Credit: Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg

The non-profit organisation Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg has announced that fifteen mini-companies participated in the national final of its “Mini-Enterprises” programme.

For the 2024 edition of the Mini-Enterprises Finale, the finalists presented their projects at Kinepolis Kirchberg on Thursday 23 May 2024. In total, 105 teams from 28 secondary schools registered for the programme at the beginning of the school year.

The national mini-business final started with a sale organised at the Kirchberg shopping centre. From 10:00, the fifteen finalist mini-companies offered their goods and services for sale in the shopping centre, succeeding in exciting passers-by about their creations. The jury also visited the sales stands and assessed the young entrepreneurs' ability to market their products.

At 15:00, an audience of more than 200 people gathered at Kinepolis Kirchberg to listen to the teams present their projects and describe their experiences during the year. Moderated by Loïc Juchem, the event began with a speech from Patrick Wies, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Nadia Battello, Director of Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg, who congratulated the young people on their motivation, perseverance and commitment. Gilles Scholtus, Government Advisor at Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy, was also present to congratulate the young participants and attend the presentations.

Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, the network of which Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg is part, also participated in the Luxembourg final of the mini-businesses. During his speech, he gave three pieces of advice to the young entrepreneurs: “Think big. Don’t take no for an answer. Give back!” The winners of the “Best Mini-Company 2024” title will see Salvatore Nigro again at the European mini-company competition at the beginning of July.

The mini-companies were evaluated by a jury of fifteen professionals from the world of work and education, including top financial institutions and members from the Ministry of the Economy.

During the evening awards ceremony at Hitch in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, Luxembourg's Minister for Consumer Protection, Martine Hansen, presented the “Consumer Protection Award” and the “Responsible Consumption Award.” Luxembourg’s Minister of Sport and Labour, Georges Mischo, announced the winner of the “Social Entrepreneurship Award” via video.

Award Winners:

  • Consumer Protection Award: “Spongy” from Lycée technique de Lallange.
  • Responsible Consumption Award: “Ecoffee” from Lycée Aline Mayrisch.
  • Social Entrepreneurship Award: “Letz Guess” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers.
  • Innovation and Value Creation Award: “Grimmel” from Lycée Michel Lucius.
  • Financial Management Award: “Grillsquare” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers.
  • Business Plan Award: “Neway” from the School of Business and Management.
  • Marketing Strategy and Campaign Award: “Letz Guess” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers.
  • Public Choice Award: “Rootie’s” from Lycée Robert Schuman.
     
  • Best Mini-Entreprise 2024 (1st Prize): “Letz Guess” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers.
  • 2nd Prize: “Grillsquare” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers.
  • ​3rd Prize: “Ecoffee” from Lycée Aline Mayrisch.


​The first prize went to “Letz Guess,” a mini-company of six students from Lycée des Arts et Métiers, which will represent Luxembourg at the “JA European Company of the Year Competition” in Catania, Italy from 2 to 4 July 2024. Letz Guess is an online game about Luxembourg that asks players questions to help them discover the country in a fun way. The game is available in four languages: French, German, English, and Luxembourgish. The team consists of Elisabeth Flammang, Fabien Friederici, Leslie Bodé, Mathieu Dondelinger, Sébastien Fohr and Sven Ludwig, supported by teachers Claudia Touceira da Silva, Marc Haas, Mike Pereira Gonçalves, and Carole Schmit, as well as mentors Ivo Silva, Clémentine Offner, and Gilles Heinesch.

The second prize was awarded to “Grillsquare” from Lycée des Arts et Métiers, a mini-business of six students aiming to simplify grilling “on the go.” The lightweight, ultra-convenient grill is designed for outdoor cooking and can be assembled like a puzzle in just a few minutes. The team consists of Fynn Herr, Iana Bertanier, Luca Shemberger, Timothy O’Brien, Timothy Petersen and Yannik Sand, with the same coaches as Letz Guess.

The third prize went to “Ecoffee” from Lycée Aline Mayrisch, which aims to revolutionise the coffee market with lupine coffee. This coffee is grown in Europe, uses 90% less water than traditional coffee, and is reportedly healthier. The team consists of Alessio Calisti Thill, Félicien Ragot, Fynn Arbogast, Luca Majeres, Nicolas Terrens and Remik Puczok, supported by teacher Sandra Thibeau and coach Philippe Linster, CEO of the House of Startups.

The Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg Alumni committee presented the Leadership Award to three students: Alessio Calisti Thill (Ecoffee), Serge Ndiaye Lucas (Neway), and Veronica Pereira Ribeiro (Grimmel). The winners can participate in a Startup Weekend in Berlin or the JA Global Alumni Summit in Porto. The Federation of Young Business Managers of Luxembourg also awarded the winners a monetary prize.