Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg (JEL) has announced that following their victory at JEL Day 2026 SoilStallion and Smart4Leak will represent Luxembourg at GEN-E 2026 in Riga, Latvia, from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 July 2026.
GEN-E 2026 is Europe's largest entrepreneurship festival for young people and brings together the continent's most talented student entrepreneurs, innovators and future business leaders. The festival also includes the annual European championship organised by Junior Achievement Europe.
JEL said that the teams competing at GEN-E represent the very best of youth entrepreneurship and are selected from more than 400,000 young people participating in Junior Achievement programmes across Europe each year. Participants from more than 40 countries will gather in Latvia to showcase innovative business ideas, compete for prestigious European awards and build international connections that can shape their future careers.
SoilStallion will represent Luxembourg in the category “JA Europe Company of the Year” (upper-secondary level), while Smart4Leak competes in the category “JA Europe Startup of the Year” (university level). Both teams present their ventures to international juries made up of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation experts. SoilStallion is a mini-company from Lycée Aline Mayrisch run by Pierre Clemes, Ilias Derchoul, Amin Licina and Samuel Petri. The team produces a premium organic fertiliser made from pasteurised horse manure – a natural, environmentally friendly solution that improves soil quality and structure over the long term.
Smart4Leak is a team from Lycée Guillaume Kroll comprising Anton Savitchi, Diogo José Bento Soares, Alexandre Greven and Daniel Francisco Silva. As part of JEL's Startup Programme, they developed an innovative sensor that detects water leaks in real time by analysing pipe vibrations.
"GEN-E is much more than a competition – it is a unique European learning experience. Our Luxembourgish teams will have the opportunity to present their projects alongside the best young entrepreneurs from across Europe, challenge their ideas before an experienced international jury and gain invaluable feedback. Just as importantly, they will connect with fellow student entrepreneurs from different countries, exchange perspectives and become part of a vibrant European entrepreneurial community," said Myriam Baustert, Programmes Manager at Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg.
A European stage for the next generation
JEL detailed that this year's GEN-E theme, "Beyond Borders," celebrates the ability of young people to collaborate, innovate and build solutions across countries and cultures. During the festival, participants will showcase ventures spanning sustainability, circular economy solutions, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, health technologies, climate solutions and social impact businesses. Many of these projects directly address challenges linked to Europe's green and digital transitions.
In a message to participants ahead of the event, Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, highlighted the role of young entrepreneurs in shaping Europe's future: "GEN-E is about you, your ideas, your energy and your vision for the future. This year's theme, 'Beyond Borders,' reflects your generation's instinct to connect, collaborate and build across cultures. The projects you are presenting are the beginnings of tomorrow's Made in Europe innovations – so be bold, think beyond borders and continue turning your ideas into real impact. Europe's future is not something that is distant; it is already being built by you."
According to Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe: "Every year, GEN-E brings together the most innovative youth entrepreneurs from across Europe – young people who are already turning ideas into real ventures and real impact. This year's theme, 'Beyond Borders,' reflects exactly what entrepreneurship is about: collaboration, creativity and the courage to build something new together across countries for a stronger Europe."
As host of GEN-E 2026, Jānis Krievāns, CEO of JA Latvia, added: "It is a real pleasure to welcome the entire JA Europe community to Latvia. Riga will host hundreds of young entrepreneurs from across Europe, bringing together the most innovative student companies, educators and partners for several days of inspiration, collaboration and competition. Riga has always been a crossroads of ideas and cultures and we are proud that it is now the home of GEN-E 2026."
The GEN-E Gala Awards Ceremony will take place on the evening of Thursday 9 July and can be watched live at: www.gen-e.eu
