Isle of Man’s Best Young Entrepreneurs Head to Europe’s Largest Entrepreneurship Festival
Friday 03 July 2026
Isle of Man’s Best Young Entrepreneurs Head to Europe’s Largest Entrepreneurship Festival
Following their victory at the JA Company Programme Competition, Re-Vitalize will represent the Isle of Man at GEN-E 2026, Europe's largest entrepreneurship festival for young people and the annual European championship organised 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.
Re-Vitalize converts low-value coffee grounds, spent hops and sawdust into an all-natural soil enhancer called ‘EcoGrow’.
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.
Re-Vitalize will represent the Isle of Man as it competes against Europe's top student businesses and university startups, presenting its venture to international juries made up of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation experts.
The Re-Vitalize team said:
"At Re-Vitalize, we feel honoured to be representing the IOM at Gen-E 2026 in Riga. Gen-E is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young entrepreneurs at the start of our professional careers and we fully intend on relishing each and every moment. All of our hard work has come down to this event and we are grateful for every opportunity this experience has given, and is yet to give us, past, present and future".
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 Re-Vitalize at:
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 start-ups, educators, policymakers and business leaders to celebrate innovation and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Junior Achievement Isle of Man
We are a Manx-registered charity dedicated to helping the Island’s young people gain the essential skills they need to get a job or start their own business.
Manx registered charity No. 665
