JA teaches the world’s youngest entrepreneurs . . . and has for over 100 years. Our entrepreneurship programs teach students real-world business skills so they’ll be ready to create the jobs of the future. Through the JA Company Program—our flagship entrepreneurship program—students work with business-savvy volunteers to launch businesses that deliver innovative products and services. Student teams then participate in JA Company of the Year competitions at local, national, and multi-national levels, demonstrating their products and services in trade fairs and presenting their businesses on-stage to esteemed judges.

The De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award recognizes outstanding JA entrepreneurs. The first-place team from each of our six annual regional JA company competitions (including Company of the Year, Generation E, Young Entrepreneurs Competition, and National Student Leadership Summit) are automatically entered as finalists for the award. The winning team receives awards, plus US $15,000, educational opportunities, and more.

This is big!

Meet the 2025 Finalists

Six inspiring JA student companies won their regional competitions and competed for the 2025 De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award. Watch their competition videos below.

Watch the 2025 Award Ceremony

Who Selects the Winner?

Each student company presents their business venture via video recording and a one-page executive summary, highlighting their creativity, problem-solving skills, and resilience. An exclusive jury composed of JA board members, staff, alumni, and partners from around the world reviewed each company’s submissions and scored each according to a detailed rubric to determine the winner.

Past Winners

Read about the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 finalists and winners and watch the 2024 ceremony highlights below:

Aside from winning first-place in their regional Company of the Year competitions, the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award requires each of the six student companies to create promotional videos. Check out the videos from previous winners below: