Junior Achievement (JA) has long been a partner of the Bata family's, dating back to Thomas J. Bata's involvement in the organization. JA is an international organization with US roots that aims to encourage young people to learn and apply entrepreneurial skills from a young age. They focus on creating engaging content and organizing simulations that allow kids to learn and build new capabilities. Over 10M students participate in JA programmes every year in Europe alone.
The relationship is so deep that the Czech branch of JA was founded by Thomas J Bata with the goal of helping transition Czechoslovakia from a socialist economic model to a responsible entrepreneur driven capitalist one.
A favorite of the JA scene has been the student company competition, which pits the best student company from each nation in Europe against one another. Traditionally this has been held over a few days and has been hosted by one of the participating nations. Students eagerly await this event and it is a great learning opportunity (as well as a lot of fun) for everyone.
Due to the pandemic, the event was hosted totally online with each team having their own virtual "stand" where anyone could go and see the team's project as well as interact with them. Once, they had visited several stands they could vote for their favorite project. The public vote were then compiled with the experts' vote and the winners announced during a Eurovision-esque style stream conducted at the end of the fair, with several prominent speakers. Hundreds of thousands of people interacted with the livestream and with the event online.
An exciting innovation and we will be excited to see where things progress from here!
Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship can be daunting, fraught with obstacles and uncertainties.
However, the journey of Adrian Escabias, as detailed in our latest Friends of Bata case study, offers invaluable insights and practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here's why young entrepreneurs should delve into Adrian's story of ups and downs, and the strategies employed to successfully launch Aticco Ventures:
Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Adrian's transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship showcases the importance of resilience. He faced significant setbacks, including the collapse of his startup Subbo and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Escamu. His ability to bounce back and continue innovating is a powerful lesson for any entrepreneur.
Learning from failure: The case study highlights how Adrian turned failures into learning opportunities. For example, the legal issues and partner conflicts he faced in Subbo underscore the necessity of solid legal agreements and the importance of having experienced advisors.
Importance of Intellectual Property: Protecting intellectual property is crucial, as illustrated by the challenges Adrian faced with his CTO at Subbo. Ensuring proper legal safeguards can prevent devastating losses and help maintain the integrity of your business.
Securing Funding: Adrian's experiences reveal the complexities of startup funding. From relying on personal finances and bank loans to establishing community-based pledge funds, his journey underscores the need for creative and strategic approaches to secure capital.
Building a Supportive Community: Aticco Ventures is a testament to the power of community-driven innovation. By fostering a network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, Adrian has created an environment where startups can thrive through mentorship, collaboration, and shared resources.
Networking and Relationship Building: The value of strong professional networks is a recurring theme in Adrian's story. Regular networking events and workshops at Aticco Ventures help entrepreneurs build essential connections that can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Adrian Escabias's journey provides a realistic and inspiring look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. It offers practical lessons on resilience, the importance of solid legal foundations, creative funding solutions, and the power of community. By learning from Adrian's experiences, entrepreneurs can better navigate their own paths and avoid common pitfalls.
Click here to download the case study and find our all details about his challenges and journey!
