International Entrepreneurship Summit Provides Inspiration for MMA Team

Following their first-place win at the University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship EntreX Diamond Challenge, a team from Merion Mercy Academy advanced to the international Limitless World Summit, held April 23–24, 2026. Elina Deka ’27, Sidona Goniche ’28, Lia Lucci ’27, and Maria Sanchez ’28—creators of Athlete+, a mobile app that uses AI to help student-athletes better manage their time—competed at the highest level alongside more than 70 teams from across the United States and countries including Singapore, Turkey, China, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Armenia.

At the Limitless World Summit, innovation meets leadership in a dynamic, global setting where entrepreneurial-minded students are challenged to think boldly and act with purpose. The program immerses participants in a collaborative international community, offering meaningful opportunities to explore ideas, build connections, and translate vision into impact.

Reflecting on the experience, Elina shared, “It was eye-opening to see how young people are truly shaping a new era. Meeting students from Japan, India, and around the world showed us how motivated our generation is to find solutions that will better our future. It reinforced for me that age does not define intelligence—we met so many students with ideas that will take them far.”

In addition to multiple pitch rounds, the two-day experience featured a series of educational sessions—such as Perfecting Your Pitch; Leading with YES; Your Values, Your Edge; and From Performance to Presence—as well as keynote speakers including Dana White, managing partner of Juno Collective. A former chief spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense and trusted advisor to executives and boards, White left a lasting impression on the Merion Mercy students. “She was an extremely impressive role model,” said Mr. Clementi, the team’s advisor and teacher of Economics and Entrepreneurship.

Mr. Clementi added, “While we didn’t take home the top prize, it was truly inspiring to see the creativity and ingenuity of students from around the world. I was so proud of how our team rose to the moment and represented Merion Mercy.”

Sidona ’28 emphasized the lasting impact of the experience: “One of the biggest takeaways for us was how much we valued the business and leadership aspects of the event. It sparked our interest in starting a DECA club at Merion next year so more students can develop skills in marketing, entrepreneurship, and public speaking while experiencing this kind of competition.”

The team also hopes to make these opportunities more accessible. As Elina explained, “The Economics and Entrepreneurship  class that led us here isn’t available to everyone, so creating a business club would allow more students to explore these interests and experience competition on a larger stage.”

DECA is an international organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs through classroom integration, business partnerships, and professional competition, with focus areas including marketing, entrepreneurship, hospitality, finance, and management.

The team’s journey—from their Diamond Challenge victory to competing on a global stage—reflects the strength of Merion Mercy’s commitment to educational courage and principled leadership. Just as importantly, their experience is already shaping what comes next: new opportunities, broader access, and a growing culture of entrepreneurship that will benefit students across the school for years to come.