JA StartUp Programme

For the StartUp programme there is a basic registration donation of Eur 65, unless stated otherwise by your educational institute.

As part of the enrolment process you/your guardian will receive an online payment link.

If you are currently attending a sixth form, or are between the ages of 15 to 17, then Company Programme is for you. 

If you are currently, 18 to 30 years old, attending a tertiary level educational institute, then StartUp Programme is for you! 

The JA StartUp Programme is a practical and hands-on learning experience that provides youths with the opportunity to build a solid foundation for a potential start-up. Participants in the programme will have the chance to bring their own ideas or come up with an innovative product or service, validate their concept by appraising the market, and ultimately design a supporting business model they can pitch in front of a jury. JA start-ups designed through the programme are built in such a way that by the end of the programme, should participants wish to carry on and launch their idea, they have the solid foundation upon which to do so. 

The JA StartUp Programme is offered as a week-long bootcamp, with a networking event and pitching masterclass leading up to the Finals Competition. Throughout the bootcamp, participants will engage in hands-on practical workshops designed to help them take their idea from concept to working business model, ready to be pitched to representatives from the local start-up and business ecosystem. 

At JA, the core principle of each programme is Learning by Doing, and the StartUp programme is no different. The content delivered in the bootcamp will guide participants through the actual start-up processes needed for any successful business, including but not limited to: 

• Idea generation 
• Concept validation 
• Business Planning 
• Pitching to investors 
• Mentorship 

Participants will also be exposed to several essential networking opportunities. The programme gives young individuals who are seeking to establish themselves as entrepreneurial achievers in an increasingly competitive labour market, a chance to stand out. It also gives participants the opportunity to bounce-off their innovative ideas with leading experts in the field. 

The goal of the programme is to prepare participants for the National StartUp of the Year Competition where the teams will pitch their ideas to a group of judges acting as eager investors. The winners of the competition will not only win a cash prize to help them launch their start-up, but will also represent Malta at Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival, Gen-E, organised by JA Europe. 

The JA Malta StartUp programme begins with a Launch and Ideation Session on February 15, 2025, where participants will start exploring ideas and forming teams. The first training weekend follows on February 21-22, with a second weekend scheduled for March 7-8. The competition phase kicks off with the JA Malta StartUp Demo Day on April 11, 2025, where teams will present their projects. The Semi-Finals are set for May 3, 2025, leading up to the Finals and Awards Night on May 24, 2025.

This programme leads to a national competition to choose the top 6 teams. However, all the teams are also eligible for signature awards announced during the year, that recognise excellence in specific areas. 

The Minimum number of team members for StartUp Programme is 2 students.  We highly recommend up to 5 team members per StartUp team. 

The StartUp Programme is delivered in English.

The workshops will provide insight, motivation and added input on programme-specific topics related to the outputs required, and tools for the students to achieve pre-set goals. JA workshops are designed in a manner to engage and provide spaces for collaborative work, public speaking opportunities, innovating and building a network of professionals. Due to the nature of the Programme being a self-led experience, the students are to co-ordinate, facilitate, and take responsibility for the stages of their start-up.