In the final of the European Pupils Training Enterprises, Latvia will be defended by young people from Madona State Gymnasium / Day

The right to represent Latvia in the European Best Training Company Competition « Gen-E Europe » in Greece, in Athens this year has won SMU « Blum » from Madona State Gymnasium. Pupils have created a hydroponic garden equipment and its monitoring application. The hydroponic garden allows plants to grow with nutrients in enriched water, not in the soil. It can be controlled by an application associated with sensors – they measure humidity, temperature, light and nutrient concentration.

The 2nd place in the high school group was awarded to the student training company “Rimaboards” from Riga Agenskalns State Gymnasium. Young people offer a balance board, which challenges balance and train body stability, allowing you to imitate snowboarding and wakeboard movements. The board improves coordination, strength, flexibility and endurance, and is suitable for both athletes and anyone who wants to learn new skills.

The 3rd place among high school students was won by the SMU team « Sylabic » at the Ogre Technical School. The team, in collaboration with speech therapists, develops teaching materials to help pre -school children develop phonematic hearing. The product combines carefully designed, artistically designed cards with a modern website that will feature sounds, creating an exciting and effective learning experience for the child.

Meanwhile, in the elementary group group 1st place this year for students from Madona City Secondary School. Herbal Fun offers isomalt balls formed natural herbal teas. In second place, the Birdfull from Madona State Gymnasium, which forms feed balls for birds, but in 3rd place SMU « Spark » from Jelgava Siputola State Gymnasium, whose product is interior objects – framed reproductions of paintings.

During the event, a prize was also awarded to the « Young Entrepreneur of the Year », a SMU program for a graduate of the Program, who continues the business. This year it is Dāvis Melnis, who, together with classmates, formed the idea of ​​a modular marketing agency, which was implemented by the Latvian leaders’ program – establishing a company Modular M, which is more commonly known for the trendis.lv brand. The trendis.lv platform has reached more than 255,000 wide audiences in the last year and has provided practical work experience in digital marketing and content creation of more than 10 young people.

In turn, Agita Shamšele from Valmiera Technical School was celebrated this year with the Prize of the Business Teacher of the Year.

In total, more than 1,700 SMUs have been registered in the pupil’s training companies this year, of which more than 100 companies applied for the finals and the best in the 20 -SMU high school group and 11 primary schools were selected.

For the first time this year, the New Entrepreneurs’ Days – Gen – E Latvia 2025 – took place in Liepaja this year.

The SMU was evaluated by an experienced team of entrepreneurs, a team of professionals representing the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, Swedbank, Daily Media, Patent Office, Ey Latvia, Blue Shock Race, RocketGrip, etc.

The Days of Young Entrepreneurs – Gen – E Latvia 2025 are organized by Latvia’s largest education organization “Junior Achievement Latvia” and the Latvian Investment and Development Agency in cooperation with the longtime supporter “Swedbank”, Liepaja National Municipality and Valpro. It is implemented within the framework of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency’s project « Support for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises », co -financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Union. The winners were provided by Saldus greetings by Fazer.

If Latvia’s Student Learning Companies Program

The program of student training companies (SMU) is specifically in 4-12. Graduate students have a teaching method. For students, this is an opportunity to master the creation and management skills of their business, create products and offer them to their potential clients. On average, 22 % of the program graduates are already involved in business.

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia has recognized this method of teaching and recommends it as a developing and improving teaching method for educational institutions. There is no legal status – they are represented in Latvia only if Latvia, which is the owner of the Junior Achievement Worldwide program license. This license also includes a program of student training companies.