JA Asia Pacific Holds 2024 Company of the Year Competition in Malaysia
March 11–14, 2024
JA Asia Pacific kicked off its 2024 Company of the Year competition (COY) this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hosted by JA Malaysia, COY welcomed 21 JA student companies from 12 JA Asia Pacific markets to compete in the first regional Company of the Year competition for this school year.
The JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year competition requires each student company to submit a company report, present their business live on stage, participate in a panel interview with judges, and run a booth in a trade fair. This year, nearly 50 judges, including entrepreneurs, industry mavens, and content experts, wil evaluate the student companies.
Day 1
On Monday, students arrived with their teammates and mentors and enjoyed a welcome dinner followed by a networking session to break the ice. The competition kicked into high gear on Tuesday, officially Day 1, with a mentoring session on business presentation for all 22 student companies. Everyone then journeyed to Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya for the trade fair and the official COY opening ceremony. After a full afternoon of judges’ interviews and describing their businesses to members of the public, students returned to the hotel for business presentation rehearsals followed by dinner. But in a fun twist, the students didn’t know the identities of the judges, so those speaking with students could be members of the public or members of the jury.
Meet the JA Student Companies
China: Healthvision (何忆雨澄) created an intelligent medicine box for the elderly that reminds users when it’s time to take medications.
China: Quanxin Quanyi (泉欣泉艺) sells a flameless aromatherapy device.
Guam: Enseña designed and developed Hafa Adai Havoc, an Uno-inspired card game that depicts several aspects of the Chamorro culture.
Guam: Lå'la' designed hinasso, a journal and activity book that includes prompts, activities, and destinations to visit around Guam.
Hong Kong SAR: Elipsis fosters communication between the deaf and the hearing communities in via educational sign language game cards.
Hong Kong SAR: Construini created Swap, a three-in-one life organizer that includes a metal blackboard stand, liquid chalk marker , a memo pad, and a mobile app, Habibi, which helps people establish good habits.
India: Green Pages produces notebooks made with an ecofriendly alternative to traditional pulp paper and a biodegradable cover made from elephant dung.
India: ECOTWILL repurposes waste wrappers into fashionable products that showcase how environmental consciousness can intersect with fashion and functionality.
Indonesia: eSteam produces personal care products, including deodorant, body scrub, and more,
Japan: Rafflesia sells thoughtfully designed notepads, tote bags, earrings, pouches, stickers, and hair clips.
Korea: Eco-Logics’ Alltitab fire prevention IoT power strips address the issue of limited electrical outlets in school classrooms by eliminating the need to daisy-chain power strips.
Korea: O'BGE produces an eco friendly toothbrush with a changeable head.
Malaysia: Seaverse Enterprise designed and sells personal accessories, including the Svebag, a multipurpose fabric bag; the Sveanie, a beanie-style hat; the Sveetie, a ribbon hair pin; and the Svepoch, a fabric pouch.
Malaysia: Pearlescent Enterprise created and sells plastic crocheted keychains, crocheted drawstring bags, mirror keychains, phone charms, and Spotify photocards.
Philippines: Lakbay Incorporated offers fashionable yet sustainable sandals in two distinct designs with detachable straps that cater to both men and women.
Philippines: La Kumpas designed the Alpas Collection, a series of bags that incorporate traditional handwoven textiles known as pinilian fabric.
Singapore: Supplicle created an e-commerce platform specializing in the sale of curated, previously used study materials.
Singapore: InfoAir empowers people everywhere to lead safer and healthier lives by delivering constant air quality awareness in their proximity.
Thailand: Ecollective’s sells Bag It, a sustainable tote bag made from recycled plastic PET bottles.
Vietnam: SOCCO makes and sells socks made from coffee yarn.
Vietnam: 7 LTD manufactures and sells essential oils from coriander and lemongrass essential oil, and coriander- and lemongrass-scented water.
Day 2
Students took to the stage on the second day of competition to present their businesses to the panel of judges. With four minutes on stage per company, each presentation included a business pitch that summarized key learnings, company achievements, how the students accomplished the achievements, and challenges they faced along the way.
Following the on-stage presentations, organizers divided the 21 student companies into four rooms for the panel interviews. With 15 minutes on the clock, students answered questions from the judges based on their trade fair booths, company reports, and business presentations. Following the interviews, students received direct feedback from the judges.
The day capped off with a talent show and dinner, allowing students to demonstrate their other talents, including singing, dancing, and more.
Day 3
On the final day of the competition, students attended the Project Management Essentials seminar, hosted by the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF). The seminar explored the fundamentals of project management and why implementing the practice in business can make everything run smoother and more efficiently.
After the seminar, students cast their votes for the Popular Choice Award, which recognizes the students’ selection for best JA Asia Pacific student company. In the afternoon, students went offsite to relax and have fun before the evening awards ceremony.
The Awards
Congratulations to all JA student companies. The awards were presented as follows:
Popular Choice Award: Guam, Lå'la'
Best Financial Management Award
Third place: Hong Kong SAR–China, Construini
Second place: Korea, O'BGE
First place: Guam, Enseña
Best Business Video Award
Third place: India, Green Pages
Second place: Philippines, Lakbay Incorporated
First place: Malaysia, Seaverse Enterprise
Product of the Year Award
Third place: Hong Kong SAR–China, Construini
Second place: Malaysia, Seaverse Enterprise
First place: Philippines, Lakbay Incorporated
Company of the Year
Third place: Hong Kong SAR–China, Construini
Second place: Guam, Enseña
First place: Korea, O'BGE
Third Place Company of the Year: Hong Kong SAR–China, Construini
Second Place Company of the Year: Guam, Enseña
As the first-place Company of the Year, O’BGE will go on to compete for the 2025 De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award with five other regional champions (Africa, Americas, Europe, MENA, and USA) that will be named later this year.
Catch all the action of the awards show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h047yH8X-Ns.