October 17, 2024
A St. John’s University senior secured a spot on one of 11 top-achieving teams that competed this summer in the European Innovation Academy (EIA), a three-week, study-abroad program in Portugal that focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation.
“EIA was the perfect platform to challenge myself, grow, and make a real-world impact through innovative design and technology,” said Alpamys Yechshanov, who is on track to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Alpamys and five other St. John’s students were among more than 500 participants from more than 60 countries in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp EIA Porto 2024.
During the bootcamp, competitors formed international teams of five members each. Together, they identified problems, validated them with potential customers, and meticulously built prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs). These start-ups then launched marketing campaigns, acquired their first customers, and ultimately presented their ideas to a panel of expert investors.
To complete the program, teams must participate in Pitch Day. During this event, investors evaluate the teams on a five-point scale, considering opportunity, traction, scalability, execution, and presentation. The top teams were distinguished, not only by receiving the highest investor scores, but also by earning high-ranking reviews from their mentors.
"Our participation in the European Innovation Academy is a testament to St. John’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. By providing students with opportunities to immerse themselves in cutting-edge global initiatives like EIA, we are not only elevating their entrepreneurial mindset but also equipping them with the tools to lead in an innovation-driven world,” said Luca Iandoli, Ph.D., Distinguished Chair and Dean, The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication to sustainability and ability to harness technology and design for meaningful change."
“The European Innovation Academy is a tremendous opportunity for our students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. It instills the global perspective that is critical for success in today’s business environment,” said Maciek Nowak, Ph.D., Dean, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, and the Joseph H. and Maria C. Schwartz Distinguished Chair
Alpamys and his fellow group members achieved Top Team status through their project, which was named “Virture.” It was designed to address everyday struggles people face when they try to recycle various items correctly.
“Despite the availability of bins for sorting, improper recycling is still rampant, especially in densely populated areas,” Alpamys explained. “We wanted to tackle this issue by making it easier for people to identify the correct bins, using technology to bridge the gap.”
“We picked this topic,” he added, “because we all feel deeply connected to environmental issues, and this was a practical way to contribute to solving a global problem.” The team’s solution was to develop software that scans the trash, generates a list of materials, and identifies the correct bin for each item to be deposited.
Alpamys learned new things about himself through his experience in the EIA program. “I realized that I thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments,” he said. “The pressure of a competition, combined with the goal of creating a meaningful solution, really brought out my leadership and problem-solving skills. It also reinforced my passion for innovation, particularly at the intersection of design, technology, and sustainability.”
Regarding his time at St. John’s, Alpamys, from Kazakhstan, said, “The University’s support for international students and the focus on sustainability have lined up perfectly with my interests, helping me to grow as a designer and an entrepreneur. Working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and getting involved in international initiatives has also opened doors for me to showcase my work globally, like through the EIA program and my personal projects.”
“St. John’s is a big mix of cultures, which is amazing for learning from different perspectives,” he added. “The network here is super strong, and building connections with students and professors can lead to great opportunities.”
The other St. John’s participants in the 2024 EIA program were
Jacqueline Torres
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Major: Computer Science
Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Date of graduation: January 2024
EIA project: To address the need for more communication among European company theaters, my team created a marketplace app for company theaters to connect and sell or rent items like costumes, play scripts, props, and/or venues.
Dylan Bacchus
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Major: Game Development and Emerging Media
Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in Game Development and Emerging Media
Date of graduation: May 2026
EIA project: My team project was about making mental health support more accessible, affordable, and interactive for young adults, who face current solutions, such as therapy, that are expensive. We created an app where people can find resources to help them learn more about mental health in a gamified experience. It would contain learning features and outlets to help younger people obtain some assistance on their mental health journey if they feel they are not ready for therapy or for other, more expensive options.
Jonathan Smilovich
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Major: Business Administration
Degree: Master of Business Administration in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Expected date of graduation: September 2024
EIA project: Our team’s challenge was to help individuals determine how to dress for an event based on what clothing an individual already possesses. We created an app named Kaleido, which allows users to scan their wardrobes and have artificial intelligence show which pieces can complement each other. Organizations could create events and establish a dress code, which Kaleido would then use to sort out the most appropriate outfit for that event, based on what is in the user’s clothes closet helping combat needless overbuying.
Adina-Georgiana Stancu
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Major: Marketing
Minor: Social Justice: Theory and Practice in the Vincentian Tradition
Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing
Date of graduation: May 2027
EIA project: We addressed the current lack of accessible, affordable, and convenient team sports opportunities for individuals facing financial, time, social, health, and transportation barriers, which can contribute to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. My team developed an app, called “Autsai,” that allows individuals to easily find and sign up for sports activities that fit their schedules and skill levels, and help sports enthusiasts with conflicting schedules find the right partners to practice their favorite sports. This solution would help foster social connections, reduce loneliness, and alleviate anxiety and depression by encouraging physical activity and community engagement.
Daria Stepanova
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Major: Business Administration, Entrepreneurship
Degree: Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship
Date of graduation: May 2025
EIA project: I developed a start-up in the field of tourism and artificial intelligence.