Mercy University Business Students Shine in Global Competition

Mercy University School of Business students Sophia Resolme, Mason Gifford, and Olga Ineza ranked among the top 20 teams at the prestigious 41st Global Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Business Plan Competition. The event, held in Tampa, Florida, brought together student entrepreneurs from 600 academic institutions, including highly selective schools such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT.

The trio earned their spot in the competition after winning Mercy’s Annual Business Plan Competition earlier this year with Trace, a discrete radio-frequency tracking sticker. Outperforming 580 schools in the competition, Team Trace advanced to the semifinals, solidifying their place among the top 20.

“It was a very proud moment for Mercy University and the School of Business,” said Robert F. Bohn, director of Mercy’s Entrepreneurship Programs. “It should serve as notice for us all to continue to push our students to achieve the unreachable.”

The competition was fierce, with judges initially selecting the top 100 business plans from the 600 entries. Mercy’s team stood out in the first evaluation round, and later advanced to the coveted top 20. Their achievement represents a defining Maverick moment for the university.

“Making it to the top 20 was a testament to our team’s dedication, hard work, and adaptability,” said Gifford. “Participating in this global competition opened my eyes to the incredible work people are doing around the world and the profound impact it has on their communities.”

This achievement highlights the caliber of Mercy University’s students and programs, reflecting the School of Business’s commitment to fostering innovation and preparing future leaders for success on a global stage.

From left to right, Sofia Cialicu, associate director of Operations for Mercy's School of Business, Robert Bohn, director of Mercy’s Entrepreneurship Programs and students Sophia Resolme, Mason Gifford and Olga Ineza.