Written by Katarina Komoroski
An Entrepreneurial Opportunity
The European Innovation Academy (EIA) is a nonprofit educational institution that has been helping students grow in their entrepreneurial skills for over a decade. The program includes large group lectures, team breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and mentorship meetings from top leaders and investors from a multitude of major companies. Some of these include Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Airbnb, Adobe, and Amazon (to name a few). Students grow in their communication skills, learn to work and execute an idea, and are provided with easier access to customer discovery. access to customer discovery.
The biggest opportunity the EIA provides is the startup challenge. In just two weeks, students are separated into groups with collegiate men and women from around the globe. Within those groups, they are challenged with creating and presenting their startup ideas to investors. Brainstorming with sticky notes makes collaborating on logistics a lot easier!
Communication is Key
Leyla Zwolinski ’27, an Entrepreneurship major, was enrolled in the program in the summer of 2024. She notes that due to the international nature of the EIA, every member of her small group was from a different culture. Although most people who attended knew or understood the English language, collaborating with her team proved to be a learning experience in itself.
“There were some language barriers that slowed communication at times. We had to slow down and make sure we were aligned,” Zwolinski notes. Although her team members came from Korea, China, Portugal, and the U.S., they were able to work together smoothly. Zwolinski appreciated the slow nature of their conversations, saying, “it actually helped us because we had to be more intentional about clarity, making sure everyone fully understood and agreed on our direction.”
Communication, understanding, and patience are key factors in becoming successful entrepreneurs. Zwolinski agrees: “one of my biggest takeaways was how critical leadership and communication are. Our team leader, Jubeen, had just completed a leadership program in Spain, and it clearly shaped how she led. She made sure everyone felt heard, that expectations were clear, and that wins were celebrated.”
From Practice to Practical
Due to their effective communication, they were able to create and execute their startup idea, Tutorberry, which is an online platform where tutors and tutees for grades K-8 can be matched based on a personality assessment.
After perfecting their concept, they created and decorated a pop up for the program’s business expo day. Zwolinski’s team laid out Tutorberry’s goals, and how its mission would help make learning achievable for students. They set up a prototype of their website and printed QR codes to gather feedback on their concept. “To add an extra element of flair,” Zwolinski adds, “we had people share their temperament and learning style to see what was most common and how there were differences!”
When the day came when they would pitch their idea, Zwolinski and her team were ready. During the first phase of the competition, they presented Tutorberry privately to two investors, with a short Q&A session that followed.
Later that day, the Top 10 finalists were revealed one by one, and Tutorberry was one of them. “When we made the Top 10, we honestly were shocked,” Zwolinski admits, even though their initial pitch was well done. “We then had the opportunity to pitch again in front of everyone. Overall, it was incredibly rewarding—it felt like all the iteration, effort, and growth we experienced as a team really paid off!”
Afterwards, the Tutorberry team had the opportunity to connect with potential investors if they were interested in pursuing their idea further. However, one of Zwolinski’s team members was not interested in moving forward, so they had to pause the project for now.
It’s Your Turn
This unique program taught Zwolinski a simple yet important takeaway: “I’m capable.” She’s not the only one who is capable—The European Innovation Academy is for students of any major. If you have a startup idea, want to travel the world, or are interested in learning more from professionals, this opportunity is for you!
There are three different locations and dates for the EIA for the summer of 2026:
- Porto (July 20-August 7)
- Rome (July 15-28)
- London (July 13-17)
Make sure to check out the E+I website for more information about tuition, housing, and insurance costs and how to apply.
Curious about the other opportunities? Check out the links below to learn how to get involved:
Don’t miss out on upcoming featured lecture and workshop-focused sessions! Here are some lecture and workshop-focused sessions to mark on your calendar for the rest of the semester:
Richard G. Staley ‘62 Visionary Entrepreneur Speaker Series
- Zero to a Billion: A Story in Three Parts with Patrick Colletti
- March 25 @7pm in Sticht Lecture Hall
- Building your Venture Finances with Professor Ken Smith ‘84
- March 26 @4pm in SHAL 308