The 2025 Company of the Year!

The 2025 JA North Company of the Year Celebration showcased the entrepreneurial talents of local high school students participating in Junior Achievement North's Company Program. This annual student-centered event featured student-run businesses pitching their ventures to a panel of judges and the public in an expo-like setting all to compete to become the Company of the Year!

Last Night's Winners

JA North's 2025 Company of the Year: Eartha – A company offering ethically sourced, handcrafted jewelry that combines luxury with sustainability.

Second Place: Geo-game – A family-oriented geography card game designed to make learning about the world engaging and fun.

Third Place: Girl Ease – A brand focused on empowering girls to be confident and prepared for life's unexpected moments with ease.

New this year, we proudly crowned Eartha as the People's Choice Award winner! Thank you to everyone who voted before the event or during the celebration!

Other participating companies included Ahoy-Hoi, Clutra, Green Garden Bakery, and Flowixe, each demonstrating innovation and entrepreneurial spirit by identifying unique needs and working as a team to solve them.

The student companies represented many local high schools including Mounds View High (Mounds View, MN), Humboldt High (St. Paul, MN), Como Park Senior High (St. Paul, MN), St. Paul Academy (St. Paul, MN), FAIR School for the Arts (Minneapolis, MN) and North High (Minneapolis, MN).

The event was made possible through the support of our presenting sponsor, Delta Air Lines, and our inspiring sponsor, Liberty Diversified International, along with support from local and national partners.

For more details on the event and the participating companies, visit the official Event page!

JA Company Program

Offered by Junior Achievement North throughout our region, JA Company Program is an immersive educational experience designed for high school students to explore entrepreneurship by launching and managing a real business venture. Students identify a community need or problem and develop a product or service to address it, gaining hands-on experience in business operations.

Key Student Focuses

• Entrepreneurial Skill Development: students cultivate critical skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, leadership, financial management, and resilience.
• Real-World Guidance: community volunteers and mentors provide practical insights and support throughout the business creation process.
• Blended Learning: the program combines in-person sessions with digital resources, including interactive modules on sales, marketing, finance, and supply chain management, which helps students learn via multiple mediums.

Learning Outcomes

Students participating in the program have reported significant learning gains through post-program surveys:

• 91% learned how to work effectively with others.
• 77% learned the steps to start their own business.
• 75% learned about new career options.
• 70% learned how to better manage money.

These outcomes underscore the program's impact on equipping students with essential skills for future success.

The JA North Company of the Year Celebration serves as a culminating event where student-run companies present their ventures, showcasing the entrepreneurial skills they've developed through the program.

For more information or to get involved, visit our Programs page.