Following their victory at GEN-E Montenegro 2026, EduAI and SafeCircle will represent Montenegro at GEN-E 2026, Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival for young people and the annual European championship organized by Junior Achievement Europe. Taking place in Riga, Latvia, from 7–9 July, GEN-E will bring together the continent’s most talented student entrepreneurs, innovators and future business leaders.
Selected from more than 400,000 young people participating in Junior Achievement programmes across Europe each year, the teams competing at GEN-E represent the very best of youth entrepreneurship. 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.
EduAI and SafeCircle will represent Montenegro as they compete against Europe’s top student businesses and university startups, presenting their ventures to international juries made up of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation experts.
TEAM STATEMENTS
The winning teams shared their excitement ahead of the European competition:
“Representing Montenegro at GEN-E 2026 is an incredible honour and the result of months of dedication, teamwork and belief in our ideas. We are excited to present our solutions on the European stage, learn from talented young entrepreneurs across the continent and proudly show that innovation from Montenegro can make a real impact.”
JA Montenegro added:
“EduAI and SafeCircle have demonstrated outstanding creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit throughout this year’s programme. Their participation at GEN-E is not only a recognition of their hard work, but also proof that young people in Montenegro have the talent and potential to compete among Europe’s very best innovators. We wish them every success in Riga.”
A EUROPEAN STAGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
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, competition and collaboration. Riga has always been a crossroads of ideas and cultures, and we are proud that it is now the home of GEN-E 2026.”
FOLLOW GEN-E LIVE
Anyone can follow the excitement of GEN-E online.
Key moments of the festival will be livestreamed through the official GEN-E website, making it possible to discover some of Europe’s most promising young innovators from anywhere in the world. The Opening Ceremony and Stage Presentations will be streamed live on 8 July, while the highly anticipated GEN-E Gala Awards Ceremony will take place on the evening of 9 July. The event will also be featured across the GEN-E Virtual Expo and homepage, where visitors can explore student ventures from across Europe.
Follow the action and support EduAI and SafeCircle:
Join the conversation using #GEN_E.
DISCOVERING LATVIA AND RIGA
Beyond the competition, participants will have the opportunity to experience Riga, the largest city in the Baltics. Known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, rich cultural heritage and growing innovation ecosystem, Riga offers a unique setting where entrepreneurship, technology and culture come together. GEN-E 2026 will also feature networking activities, city experiences and international exchanges designed to help young entrepreneurs build lasting European connections.
ABOUT GEN-E
GEN-E is Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival for young people and the annual European championship organised by Junior Achievement Europe. It brings together top student businesses, university startups, educators, policymakers and business leaders to celebrate innovation and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT MONTENEGRO
Junior Achievement Montenegro is the national member of JA Worldwide, the world’s largest organization dedicated to entrepreneurship education, operating in more than 100 countries. Since 2021, JA Montenegro has been empowering young people through experiential learning programmes in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, connecting schools, universities, businesses and public institutions across the country. Its flagship Student Company Programme, recognized by the European Commission as a Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education, enables students to develop real businesses and represent Montenegro at leading European competitions, including GEN-E.
MEDIA CONTACT
• LinkedIn – JA Montenegro
• Instagram – @dostignucamladih
• Facebook – Dostignuća mladih u Crnoj Gori