JA Americas celebrated the 16th annual Company of the Year Competition in Montevideo, Uruguay

  • The 16th Company of the Year competition brought together 77 young entrepreneurs, showcasing the exceptional talent and innovation of youth from across the Americas.

  • ACHEI from Brazil, MYTHICS from Ecuador, and MUCI-CAO from Peru received top honors for their groundbreaking business ideas.

  • The event celebrated youth entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and prepared the winners for global competition.

From December 3 to 5, Montevideo welcomed young entrepreneurs representing twenty finalist companies from 9 countries across the Americas, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.

These young innovators are graduates of Junior Achievement's Company Program, a transformative initiative where over 30,000 students annually experience the real-world challenges of creating, organizing, and running a business. Participants are tasked with submitting detailed reports, presenting their projects, and excelling in interviews, showcasing the critical thinking and business acumen gained through the program.

Event Highlights:

Day 1: The event kicked off with an inspiring opening ceremony where participants connected with fellow competitors and mentors. While skill-building sessions from partners like FedEx, Delta, and PMIEF had been held virtually beforehand, FedEx hosted an engaging in-person activity focused on fostering creativity and teamwork. These sessions were essential for student companies aiming to qualify for the prestigious partner awards.

Day 2: The competition gained momentum as students set up their trade fair booths at the Uruguay Innovation Hub in Montevideo. They presented their businesses in private sessions to a panel of twelve judges, showcasing their ventures' strengths and innovation. Later, the trade fair allowed them to demonstrate their products to guests, entrepreneurs, and alumni. The day ended with a vibrant Uruguayan dinner featuring traditional music and cultural performances.

Day 3: The finalists faced individual, closed-door interviews with the judges in the morning, a crucial step in the evaluation process. The event concluded with a grand gala dinner, where the most outstanding ventures received well-deserved accolades and awards, celebrating their journey and achievements.

Award-Winning Ventures:

The event celebrated remarkable achievements, with the following ventures receiving special recognition:

  • Best Company | First Place: ACHEI (Brazil): Developed an intelligent tracking system combining Bluetooth tags and an app to help users locate personal items.

  • Best Company | Second Place: MYTHICS (Ecuador): Created magnetic tangrams that enhance cognitive development and promote reduced screen time for children.

  • Best Company | Third Place: MUCI-CAO (Peru): Innovated popsicles made from cocoa mucilage with delicious fillings, adding value to this often-overlooked part of the fruit.

Signature awards:

  • FedEx Global Possibilities Award: Conexa (Uruguay), for their potential to scale globally.

  • PMIEF Project Success Award: SUGI (Ecuador), for exemplary project execution.

  • Delta Social Impact Award: Aponway (Guatemala), for significant social impact potential.

Empowering Future Leaders
“This event exemplifies the power of youth innovation. Seeing these young entrepreneurs flourish is a testament to the transformative impact of our programs,” said Noël Zemborain, President of Junior Achievement Americas. “These participants represent the entrepreneurial future of their communities and inspire us to continue empowering the next generation of leaders.”

Declared an event of Tourism and Educational Interest by the Government of Uruguay, COY 2024 was made possible by the support of global partners such as FedEx, Delta Air Lines, and PMIEF, alongside local sponsors including SC Johnson, Cubo, and the Innovation Hub.

Looking Ahead

As the 16th edition of COY wraps up, the spotlight now shifts to the winners preparing for the international stage. ACHEI, named Best Company of the Americas, will compete for the prestigious Ralph De La Vega Award against top youth enterprises from around the globe.

JA Americas