JA Asia Pacific Brings Company of the Year Competition Online
August 24–26, 2020
The 10th anniversary of the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition was originally scheduled to be held in March 2020, but with the advent and rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world, the competition was delayed. Fortunately, JA Guam remained enthusiastic and willing to host and organize the now-virtual event. Despite the difficulties associated with putting the three-day live event online, JA Guam and JA Asia Pacific rose to meet the challenge, presenting the region—and the world—with the chance to participate in and watch the competition from home.
As with the in-person competition, this year, student companies are being evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of entrepreneurs, academics, and representatives from the host nation business community. Student companies showcase their entrepreneurial skills and innovations through their company reports, business videos, and virtual pitch and interview sessions with the judges. In addition to JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year first-, second-, and third-place awards, student companies also compete for other prestigious awards, including the FedEx Global Possibilities Award and the Young Entrepreneurs’ Choice Award.
Day 1:
The first day of the 2020 JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition began with a live-streamed opening ceremony, with JA Asia Pacific’s Winnie Ho as emcee. Winnie introduced student teams, and viewers were treated to opening remarks from Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerroro, JA Asia Pacific CEO Maziar Sabet, JA Guam Board Chair Meg Tyquiengco, JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani, and more.
Following the opening ceremony, student teams participated in the FedEx Global Possibilities Seminar, where they learned about the principles of global connectivity, including global trade, international shipping solutions, and services provided by FedEx, like global logistics. The seminar is the first step for student companies for the FedEx Global Possibilities Award.
Watch the opening ceremony:
Meet the teams:
BruFiniti (Brunei) created a card game called BAH! designed to teach both locals and tourists about Bruneian culture and strengthen family bonding.
Green Forest (China) produces DIY solar-powered humidifier, a desktop semi-conductor air conditioner, and an octagonal tenon-and-mortise palace lantern.
Rebel (China) developed the Rebel Pen, a whiteboard pen that utilizes the aperture rotating seal structure to solve problems associated with traditional dry-erase pens, including spilled ink, dried-out tips, and lost caps.
Isla I Lina’la (Guam) sells handmade bracelets and scrunchies made from recycled materials, including plastic and string. Items are available in four designs, each culturally significant to the island of Guam and its culture.
Pasiadot (Guam) created the Pasiadot Pack, a set of reusable, portable utensils made from bamboo. Each set comes with four utensils and a straw to meet basic culinary needs.
Lovables (Hong Kong) produced four plush toys to represent diversity that is lacking in Hong Kong’s toy industry. The designs include features that some members of society may view as defects, but that Lovables believes are important.
Aaraam LTD (India) sells customizable cushions with quirky, trendy covers made from recycled PET plastics.
ShinobiTECH (India) created LASERekha, a laser tripwire security system that activates a buzzer when the laser light loses contact with a light-dependent sensor.
Emi Student Company (Indonesia) sells a versatile jacket that features multiple convenience pockets, earphone holders, an inflatable pillow, a sleeping blindfold, and a detachable hood—it also folds into a bag.
VISCO Student Company (Indonesia) offers two different product lines, Soyase and Sight. Soyase includes the Casey pencil case and the Pouchinki pouch. The Edna, Signa, and Vallet brands are improved versions of them. Sight products were created with insights from customers.
UP and UP (Korea) created RES-PACK, a chemical-free skincare face mask made of hanji (traditional Korean paper) coated with dried alginate hydrogel. UP and UP created their own hydrogel using alginate, a natural substance derived from seaweed, and the masks include Korean traditional natural herbs green tea, mugwort, and black bean.
Stargazers Enterprise (Malaysia) manufactures and sells home goods made of recycled materials—a DIY batik stool, the Pipe Organiser, and a batik-and-songket lightbox—and custom laser-engraved key chains.
Eco.mmunity (Philippines) produces organic plastic-free shampoo and soap bars in different scents and sizes available, including pure gugo, gugo with calamansi, aloe vera and green tea, coffee, and honey.
Mayari (Philippines) designs and sells sustainable jewelry based on Filipino mythology.
Revival (Singapore) created the Versa, a multifunctional bag made of repurposed banners that can be worn as a crossbody bag, a slingback, or a backpack.
The UPERA Co. (Singapore) sells a handcrafted self-watering terrarium (Capillary System) with a multifunctional wooden storage box and mobile phone stand. Each item comes with a customized laser-cut name and plant care guide.
beeLights (Turkmenistan) created bookmarks made from recycled paper and bibelots made from repurposed wood that contain information on the rich history and cultures of Turkmenistan. Information is accessed through QR codes on the bookmarks and the corresponding circle-shaped bibelot.
Day 2:
Day 2 of the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition largely took place behind closed doors. The student teams met with panels of judges for the important pitches and interview sessions. These sessions are not open to the public, as these sessions give judges the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the student companies through live presentations followed by the chance to ask questions.
Meet the judges:
Mika Caldwell, Vice President, Archway, Inc.
Catherine Castro, President, Guam Chamber of Commerce
Joaquin Cook, President and CEO, Bank of Guam
Chris Duenas, CFO, Triple J Enterprises, Inc.
Jon J. P. Fernandez, Superintendent of Education, Guam Department of Education
Andrew M. Gayle, Jr., COO, GTA
Frederick Granillo, Network Director, PISBDCN
Melani Mendiola, CEO/Administrator, Guam Economic Development Authority
FedEx Global Possibilities Award speaker and judges:
Kenneth McMahon, Managing Director, APAC Customer Solutions and Special Services
Yuya Suzuki, Sales, FedEx Express
Mariko Hosoi, Sales, FedEx Express
Kayoko Takata, Special Services, FedEx Express
Katsuyoshi Kataoka, Sales, FedEx Express
Kenneth McMahon, who will present the JA Global Possibilities Award at the awards ceremony, is also a JA alumnus! Watch his story in the video below.
Day 3:
Day 3 of the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition culminated in the closing awards ceremony, where student teams not only competed for first, second, and third-place but also aimed to win two signature awards:
FedEx Global Possibilities Award: Goes to the student company that best demonstrates the following criteria: driven by innovation, connecting to new markets, fueling community development, and sustainability and social responsibility.
Young Entrepreneurs’ Choice Award: Goes to the student company that receives the most votes from a peer vote.
We’re excited to announce the 2020 Company of the Year winning companies!
Young Entrepreneurs’ Choice Award:
FedEx Global Possibilities Award:
Third-place, Company of the Year:
Second-place, Company of the Year:
First-place, Company of the Year:
Team Revival will now compete for the de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, along with the winners of the other five 2020 JA regional Company of the Year competitions. See more about the award in the video below:
Congratulations to all the students teams who competed in this first-ever virtual event, to the volunteers and mentors who supported them, to JA staff and board members throughout the Asia Pacific region, and to our millions of JA alumni around the world, who are building the companies that power the world.
Watch the closing ceremony, as it happened live!
