Nearly 140 young entrepreneurs from around the region competed this weekend at the JA Company of the Year Competition, the culminating event for the JA student companies who have spent the last eight months designing, launching and operating a startup company with their peers.

The Competition is designed to put the student startups to the test as they share their business performance in numerous formats and present their business pitch to a panel of esteemed local business leaders. The winning team earns the distinguished title of JA Company of the Year.

The event was part of the 2019-2020 JA Company Program®, an intensive program that offers high schoolers the chance to put their ideas into action by launching and running a real startup under the guidance of business professionals.

The eight startups competing in the competition included:

In the midst of uncertain and challenging times, the student companies adapted seamlessly by pivoting to a virtual world so that team operations and collaboration could continue. Over 284 individuals registered to view the live-streamed finale event on May 16, 2020.

Click here to view the event program.

Check out the results of the JA Company of the Year Competition below!

Competition Results

Company of the Year Award

The teams’ overall business performance was evaluated in the following areas: Company Report, Commercial, Interview and Pitch.

Congratulations, Winners!

Thank you, Judges!

Peter Abrahams, Market President and Publisher, Washington Business Journal
Adam Roberts, Executive Director, Bethesda Green
Justin Rosenberg, Founder and CEO, honeygrow
Trang Sabel, Customer Success Director, Salesforce

Individual Achievement Awards

Individual Achievement Awards were presented to company leaders who consistently supported the development of innovative strategies, successfully saw all tasks through to their completion, welcomed their team’s ideas and contributions, and gained the respect of others.

Congratulations, Winners!