JA StartUp Programme

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Launch your business idea with a 10K grant 🚀

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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.

At JA, the core principle of each programme is Learning by Doing, and the StartUp programme is no different. 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. Topics include but are 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 represent Malta at Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival, Gen-E, organised by JA Europe, in addition to a €10,000 grant to help get your business idea off the ground.

IMPORTANT DATES:

LAUNCH – 20th March 2024 18:00 – 20:30

BUSINESS PREP – 25th March 2024 – 09:00-12:30


DAY 1 – 1st April 2024 – 09:00 – 16:00

DAY 2 – 2nd April 2024 – 09:00 – 16:00

DAY 3 – 3rd April 2024 – 09:00 – 16:00

DAY 4 – 4th April 2024 – 09:00 – 16:00

DAY 5 – 5th April 2024 – 13:00 – 18:00


*** Please note that the last day of StartUp Boot Camp, 5th April, takes place at a different time – 13:00 – 18:00 ***


COMPETITION DATES:

Market Appraisal Competition – 20th April 2024 – 09:00 – 15:30

Semi-finals – 4th May 2024 – 09:00 – 15:30

Finals – 11th May – 18:00 – 22:00


** These events are NOT open to the general public, and are intended for StartUp participants ONLY **

Startup Programme Awards

JA MALTA

Startup of the Year Award

EY MALTA

Concept Validation Award

NEW 2023 - Camilleri Preziosi Logo

Camilleri Preziosi ADVOCATES

Customer Focus Award

HSBC MALTA FOUNDATION

ESG Sustainability Award

Tech.mt

Digital Innovation Award

bolt logo

BOLT

DISRUPTIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD

StartUp Programme FAQs

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 StartUp Programme will be running primarily over a 1-week bootcamp, starting in April, followed by 3 Saturdays-worth of half-day workshops, pitches and activities, leading up to the National StartUp of the Year Competition in May. 

This programme leads to a national competition to choose the top 3 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.

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