September 23, 2026
Accounting major Jason Polo traveled to Rome, Italy, this summer expecting to learn what it takes to build a start-up. He returned with something more tangible: an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered horse-monitoring concept, recognition as one of the European Innovation Academy (EIA) program’s top performers, and the opportunity to continue developing the venture with mentoring and investment support.
EIA’s Rome program is an intensive, three-week entrepreneurship experience that brings together university students from around the world to develop start-up ideas into viable business concepts. Working in teams and guided by entrepreneurs, investors, and industry mentors, participants move through customer research, product development, business modeling, marketing, and pitching, culminating in presentations of their ventures to potential investors.
“I have always been interested in business and building things,” noted Jason, a sophomore. “As AI exploded in popularity, I started getting more interested in technology and how it can be used to build real products.”
He added, “When I heard about the Rome opportunity, and the chance to meet people from around the world, work with them on a start-up, and get feedback from people who have actually built and sold companies, I did not want to miss the opportunity.”
Jason collaborated on Animetryx, an AI-powered horse monitoring system that helps barn owners keep track of their horses’ daily activity and notice when something is amiss.
“The biggest issue we focused on is colic because that is the number-one cause of death for horses and affects about one in every 25 horses with a death rate of around 11 percent,” he observed. “Our idea was to use AI-powered cameras to watch for visible behavior patterns, like changes in movement, eating, resting, or signs that a horse may be uncomfortable. If something looks worth reviewing, the owner gets a short clip and can decide if it is a false alarm, something to keep watching, or something serious enough to contact a vet.”
Jason’s role centered around building the initial testable version of the AI horse-monitoring system, figuring out how the product should work, looking into manufacturers and camera options, and working on economic factors like pricing, costs, margins, and customer acquisition.
He was recognized as one of the top performers in his cohort and has been invited to continue developing the project over the next three months with mentoring and investment support.
“Being recognized as one of the top performers meant a lot because I have always had ideas and built projects by myself,” he recounted. “However, this was different because I had to work with a team, pitch the idea, talk to customers, and explain it to mentors and investors. It made everything feel more real.”
Jason attributed his success with the EIA program to the strong foundation he gained through his St. John’s education. “My accounting and economics background made me think seriously about the business side of things. A product can look good on paper, but once you add real expenses like hardware, shipping, repairs, software, marketing, customer support, and the cost to get each customer, the numbers can change fast.”
He added, “My management class also helped because working in a team is not always easy, especially when everyone has strong ideas. I learned how important it is to set roles, make decisions, and keep the team moving instead of going in circles. This experience made me realize that I want my future to combine business, finance, and technology because I like the numbers side, but I also like building and using AI to solve real problems.”