The Company
Students create and run a real company from start to finish: they form teams, raise capital, produce and sell, manage their resources, and present their results.
The Company program encourages students to create, organize, and operate a real venture. Young people experience the importance of innovation, generating impact, taking risks, making decisions and working in teams.
At the same time, they acquire skills in project management, finance and develop their social-emotional abilities. Students are guided by adult mentors (teachers, volunteers or facilitators) and receive continuous support from Junior Achievement.
1,200 teachers and 1,800 volunteers
The Company in action
Learning by doing
The program follows four stages, grouped in two phases: first the team explores and designs the venture, then it takes action with real money, suppliers and customers. An adult mentor guides the group through weekly meetings.
Organization
They choose their product or service, the name and identity of the venture, define its purpose and triple impact strategy, and assign roles to all team members.
The experience takes place both inside and outside the classroom
Three moments where students step out of the school and into the real market: pitching to investors, selling to the public and learning from professionals.
Capitalization Round
Young people present their project at a special event or through a video pitch, where they share their business plan and sell shares to investors. This is how they raise the initial capital to start production.
Trade Fair
Students put their communication and sales skills to the test in an open event, whether in a shopping mall or through an online store, facing the challenge of attracting customers and closing sales.
Inspiring Conversations
Sessions guided by experts who focus on specific stages of the program or bring news on trends and business keys: online marketing, product development, applied finance, teamwork, virtual stores and e-wallets.
Real companies, real products
Managing a company is also a learning experience
The Enterprise Space is the online management system where students register their operations, keeping the daily administration of the enterprise in a system similar to that of a conventional company.
- Capital, shares and their value, from the capitalization round to the final close.
- Production and sales goals, tracked against what the team actually produces and sells.
- Expenses, suppliers and customers: every transaction recorded as it happens.
- Balance sheet and liquidation, closing the accounting period and reporting to shareholders.
- A role for every team member, with mentors following the company's progress.
The journey continues
Running the company is only the beginning. Three milestones take students from their classroom to the region, and from the region to the world.
Entrepreneurial Skills Pass
The Entrepreneurial Skills Pass (ESP) is a global micro-credential that lets students validate the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills they developed through the JA Company Program. It is certified by Junior Achievement together with CSR Europe and Eurochambres, and endorsed by the Organization of American States (OAS).
Learn more
Company of the Year
Outstanding companies from each country advance to the regional competition, where they present their ventures to judges, business leaders, and other young people from across the region. The competition is hosted in a different city each year.
Learn more
De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award
The regional winning company represents the Americas, competing against winning teams from other competitions around the world. Organized by Junior Achievement Worldwide, it brings together the champions of every region.
Learn moreIn their own words
Students, teachers and volunteer mentors on what it means to build a company before finishing school.
Allies that make the journey possible
Some allies bring their own expertise into the program through learning content, webinars and inspiring conversations, so that students learn from the organizations that live these topics every day. Select a logo to see what each one brings. Others make the program possible with their support.
Bring your expertise to the next generation of entrepreneurs: content, mentoring, webinars or an award aligned with your purpose.
The Company is present in 22 countries across the Americas
From Canada to Argentina, each Junior Achievement member nation adapts the program to its school year and culture. Visit the local Junior Achievement office to learn how the program runs in each country.
Bring The Company to your community
Whether you lead a school, a company or a foundation, or want to volunteer as a mentor, we'd love to hear from you.
- Schools and educators who want to run the program
- Companies and foundations looking to become allies
- Professionals who want to mentor or give an inspiring talk
- Media and institutions interested in youth entrepreneurship