti is offering an internship with a rotation in their Innovation Center for one of the winners.
*Subject to a successful interview process.
Funding to attend a summer accelerator in Portugal through European Innovation Academy
Hult Prize's National Competition Spot
Secures a spot to complete in the Hult Prize's National Competition in Boston to compete for a chance to advance to the final round in London, for the grand prize of $1,000,000!
*CCPS Sponsored Award
*Teams must have registered for Hult by February 15
🏅Digital Badges
🌟 Finalists receive a digital badge to showcase their achievement.
📋 Workshops:
Data-Driven Story Telling From Insights to Impact
Giancarlo Crocetti, DPS
Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Mathematics and Science
Location: LAB 1
Design Thinking
Luca Iandoli, Ph.D.
Distinguished Chair and Dean of the Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Location: LAB 2
Business Model Canvas
James M. Kinsley
Director, Venture & Innovation Center, Adjunct Professor, Tobin College of Business
Location: LAB 3
How to Build Your Next Startup Using AI
Shahed Islam '00CPS
Co-Founder And CEO @ SJ Innovation LLC | Strategic leader in AI solutions
Location: LAB 4
📣 Need Help with Your Pitch? Visit the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Table!
Visit Ms. Tami Nelson at the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) table for open-access office hours during the competition. This is your opportunity to:
- Ask questions about your idea or startup journey
- Refine and practice your pitch
- Receive feedback on presentation materials
- Gain insights into market opportunities and business strategy
No appointment needed—stop by during the competition to make the most of this resource!
Tami Nelson has most recently served as Investor and Senior Director of Strategic Projects, leading key VC and diversity initiatives investing in under-represented founders worldwide. She has also led the execution of Techstars’ Advancing Cities fund in partnership with JP Morgan, overseeing 9 cities and 257+ investments. A dedicated mentor in the national startup ecosystem, Tami is committed to identifying transformative ideas and supporting founders on their journey.
👨⚖️Meet our Judges:
Luca Iandoli, Ph.D.
Distinguished Chair and Dean of the Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Anil Chacko
Director, Security and Privacy Management, Protiviti
Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity
John DiMarco Ph.D.
Professor, Mass Communication
Steve Farella '77SVC
Entrepreneur
Board Member, My Telescope
Carmine Gibaldi, Ed.D.
Professor, Administration and Economics
🤝 Meet our Speakers:
Remarks on Entrepreneurship 💡
Steve Farella '77SVC
Entrepreneur
Board Member, My Telescope
UN Guest Speaker 🌐
Naqib Noory
Director of the Office of Security Coordination
United Nations
🤝 Meet our Student Organizers and Mentors:
Richard Perez Jr.
B.S. Computer Science Class of 2026
M.S. Data Science, Class of 2027
Nathaniel Rankine
B.S. Computer Science Class of 2026
Tomas Santos Yciano
B.S. Computer Science Class of 2026
M.S. Data Science, Class of 2027
James M. Kinsley
Director, Venture & Innovation Center, Adjunct Professor, Tobin College of Business
Shahed Islam
Co-Founder & CEO, SJ Innovation Mentor & Workshop Instructor
Tami Nelson
Entrepreneur-In-Residence
📆 Event Schedule
- (8:30 – 9:15 a.m.)
Arrival, Breakfast, and Opening
Participants check in, mingle over breakfast, hear welcome remarks, a guest speaker, and an overview of JIC.
- (9:15 – 9:45 a.m.)
Opening Remarks
Welcome Remarks: Luca Iandoli, Ph.D. ' Distinguished Chair and Dean, CCPS
Remarks on Entrepreneurship: Steve Farella '77SVC, Entrepreneur, Board Member, My Telescope
UN Sustainability Goals Speaker: Naqib Noory, Director of the Office of Security Coordination, United Nations
About JIC: Radhika Jha, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Academic Engagement, CCPS
- (9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Team Idea Development
Teams brainstorm sustainability ideas and receive feedback with guidance from industry professionals and faculty.
- (12:00 – 12:30 p.m.)
Workshops
Participants can join workshops led by an industry expert or faculty member. Team members are welcome to split up to attend different sessions or move between workshops
- (12:30 – 1:00 p.m.)
Lunch Break
Participants enjoy lunch, network with peers and professionals, or meet with their teams. Visit from Johnny Thunderbird.
- (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)
Pitch Refinement and Pre-Screening
Teams refine their pitches. Be ready for pre-screening round by 2:00 PM
- (2:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
Pre-Screening
- (3:15 p.m.) DEADLINE: Upload Your Pitch Deck If You Are Using One
- (3:15 – 3:30 p.m.)
Teams Move to the CCC
- (3:30 p.m.)
Announcement of teams advancing to the final round.
- (3:30 – 5:00 p.m.)
Finalist Pitches
Each team will have 4 minutes to pitch their idea. Followed by 4 minutes Q&A by the judges.
Teams will present in numerical order.
- (5:00 – 5:30 p.m.)
Judge's Deliberations
- (5:30 – 6:00 p.m.)
Winners are announced, and closing remarks conclude the event.
Closing Remarks: Radhika Jha, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Academic Engagement, CCPS
Post-Competition:
Recipients of non-monetary unlocked opportunities will be notified within a week.
Monetary prizes will be distributed digitally.
🚀 Resources For Participants
Please bring a laptop and charges. Notepads are not provided.
Lab 1: Teams 1-4
Lab 2: Teams 5-8
Lab 3: Teams 9-14
Lab 4:
Teams using Pitch Decks must upload it to Dropbox by 3:15 PM.
*PLEASE INCLUDE TEAM # IN FILE NAME*
Drop your pitch deck here!
*Please note that your team number, which will be given at Check-In, must be on the file name.
The New York City Department of Small Business Services is a New York City municipal department supporting small businesses throughout the five boroughs. NYC SBS provides a wide range of programs, services, and resources aimed at helping small businesses
Click Here for NYC SBS Website
Evelyn Carrasco | Senior Community Liaison
NYC Department of Small Business Services
The mission of the Queens Economic Development Corporation is to create and retain jobs through programming that assists small businesses, encourages entrepreneurship, and promotes our community.
Phone: 718-263-0546
Email: info@queensny.org
Bhavna Punjwani | Director, Business Services
QEDC
| Criteria | Description |
| Innovation & Originality | Does the idea present a novel or unique approach to solving the problem? Is it distinct from existing solutions? Does the solution demonstrate fresh thinking? |
| Feasibility & Viability | Can the idea be realistically developed and implemented? Are the technical and financial aspects practical? |
| Problem Solution Fit | Does the solution effectively address a real- world challenge? |
| Team Composition & Capability | Does the team have the necessary skills and background to execute the idea? |
| Alignment with SDG's | Does the innovation directly address one or more of the 17 SDGs? How effectively does it contribute to sustainable development? |
Where can I work with my team?
- Refer to drop down box above for Team Locations.
How long are the presentations? Will there be Q&A?
- Each finalist will present for no longer than 4 minutes.
- Judges will have 4 minutes for the question-and-answer portion of your presentation immediately following your pitch.
- Only judges will be asking questions and only team members will answer
Can I use a pitch deck?
- Yes, you may use a pitch deck. Pitch decks must be submitted in the Dropbox by 3:15 PM.
How will time be kept?
- Time will be kept by a JIC Student Committee member during the pitch and the Q&A
What comes after I give my presentation?
- After all teams have finished presenting, judges’ scores will be tallied and award decisions will be made.
How long would I need to stay?
- Please plan to stay until 6:00 PM to be respectful of other participants and receive a token of participation.
How will prizes be distributed?
- Monetary prizes will be announced after judge's deliberation. Distribution will occur via digital gift card within one week of post-competition, with the exception of the award Sponsored by the VIC; the Director of the VIC will connect with you.
- Recipients of non-monetary opportunities will be notified a week post-competition.
What about confidentiality?
● Just like any other public pitch or ideation event, attendees will not be bound by any confidentiality agreement.
