JA Mini Company 2019 Launch

The JA Mini Company program 2019 was launched on Friday 22^nd March 2019. The 8^th edition will see the participation of 35 teams from 24 schools,

The theme for both the local and the regional competition is “Activate Disruptors”. The big challenge for the participants this year will be to come up with a product which has the potential to change an industry or to impact the daily life of their customers. For the Mauritian teams, they will have to shift away from the decorative items, which have been predominant in previous years, and to match the level of innovation and creativity of their African peers.

The JA Mini Company Program, prepares young people aged 15-18(Grade 12) by getting them to start and run a business for a period of 3-4 months. They need to raise the capital needed for their project, through the sales of shares, and they make a product/service which they then market and sell to the general public. The teams will then take part in a Trade Fair, where they will be given the opportunity to showcase their project.  

The launch of this edition was done during the JA Mini Company Innovation Camp. During this event, 2 representatives for each team received training sessions to equip them for the rest of the competition.

• Competition Guidelines

JA Mascareignes went through the guidelines of the JA Mini Company Competition 2019, with an emphasis on the theme “Activate Disruptors”.

• “Innovation and Creativity” by the representatives of Rogers Capital.
  • Understanding Digital Transformation
  • New technologies which enable/facilitate Digital Transformation
  • Understanding how Digital Transformation can impact people’s daily life
• Session on “Product Design”
• Understanding the theme: Activate Disruptors
• How to carry out a Market Research?
• Product Ideation Process
• Training Session for teachers.
• Story of an Entrepreneur: Jade Li, CEO Katapult, 2^nd Place in Total’s Start-upper competition
• Sharing of her experience as a young entrepreneur
• Katapult teaches Digital Skills to young people
  • Digital Skills as a business venture
• Session on “Social Impact”
  • Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Measuring the Social Impact of a company
  • Case Study: CSR strategies of other companies

The 2019 competition is sponsored by Rogers Capital. In addition to the financial support, the staff of Rogers Capital will be accompanying the JA Companies throughout the program. They will be able to guide them and share their business experience with the companies.

At the end of the JA Mini Company Program, the 5 best teams will be selected for the final. They will each need to make a PowerPoint presentation in front of a jury. The winner of the local competition, will represent Mauritius at the JA Africa Company of the Year Competition.