BioBliss wins the Best Innovation Award at the JA Marketplace
20 March 2025
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On 15 March 2025, Lugner City in Vienna became the vibrant hub of young innovation. The JA Marketplace 2025, organised by Junior Achievement (JA) Austria, brought together 39 teams from across Europe to present their creative business ideas to a wide audience. From sustainable food products to eco-friendly accessories and innovative packaging solutions – the diversity of projects reflected the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative potential of the young participants.
Young talents with big ideas
With a total of 220 participating students, the JA Marketplace provided a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs. 25 of the 39 teams came from Austria, while 14 teams travelled from 10 different European countries, including Tunisia, Cyprus, Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Switzerland, and Finland, specifically for the event in Vienna.
Mihail Stanev, Senior Manager – Business Development and Innovation announcing the Best Innovation Award; Photo credit: Jona Mitschitczek
During the event, the young entrepreneurs were evaluated by an 18-member expert jury, which awarded prizes in seven categories. EIT Manufacturing sponsored the Best Innovation Award rewarding the business idea with the best value proposition, business concept and future potential. Mihail Stanev, Senior Manager – Business Development and Innovation at EIT Manufacturing, was part of the jury and handed the award to the BioBliss team from Bulgaria. Biobliss is turning ground coffee waste collected from households, public cafes, and restaurants into the main component of a brand-new type of button battery.
Milica Markovic, Project Manager at JA Austria, emphasised the significance of the partnership with EIT Manufacturing: “The collaboration between JA Austria and EIT Manufacturing East is an important step in supporting schools on their path of driving innovation forward and empowering the students to address complex global challenges. By showing the various possibilities of the manufacturing sector, we try to push the boundaries of students’ creativity and can in this way unlock their boundless potential.”
“The JA Marketplace was a fantastic opportunity for high school students to showcase their innovations, and BioBliss stood out with its innovative solution, demonstrating a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the battery industry. Their approach to creating a brand-new type of battery, both functional and more sustainable, is truly inspiring,”
Mihail Stanev, Senior Manager – Business Development and Innovation
The Winners of JA Marketplace 2025
The event was a great platform for networking and sales as well as an exciting competition stage. The most outstanding teams were recognised in the following categories:
- Best Innovation: BioBliss – Brand-new type of button battery made from coffee waste.
- Best Marketing and Visual Presentation: AAF – High-quality, handcrafted liqueurs with a modern design.
- Best Pitch: Rocking Paints – Creative painting products for children and hobby artists.
- Sustainability Award: Nature Skin Bags – Eco-friendly bags made from natural materials.
- Sales Award: Resnackable – Fruit chips made from “Too Good To Go” fruits.
- Alumni Entrepreneurship Award: Gemüsehelden – Vegetable chips made from surplus produce to combat food waste.
- Best Overall Company: (Re)whey – Sustainable whey powder as an environmentally friendly protein alternative.
