Student entrepreneurs will showcase their business ideas and ventures at the 2026 Rising Innovators Expo. Students from across the county will be participating in the tradeshow, sharing their businesses and entrepreneurial journey. Top student companies will pitch their businesses to a panel of San Diego business leaders, competing in the JA Company of the Year Competition or JA Social Innovation Challenge.
JA Company of the Year Competition: Students to apply 21st-century skills—creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication—while demonstrating entrepreneurial thinking. Student businesses are evaluated on company performance and product/service innovation as well as the achievements and the team’s reflection and understanding of the decisions, strategies, and actions that drove their results.
JA Social Innovation Challenge: Students conceptualize and refine innovative business ideas aimed at improving and making an impact in their community. JA Social Innovation Challenge encourages students to explore ways in which business can be a solution for real-world challenges. Students must demonstrate a clear understanding of the local business landscape and to create a thoughtful and strategic business plan.
The winning teams will be rewarded with fun prizes and the opportunity to move on to the national competition at the JA USA Future Bound in Boston, MA.
For information about this event, please contact Nancy Quidachay at nquidachay@jasandiego.org.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Woodyard at jwoodyard@jasandiego.org.