top of page
Document Header_edited_edited.jpg
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
student companies.png
21

student companies participated

JA Full-Color_CREDENTIAL - CERTIFICATE.png
71,759

youth completed the JA Company Program prior

JA Full-Color_Milestone.png
12

countries/territories represented

(China, Guam, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, and Thailand)

JA Full-Color_SUCCESS - TROPHY.png
11

awards given out

JA Full-Color_VOLUNTEER HEART-2.png
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
Agenda.png
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.

Information Booklet
JA COYC 2026 Booklet
 

“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

Partners
PMIEF logo.png
Sponsors
ML_Foundation_primary_RGB_darkblue.png
Disney.png
image.png
starbucks logo_horizontal.png
bottom of page