November 19, 2025

Over three energizing days, the top JA student companies from across the Americas came together in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 JA Americas Company of the Year (COY) Competition. Students heard from inspiring speakers (including Global Business Hall of Fame Laureates Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter and Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila), networked, and presented their JA companies to judges, peers, and JA staff from around the world.

While Day 1 was devoted to settling in and getting to know the lay of the land, Day 2 was devoted to the competition. Students prepared their pitch materials, refined their presentations, and set up their booths for the trade show. The entrepreneurship fair opened later in the day, giving every team a platform to showcase its company to judges, fellow participants, and attendees at JA Worldwide’s Global Leadership Conference, which also included the JA Americas board and the JA Worldwide Board of Governors.

On the final day, students faced the judging portion of the competition. Each student company met with the judges for interviews that encouraged them to think deeply about their business models, impact, and teamwork. That afternoon, students had time off to relax and reflect on their achievements before the awards gala at the Roxy Dinner Theater.

Meet the Student Companies

Argentina: Lexia created a booklet for children with dyslexia, featuring simplified classic stories, clear typography, and integrated activities that blend reading, writing, and play.

Argentina: Refugio Patagónico makes artisanal jams and spreads from Jerusalem artichoke, offering a healthy, organic alternative that promotes conscious eating and Patagonian identity.

Brazil: Agarrô is an ergonomic, multifunctional bag support made from 3D-printed bioplastic and upholstery off-cuts.

Brazil: Essenza sells natural soaps with an integrated vegetable loofah, offering a biodegradable, eco-friendly self-care experience that promotes wellness and environmental responsibility.

Brazil: ReBags makes sustainable bags and accessories, including wallets, toiletry bags, and baguette-style purses from recycled truck tire inner tubes and used jeans.

Canada: Top Shelf published a series of children’s books called Seawater Studies. Printed with plant-based ink on recycled paper, the books teach literacy and values through ocean-themed stories.

Chile: Áurea offers a natural hydrating hair cream made from Changle fungus, which strengthens, repairs, and protects hair.

Colombia: Bio-Pot’s biodegradable pots enriched with nutrients and made from recycled materials to support healthy home gardening.

Costa Rica: BookMark’s 3D-printed smart bookmark tracks reading time, gamifies literacy, and motivates young readers to build strong reading habits.

Ecuador: Elementies JA manufactures natural therapeutic cushions filled with medicinal plants and seeds that provide hot or cold relief. Each cushion is biodegradable and made from fully compostable fabrics.

Ecuador: Lula Pak JA’s ecological bags, decorated with Amazonian and wildlife protection themes, are made from durable, waterproof fabric, replacing single-use plastics.

Ecuador: Sacky JA created sustainable lunch bags made from recycled plastic bottles. The bags, feature Ecuadorian animals and illustrations that promote healthy eating habits and environmental awareness.

Guatemala: FutureFund offers online personalized tutoring in math and physics to help students improve grades, gain confidence, and prepare for exams.

Jamaica: Bio-Bloom’s compostable seed-embedded pots made from coconut coir and recycled newspaper decompose naturally and include seeds to make home gardening simple.

Jamaica: Eco Egg’s natural cleaning powder made from eggshells, baking soda, and homemade soap removes tough grease without chemicals, encouraging healthier cleaning habits.

Mexico: Bakachi produces a natural powdered shake made from fruits, seeds, and superfoods that supports digestive health, strengthens immunity, and provides energy throughout the day.

Mexico: EcoBit offers compressed compost cubes with integrated seeds that simplify sustainable home cultivation, enrich the soil, and teach environmental responsibility.

Peru: Ecoarom’s solid, eco-friendly perfume made from natural ingredients, including beeswax and shea butter, is ideal for sensitive skin in a compact, recyclable container.

Peru: Mucy Laya’s moisturizing cream made from cocoa mucilage transforms an agricultural by-product into a hydrating, vitamin-rich formula packaged in reusable glass jars.

Uruguay: ENEA’s handcrafted aromatherapy accessories with built-in aroma diffusers reduce stress through essential oils.

The Awards

The Alumni Leadership Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, positively influencing their team and their JA company. It celebrates personal strength, commitment, and the leadership skills developed throughout the JA Company Program journey.

Winner: David Sebastián Obando Escobar, JA Ecuador

The Delta Air Lines Social Impact Award honors the JA student company that best demonstrates relevance and purpose of impact, results and measurable impact, inclusion and equity, partnerships and community collaboration, and sustainability and long-term vision.

Winner: Essenza, JA Brazil

The PMIEF Project Success Award recognizes the JA student company that best demonstrates understanding of project management concepts and application of PM knowledge. Presents content that is detailed, clear, focused, compelling, and easy to follow.

Winner: Mucy Laya, JA Peru

The FedEx Global Possibilities Award honors the JA student company that demonstrates it is driven by innovation, connects to new markets, fuels community development, and is sustainable and socially responsible.

Winner: Lula Park JA, JA Ecuador

JA Americas Company of the Year

The top three JA student companies have demonstrated exceptional performance across creativity, innovation, teamwork, and purpose. Guided by the pillars of organizational management, innovation and technology, impact and purpose, scalability, and team commitment, the finalists must prove their ability to turn ideas into real, high-quality ventures. The COY judges evaluated each JA student company based on their company reports, video pitches, stage presentations, trade fair performance, and interviews.