What if the Start Up Programme for the scholastic year 2025/26 looked different? That was the question we, at JA Malta, began with. It was a moment of curiosity that pushed us to rethink how we could create real impact for tertiary-level students whose days are filled with lectures, deadlines, part-time jobs, hobbies, and a social life that never quite slows down.
We wanted to seek to understand students’ realities and build a programme that meets them where they are. That curiosity is what sparked our new three-track approach, three different ways to question, learn, and discover what entrepreneurship could look like for you.
We knew that many students feel drawn to entrepreneurship but may not have the foundational knowledge or confidence to start. So, we set out to discover what kind of learning experience could truly empower them.
The JA Track is a five-session bootcamp designed to help students build essential skills in ideation, prototyping, finance, marketing strategy, and more. It offers the space to seek to understand, to ask questions to learn from industry experts, and to turn sparks of curiosity into something tangible.
This is where ideas begin to grow; where experimenting is encouraged and impact starts to take shape.
Another scenario that we frequently saw was that across universities and institutes, students work hard on business plans and entrepreneurial assignments that often end up unused; left in folders, shelves, or the cloud. We began to question: what if those ideas could not go to waste?
The School Track gives students the opportunity to rework existing coursework and align it with the Start Up Programme criteria. Why let good ideas fade when curiosity can give them another life? This track is perfect for students already engaging with entrepreneurship through their studies but wanting to take their work further.
Then there are those students who already have a start-up idea, who have developed it with intent, and are ready to push it further. For them, we designed the Independent Track, a chance to pitch their idea directly to a panel of judges, receive expert feedback, and discover new ways to improve their concept.
This track brings these student founders closer to JA Malta’s network of industry leaders, opening doors to opportunities such as mentorship, introductions, and real-world insights that support their journey.
This ecosystem of support is strengthened by our programme partners, without whom the Start Up Programme would not be possible. EY, HSBC Malta Foundation, Tech.MT, Camilleri Preziosi, Bolt, and the Malta Business Registry (MBR) work alongside us to encourage these young innovators and fuel the entrepreneurial spirit. Their involvement enhances the very opportunities the programme offers, creating an environment where students can discover, question, grow, and ultimately experiment with ideas that may one day become Malta’s next impactful ventures.
What If… You Took the First Step?
Applications are now open. Follow your curiosity and apply today.
