
About
The 2026 JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition (COYC) brought together the region’s most promising young entrepreneurs in Seoul, South Korea, from 9 to 12 March 2026, hosted by JA Korea. Now in its 16th year, this flagship regional event showcased the innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of youth across the region.
JA Asia Pacific COYC 2026 at a glance

21
student companies participated

71,759
youth completed the JA Company Program prior

12
countries/territories represented
(China, Guam, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, and Thailand)

11
awards given out

41
volunteer judges assessed virtually and in-person
JA Asia Pacific COYC 2026 helped young people build the human and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in a changing world.
Nearly nine in ten youth said they strongly developed resilience, while more than 85% reported strong growth in leadership, creative thinking, and empathy. Across six of the ten competencies measured, 98% of youth experienced skills development.
Agenda

Awards





🏆 JA Company of the Year, 1st Place
🥉 Product of the Year, 3rd Place
Wealth Wizards developed an engaging financial literacy board game that helps young people build essential money management skills through interactive play. Set in a fantasy-themed world, players learn to budget, invest, manage expenses, respond to market events, and work toward financial independence through strategic decision-making. Designed to make financial education accessible and enjoyable, the game is complemented by digital learning resources, including a financial guidebook and question bank, extending learning beyond the board and empowering students to make informed financial decisions with confidence.
🥈 JA Company of the Year, 2nd Place
Aurora Enterprise created The Chain of Life, a biodiversity-themed card game that introduces players to ecological concepts through hands-on, interactive gameplay. The game encourages participants to explore the interconnectedness of species and ecosystems while developing a deeper appreciation for environmental conservation. By combining education and entertainment, The Chain of Life promotes sustainability awareness and inspires young people to become more environmentally conscious, demonstrating how games can be powerful tools for learning and positive community impact.
🥉 JA Company of the Year, 3rd Place
🥇 Product of the Year, 1st Place
DeNew transforms discarded denim into stylish, handcrafted bags that promote both environmental sustainability and personal wellbeing. Each upcycled bag incorporates thoughtful wellness features, including reusable mini whiteboards, calming strips, stress-relief charms, and reflective tools designed to support mental wellness. By addressing textile waste while encouraging self-expression and emotional resilience, DeNew creates products with both social and environmental value. The initiative demonstrates how sustainable design can offer practical solutions that benefit people and the planet alike.
💰 MetLife Foundation Award for Best Financial Management
Håtsa developed The Melting Pot, an interactive cookbook that celebrates Guam's rich cultural diversity through recipes, stories, and engaging cooking activities. Designed to bring families and communities together, the book showcases multicultural traditions while encouraging creativity in the kitchen. Through interactive elements and educational content, The Melting Pot highlights the unique blend of cultures that shape Guam and demonstrates how food can foster cultural appreciation, connection, and shared experiences across generations.
🥈 Product of the Year, 2nd Place
AUTERRA introduced LUFT D'HUMFY, an innovative humidity-control solution designed to improve indoor air quality while supporting environmentally responsible living. The product line includes the core dehumidifying solution alongside coffee-based and scented refill options that enhance functionality and user experience. Created to address common indoor humidity challenges, the products help reduce moisture buildup while promoting healthier living environments. Through practical innovation and sustainable design, AUTERRA demonstrates how everyday household challenges can be addressed through entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship.
📋 PMIEF Best Application of Project Management, 1st Place
Goal Getters
Sirapatra Na Ranong (Thailand)
Srishti Hariharan (Singapore)
Choi Eunbi (South Korea)
Annette Co Flores (Philippines)
Muhammad Hussain Nawaz (Pakistan)
Oung Ze Shen (Malaysia)
Yuka Colonia (Philippines)
A cross-market team recognized for exceptional planning, teamwork, and execution throughout the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation challenge, demonstrating the effective application of project management principles to achieve outstanding results.
📋 PMIEF Best Application of Project Management, 2nd Place
3RMizu
Hu Xinyu (China)
Noah Combs (Guam)
Theodore Haien Liu (Hong Kong SAR)
Kapish Bachhawat (India)
Nadine Tirza Amadea Riwu Kore (Indonesia)
Takaaki Moriya (Japan)
Yin Pei Yi (Malaysia)
A cross-market team that showcased strong collaboration, organization, and project delivery skills, applying structured project management approaches to successfully complete the challenge objectives.
📋 PMIEF Best Application of Project Management, 3rd Place
Coastbusters
Leana Francine Cutanda (Philippines)
Doyeon Lee (South Korea)
Alexis Setiawan (Singapore)
Tutthep (Jaosua) Kitkarnnon (Thailand)
Huo Youran (China)
Ciara Pangelinan (Guam)
A cross-market team recognized for its disciplined project execution, problem-solving capabilities, and ability to work effectively as a team while applying project management best practices.
“JA is critical for helping young people develop knowledge, skills and tools to navigate not only their careers but their lives. Watching the group presentations at JA Asia Pacific COY 2026 was inspiring! Truly something to behold. The future is bright with these young people leading the way.”
Jim Dobbs, Judge from Dobbs Education
“Most impressive was to observe the young people interacting with one another- building friendships- encouraging each other.”
Jared Baldwin, Educator from Guam
“This experience was a pivotal opportunity that will profoundly shape my future life.”
Shibao Yuna, Finalist from Japan
“The competition helped me improve my confidence, communication skills, and understanding of entrepreneurship.”
Kapish Bachhawat, Finalist from India
“What impressed me most was the students' deep social awareness regarding issues in their communities and generation. Coupled with a pragmatic mindset to find realistic solutions and the technical agility to create tangible products in a short period, they truly embodied the spirit of next-generation entrepreneurship.”
Kim Eunho, Judge from Citibank Korea
“The JA COYC offers young people the opportunity to develop important soft skills through experiential learning and creating actual positive social impact.”
Ang Shushan, Educator from Singapore
“Meeting new people from different countries and building friendly relationships with them was the highlight of the competition.”
Christian Havel M. Valenzuela, Finalist from the Philippines
100% of participants would recommend COYC to other young people, demonstrating the lasting impact of entrepreneurship education and international collaboration.
Judges
JA Asia Pacific COYC 2026 was supported by over 40 judges from leading companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and professional associations. Their diverse expertise provided student companies with valuable perspectives, thoughtful feedback, and an authentic real-world assessment experience.
Amber Buschmann
Social Impact Specialist, PMIEF
Changwon Jeon
Lawyer, Kim & Chang Law Firm
JA Korea Board Member
Dr. Haroon Latif
Chairman of the Board, JA Pakistan
Executive Director, RLK Group
Elmarie Potgieter
President and Director, Elmarie Potgieter Consulting SAS
Eunhyung Lee
President, JA Korea
Vice President for External Affairs, Kookmin University
Hobart Epstein
Senior Advisor, Wonik Holdings
JA Korea Board Member and Former President, Goldman Sachs Korea
Hyebin Gi
Portfolio Manager, MetLife Korea
Ilsun Son
Consultant, Deloitte Consulting Korea
Jim Dobbs
President and Owner, Dobbs Education, LLC and Dobbs Allison Global, Pte. Ltd.
John Lee
JA Korea Board Member and John Lee School
Former President, Merits Asset Management
Former CEO, Maritz Finance
Jungsoo Kim
President, PMI South Korea Chapter
Kelcey Hwang
AVP and Head, MetLife Foundation Korea
Lee Seihyuk (이세혁)
Claims Specialist, MetLife Korea
Malathi Srinivasan
Global Industry Marketing Leader, IBM
Minhye Park
CEO, WWF Korea
Prof. Veera Sekaran
Managing Director, Greenology
Professor, National University of Singapore
Rubin Won
AI Engineer, MetLife Korea
Shahreena Benedict
Freelance Consultant and Former Director, Deloitte Malaysia
Sori Park
Social Impact Specialist, MetLife Foundation Korea
VC John
Chief Marketing Officer, KPMG
Yustiniani Mouton
Founder and CEO, Playbook Technologies Pte. Ltd.
Anuj Jain
Global Account Director, Oracle
Dongyon Kim
Strategy Director, Deloitte Consulting Korea
Durga K
Implementation Lead, JA Canada
Eunho Kim
Citi Bank
Felix Veroya
Founder and CEO, Ask Lex PH Academy
Hock Soon Neoh
Senior Manager, NPI and Supply Chain, Thunder Print
Hyunsuk Lee
Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting Korea
Jeffary Retnam
Staff Engineer and ITSM Process Specialist, ams OSRAM
Jinho Lee
Team Lead, KRAFTON
Julian Nhung Nguyen
Chairwoman and CEO, WELDTEC
President, PMI Vietnam Chapter
Kay Pang
JA Korea Board Member
Former CEO, Sav Korea
Kim Stengert
Director, Alliance to End Plastic Waste
Maggie Lee
Senior Director of Sustainability, Coca-Cola
Min Gyo Lee
International Tax Director, Deloitte Consulting Korea
Oh Hyun Jung
Product Designer, MetLife Korea
Rohit Sharma
Director, Deloitte Malaysia
Seung Hoon Lee
Head of Sustainability, HSBC Korea
Sharmala Narasingam
Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Maybank Group Singapore
Thada Savetsila
Board Chairman, Junior Achievement Thailand
Yoobin Kim
Consultant, Deloitte Consulting Korea






