The Letz Guess team took third place in the European mini-company competition in Italy, held 2-4 July 2024. Photo: Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg

The Letz Guess team took third place in the European mini-company competition in Italy, held 2-4 July 2024. Photo: Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg

For the first time, a Luxembourg team--Letz Guess--has made it onto the podium of a competition for Europe’s best mini-companies, held 2 to 4 July in Catania, Italy. The competition recognises the entrepreneurial spirit of young people aged 15 to 19.

, a free online game in four languages where users learn about the grand duchy, should be recognised as being of public utility: those who manage to answer 500 questions about Luxembourg correctly could receive a credit similar to that expected for practising Lëtzebuergesch.

In the meantime, the six students from the Lycée des arts et métiers (Elisabeth Flammang, Fabien Friederici, Leslie Bodé, Mathieu Dondelinger, Sébastien Fohr and Sven Ludwig), coached by their teachers (Claudia Touceira da Silva, Marc Haas, Mike Pereira Gonçalves and Carole Schmit) and their mentors (Ivo Silva and Clémentine Offner), took third place in the European competition of 41 mini-companies, aimed at young Europeans aged 15 to 19.

This was a first in the Gen-E festival organised by JA Italy, which--like Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg--is part of the Junior Achievement (JA) Europe network. The competition took place from 2 to 4 July in Catania, Italy and for the occasion, the budding entrepreneurs launched two new versions, focusing on the European Union and the Gen-E festival.

A second Luxembourg team--Check & Mate, who took part in the JA Startup competition offered in the higher education category--was less fortunate. At this level, a team of students has to produce a business plan based on an innovative idea for a product or service. Check & Mate, made up of Channel Felt, Martin Biever, Morgane Santos Coelho and Estelle Simone Mannes (four BTS Hospitality Management students at the École d’hôtellerie et de tourisme du Luxembourg), coached by their teachers Claudine Thoma and Elisabeth Frisch from Luxinnovation, are proposing a freemium application that will enable students to find jobs and the hotel and catering industry to find workers. Students will be able to filter job offers according to their availability and employers according to their needs.

The winners

The JA Europe Company of the Year Award (secondary school level) rewards the mini-companies and young people who have best demonstrated their business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit following their participation in the JA Company programme. Treberei, an Austrian project, won the top prize. Luxembourg came third with its Letz Guess project.

The JA Europe Startup of the Year Award (higher education level) rewards the most viable and sustainable business, focusing on the value (financial, social or cultural) already created in the real market and its potential for expansion. LeakTrack.ai, from Turkey, won the award.

The JA Europe Innovation of the Year Award (for both levels) recognises the mini-companies and startups that have developed the most innovative businesses and business solutions with real future investment potential: Oculare and 99Robotics, both from Denmark, won the Innovation of the Year Award.

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