St. John's University Startup Incubator Program
The Startup Incubator Program takes student founders on a year-long journey in entrepreneurship—beginning with Johnny’s Innovation Challenge in the fall, advancing through the James & Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition in the spring, and culminating in the Venture & Innovation Center's Startup BootCamp each summer. While each event stands on its own, together they create a powerful progression of learning and experience.
However, participation in these three components of the Program is not a requirement in order for students to gain access to a wide range of support from across the campus. Students can pitch their business ideas in the VIC, join VIC events, enter external competitions like the NY Business Plan Competition, and tap into other parts of St. John’s innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem. Only the most engaged and persistent earn a place in the summer BootCamp—the entrepreneurship capstone experience of the academic year.
Johnny's Innovation Challenge
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.
Applications have now closed.
James & Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition
Spring 2026
A high-stakes business plan competition where St. John’s students craft, mentor-refine, and deliver polished for-profit ideas before expert judges. Compete for major cash awards—including up to $5,000—while elevating your entrepreneurial skills and campus profile.
Students of all disciplines are welcome.
Apply By: Mid-March, 2026
VIC Startup BootCamp
Summer 2026
An immersive summer Startup Boot Camp at VIC where the brightest Johnnies sharpen pitch-ready ventures, engage with expert mentors, and accelerate ideas into action. Held in the Venture & Innovation Center, it’s the ultimate capstone for the most driven student entrepreneurs.
Students of all disciplines are welcome.
Apply By: April, 2026
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Activities by Category and Lead St. John's Organization
This section provides a holistic view of the range of activities available in the St. John's Innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Venture & Innovation Center (VIC)
The VIC is a University-wide Center which is at the forefront of our mission to provide an environment that fosters innovation and that encourages students, faculty and administrators to create startup companies.
Competitions
There are a number of both internal and external innovation and entrepreneurship-related competitions that provide opportunities for students to compete against their peers as well as to win cash prizes. The two internal competitions - Johnny's Innovation Challenge (in late November) and the James & Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition (early April) - are core parts of the University's Startup Incubator Program. We also strongly support participation in external competitions.
Collins College of Professional Studies
CCPS is one of the key hubs for entrepreneurship and innovation at St. John's through competitions like Johnny's Innovation Challenge, the Farella Innovation Lab, Design Factory, Global Entrepreneurship Development, and its leadership in AI. across campus. (Contact Max Hergenrother ([email protected])
Tobin College of Business
Tobin College of Business fosters entrepreneurship through its flagship competition, the James & Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition, its MBA concentration in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and experiential programs like the Executive-in-Residence Program.
Student Clubs
Are you at a St. John's School or College where innovation and entrepreneurship are not a main focus? Don't want to enter a competition or join a program? Don't worry, there are a number of student clubs that you can join if you want to get good exposure to these areas.
Programs
St. John’s fosters entrepreneurship via credit-earning global accelerators (like European Innovation Academy), the “ChipServer Program” which is a collaboration with a digital inclusion tool developer, and rigorous NSF I-Corps commercialization training programs for faculty and their research students.
Facilities
Innovation comes to life in our spaces designed for collaboration and creativity.
Courses
Our 3 credit courses blend theory with hands-on learning to prepare students for the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Blogs
How AI Impacts Students Entering the Job Market
Heard enough about artificial intelligence (AI) lately? You’re not alone. Between nonstop headlines and every company jumping on the AI bandwagon, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed on the topic. But here’s the thing: AI isn’t going anywhere.
So instead of tuning it out, the smartest move is to tune in; the more you understand how this technology works, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever’s next.
St. John’s Students Turn Big Ideas into Real-World Impact
At St. John’s University, students are empowered with hands-on learning opportunities to build skills, gain valuable mentorship, and turn visionary ideas into action. One standout event is the business pitch competition known as the Johnnies Innovation Challenge.
In this Q&A, we hear from the three winning student teams of the 2025 Johnnies Innovation Challenge. They share the inspiration behind their business ideas, the skills they gained through participating, and how experiences like this are helping shape their futures.
How Risk Management Fuels This St. John's Grad Student's Entrepreneurial Success
Meet Uday Kumar, founder of start-up company KnotHastags and current international graduate student in the M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) degree program at St. John’s University.
In this Q&A, he discusses how his real-world experience, from launching a start-up to utilizing campus resources, fuels and supports his entrepreneurial ambitions.