JA Europe Celebrates Student Entrepreneurs with Gen-E
July 15, 2021
Last month, JA Europe kicked off its Gen-E Entrepreneurship Festival with a virtual expo showcasing JA student companies for both the JA Company of the Year Competition and the European Enterprise Challenge. Previously two separate events, the Company of the Year Competition and the European Enterprise Challenge are the culminating competitions for students in the JA Company Program and the Start Up Program around Europe. Gen-E combined them into one festival. Today, JA Europe celebrated student teams in both competitions in separate awards ceremonies.
European Enterprise Challenge
The JA Europe Start Up Program gives post-secondary students (ages 19–30) the opportunity to experience running their own companies, giving them an insight into how their talents could be used in business for themselves.
This year, 24 student companies from ten countries competed for the Enterprise of the Year Award, three signature awards, the Public Choice Award, and the JA Alumni Leadership Award. Meet and read about each of the student companies at the Virtual Expo hall.
FedEx Access Award
Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Avanade Digital Innovation Award
Third Place
Second Place
First Place – Enterprise of the Year
Learn more about all the European Enterprise Challenge winners.
Company of the Year Competition
This 2021 JA Europe Company of the Year Competition included 62 student companies from 40 locations. Students ages 15–18 participated in the JA Company Program around the region. By creating and running their own company, students learn how to turn a business from idea to reality, running every aspect of it from sales to operations to finance and more. Meet and read about each of the 62 student companies at the Virtual Expo hall.
Upon completion of the JA Company Program, students can earn the Entrepreneurial Skills Pass, a certification for students who have gained entrepreneurship knowledge, skills, and competencies. Originally only available in Europe, the ESP is expanding to more JA regions around the world. Learn more about the ESP.
Additionally, the first-place winner of the JA Europe Company of the Year Competition will be entered to win The de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, where they will compete with the winners of the regional Company of the Year winners from JA USA, JA Americas, JA Asia Pacific, JA Africa, and INJAZ Al-Arab. Learn more.
Teacher of the Year Award
FedEx Access Award
In 2007, FedEx became the founding sponsor with JA Worldwide to expand regional JA Company of the Year competitions around the world. FedEx has continued its support annually through sponsorship of the signature awards. The FedEx Access Award honors the JA Europe student businesses in both the EEC and the COY that best exhibit the innovation, sustainability, community development, and access to global markets. Each year this award incentivizes young JA entrepreneurs to seek higher achievement and recognition at regional JA competitions around the world by creating products and services that improve lives.
ManpowerGroup #ReadyforWork Award
Citi Foundation Client Focus Award
Third Place
Second Place
First Place – JA Europe Company of the Year
Learn more about all the 2021 JA Europe Company of the Year award winners.
Congratulations to all 86 student companies in this year’s European Enterprise Challenge and Company of the Year Competition, as well as to the many teachers, volunteers, partners, and JA staff who helped make these programs and celebrations possible.