In addition, Clay Space and Munji Kahalah also won trips to attend the European Innovation Academy to be held July 9-28, 2017, in Turin, Italy.  The European Innovation Academy is billed as an extreme entrepreneurship educational program held over 15 days and offering 70 sessions to students (http://inacademy.eu/italy/). To read more about these winners and their trip to Italy this summer, see Tiffini Porter’s May 17, 2017 article, “UNM student innovators heading to Italy this summer,” from UNM Newsroom, reprinted below.

UNM student innovators heading to Italy this summer

The University of New Mexico’s innovationAcademy (iA) is going global. This summer, two iA students will spend several weeks in Italy participating in the European Innovation Academy (EIA) after winning the Spring 2017 iA & STC.UNM Pitch Competition held recently at Bow & Arrow Brewery.

(l. to r.): Clayton Space and Munji Kahalah with Innovation Academy Director Rob DelCampo.

Munji Kahalah and Clayton Space won the competition, which featured 10 UNM student teams as part of the bi-annual event where student entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas for the chance to win $1,000.

“I’m not sure where to even begin on how excited I am for the Italy trip,” Kahalah said. “I’ve done a couple of pitch competitions before but nothing like this one. The Italy trip being the grand prize definitely put some more pressure on the contestants. That’s a huge prize and I’m sure everyone wanted a piece of it.”

Last semester, iA was contacted by the European Innovation Academy with the goal of collaborating and getting some students to participate in their summer program. Soon after, iA was the recipient of a generous gift from the New Mexico Gas Company (NMGCO) that made the iA/EIA collaboration possible.

“We are excited to be supporting innovation and business growth at UNM’s Innovation Academy, which is making a positive difference as an economic development engine in New Mexico,” said NMGCO president, Ryan Shell. “The funding for our contribution comes from our corporate owner, Emera, so it will not affect natural gas rates for customers. We hope our efforts will stimulate business growth and development.”

The EIA program is a three-week intensive where Kahalah and Space will be able to work alongside other students, mentors, and entrepreneurial experts from around the world. Rob DelCampo, executive director of the innovationAcademy, is excited that two of UNM’s most innovative students will represent iA in Italy this summer.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to explore markets outside the state of New Mexico,” DelCampo said. “Growing the economy in New Mexico means being part of a global economic infrastructure.”

If you would like more information, contact Tiffini Porter via email, tjp0217@unm.edu.