FedEx and JA Take the FedEx Business Challenge to Canada

July 27, 2018

The FedEx Junior Business Challenge—a unique opportunity for JA Company Program students to pitch their businesses at PGA TOUR tournaments—gives the next generation of entrepreneurs the chance to pitch original business concepts to a star-studded judging panel.

This week, four student teams from JA Central Ontario were on stage at the RBC Canadian Open in Oakville, Ontario, Canada:

  • Team Ball-It recycles basketballs from Toronto Raptors games to create leather keychains, with a portion of proceeds going to the MLSE Foundation.

  • Team Pinpoint brings attention to emerging Toronto businesses through one-of-a kind apparel.

  • Team Oprim Publishing creates high-quality, entertaining picture books about gender equity.

  • Team myCryptoHippo educates GenZ about cryptocurrency and blockchain to make those technologies less intimidating.

At stake for the teams was a chance to compete in the FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in September, where the winning team will receive a $75,000 donation from FedEx to their local JA area.

Business judges in Ontario included PGA TOUR golfer Adam Hadwin, Sam Bettinardi of Bettinardi golf equipment, Marc Lafleur of TruLocal, and RBC Canadian Open director and former Canadian football player Bryan Crawford. Journalist Adam Stanley was the MC for the event.

Students displayed their products or services during the trade fair, and then shared their business plans, models, and results during formal presentations. Judges then conferred and . . . they chose Team myCryptoHippo for the win! (Check out the winning team's website at mycryptohippo.com.) The team of four will head to the FedEx Junior Business Challenge final in September to compete for $75,000 on behalf of JA Central Ontario!

The final qualifier in the FedEx Junior Business Challenge series is the Dell Technologies Championship in Norton, Massachusetts, USA, on Wednesday, August 29. Young entrepreneurs from JA of Northern New England will compete for their chance at the final. Follow @jaworldwide on Twitter for live updates.

Funder-FedEx, Region-JAAmericas, Featured, 2018JulyJA Worldwide