Greek Student Team Wins JA International Entrepreneurship Award

With their creation of a 3D-printed puzzle game offering medical and education applications, named Wizzle, a Greek student company from Thessaloniki, northern Greece, has brought home the top prize in JA’s international competition for young entrepreneurs.

The team, Isometricks, linked with the Experimental Senior High School of the University of Macedonia, won the de La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, the highest accolade within the JA company program, along with a cash prize of $15,000.

The Greek team, which represented Europe in the competition and was comprised of Korina Malasidi, John Terpsiadis, Fay Katsanou, Marina Giakoumoglou and Nikolas Sivvas, came out victorious over competing teams from JA Ghana (AID Electronics), JA Argentina (MANIK), Prestasi Junior Indonesia (SIEVASCO), INJAZ Oman (Warif) and JA Southeastern Pennsylvania (Youthful Thinkers).

Wizzle, the Greek team’s entry in the JA Competition

The company’s main product, Wizzle, a linguistic amalgamation of ‘wizard and puzzle,’ is an open-ended game that encourages creativity and critical thinking. It comprises mathematical elements with broad educational and medical utility. The assortment of colorful tiles is based on mathematical principles and is pieced together using mosaic logic, offering limitless pathways for creativity.

In its non-digital, touch-based capacity, Wizzle offers a valuable educational resource for both teachers and students, facilitating inclusive learning environments for people with dyslexia and refugee students wrestling with language barriers. Further, Wizzle is a promising non-pharmaceutical intervention for people of all ages who may have mild cognitive disabilities.

Isometricks was founded in October 2022 by 16 high school seniors. Taking part in the JA Company Program through JA Greece, the team went on to secure the JA Europe Company of the Year award at the regional Gen-E festival in July 2023.

The JA Worldwide website states: “As one of the world’s largest and most-impactful youth-serving non-profits, JA delivers hands-on, immersive learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health. Delivering more than 15 million student experiences each year in over 100 countries, JA Worldwide is one of few organizations with the scale, experience, and passion to build a brighter future for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.”

It continues: “The impact of our real-world training extends beyond individual students. For over 100 years, JA has operated all over the world—including in refugee camps, countries wracked by war and violence, and areas of extreme poverty. By helping youth develop the employment and entrepreneurial tools to find meaningful work and start sustainable companies, JA serves as a conduit for peace and prosperity. Through JA, young people are equipped with the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.”