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European youth show the way out of the crisis

Liege, Belgium, 05 July 2013

One out of two Wallonians aged 17 to 30 aspires to set up his own business but lack of confidence and funds prevent them from doing so, according to ASE (Agence de Stimulation Économique). From 3rd to 4th July, 85 University students gathered from 14 European countries to unleash their entrepreneurial potential and show how they fight for employability with motivation and enthusiasm during the European Enterprise Challenge.

 

The Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise (JA-YE) Europe Enterprise Challenge 2013, which brings together student start-ups for a two-day competition, took place in Liege, Belgium. Team Jukeboss from France won the European Enterprise Challenge Award for their mobile application that allows people to vote for the music they want to listen so that the automatic player can adapt the music according to their choices.

The students formed their companies as part of the JA-YE Start-Up Programme at their university or college and received the support of their professors as well as guidance from mentors from the business world. Each group has developed a real product and/or service and they have all successfully dealt with the challenges of setting up and running a business.

The companies represented a wide range of industry areas ranging from breeding corals in aquariums to an online platform on constructing and programming robots. The companies were evaluated by a jury chaired by Marco Curavic, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry and made up of business volunteers including Cristian Nacu, Partner and Country Manager, Enterprise Investors, Philippe Vanrie, CEO, EBN, Sharon Vosmek, CEO ASTIA and Jonathan Murray, COO DIGITALEUROPE who thought of themselves as potential investors.

“It’s truly rejuvenating amidst such turbulent times to see the devoted efforts of young people who unleash their entrepreneurial potential and show the way out of the crisis for Europe itself,” said Caroline Jenner, CEO of JA-YE Europe.

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JA-YE Europe Enterprise Challenge Awards:

Winner:

Jukeboss (France) mobile application that allows people to vote for the music they want to listen so that the automatic player can adapt the music according to their choices.

1st runner up:

Onbooked (Denmark) is a platform where students have the opportunity to buy access to their study books to a far cheaper price than ever seen before on the market.

2nd runner up:

the teabox company (UK) offers high-quality teas, using only the best ingredients.

European Signature Awards

Intel Innovation Award

Room for Change (Denmark) is a digital solution that enables consumers to have a new buying experience.

Hyundai Brilliant Entrepreneur Award

Hive (Belgium) is an innovative window farm company.

 

Local Signature Awards

Accenture Responsible Leadership Award

ePark (Spain) mobile app will allow car drivers to find free parking spaces.

ASE Creative Economy Award

Room for Change (Denmark) is a digital solution that enables consumers to have a new buying experience.

Special Award

Alumni Leadership Award was given by the European Alumni Organization to 13 exceptional students competing at the Enterprise Challenge competition.

To learn more on the European Enterprise Challenge visit our website

About JA-YE Europe

JA-YE Europe (www.ja-ye.org) is Europe’s largest provider of entrepreneurship education programmes, reaching 3.1 million students in 37 countries in 2012. Funded by businesses, institutions, foundations and individuals, JA-YE brings the public and private sectors together to provide young people in primary and secondary schools and early university with experiences that promote the skills, understanding and perspective that they will need to succeed in a global economy. The JA-YE Company Programme is recognised by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General as a ‘Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education’. JA-YE Europe is the European Regional Operating Center for JA Worldwide®.

About Les Jeunes Entreprises

LJE (www.lje.be), member of JA-YE Europe, will host the EEC 2013 in Liège for the first time.

For 36 years, the organization dedicates itself to fulfilling this mission: to develop entrepreneurial skills (creativity, initiative, team spirit, sense of responsibility ...) of young people aged 8 to 25 years. 4 programs are run into the schools and cover different levels of education: Our Community (primary education), the Mini-Company (secondary education), YEP/Start up programme and Innovation Camp (higher education).

Some yearly figures of LJE’s accomplishments:

• 230 schools
• 221 mini-companies
• 250 business plans (YEP)
• 500 volunteers to coach teams
• 12,000 young people, including 2,349 in the mini-company programme
• 14,000 shareholders who invest in these projects

And 50,000 former mini-entrepreneurs in 36 years of operation.

For more information, please contact:

Fabienne Baise
+ 32 2 245 13 80
fabienne@lje.be

Marie Hargitt
JA Communications
+32 2 893 4436

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