The "Student Company of the Year 2026" finals took place on April 29, 2026, as part of the all-day "The Road to Gen-E" event. This program, supported by the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, featured 15 finalist teams selected from 89 companies involving 550 students (ages 15–18). Each team pitched their innovative ideas to a professional jury representing major Cypriot organizations like PwC, MetLife, Coca-Cola HBC, and the Bank of Cyprus.

1st Place: HerShield (St. Mary’s School, Limassol)

The top prize went to the team consisting of Paschalis Alatzoglou, Andreana Marcelina Pelentridi, Ioanna Christina Petrou, Emmelia Marina Mitrophanous, Despoina Michail, Zoe Michail, Erika Vasili, Mikaella Tranta, and Iro Christou.

• The Product: A discreet, elegant lip-gloss-style case containing substance detection strips. These strips allow women to quickly and privately check their drinks for harmful substances.
• Support: Guided by teachers Maria Kythreotou and Maria Papa, and mentor Annita Petrou.

2nd Place: FromSea2Soil (Laniteio Lyceum)

Members: Timotheos Timotheou, Foteini Giannakou, Maria Louiza Vasiliadi, Konstantinos Argyrou, Christos Papaleontiou, Georgia Vasiliadou, George Loukaides, and Foivos Iosif.

• The Product: A circular economy solution that converts discarded Posidonia oceanica (Mediterranean seagrass) into natural fertilizer, recycling phosphorus from water back into the soil.
• Support: Guided by teacher Christina Aristodimou and mentor Dimitris Dimitriou.

3rd Place: BioCleanse (The Junior and Senior School)

Members: Ioannis Ivan Symeonidis, Polina Lebedeva, Anastasia Ioannidou, Ioannis Episkopou, Roma Theocharidi, Veronika Kalyvitou, and Alexis Kyriakidis.

• The Product: An all-natural mouthwash designed to break down oral biofilms (bacteria), backed by scientific research in microbiology and pharmacy.
• Support: Guided by teachers Michalina Ioannou and Christina Papapavlou, and mentor Pantelina Elia.

Several other teams from across Cyprus were honored for their specific entrepreneurial achievements:

The success doesn't end in Nicosia.

• HerShield will travel to Riga, Latvia in July 2026 for the European GEN-E competition.
• Laniteio Lyceum was named Entrepreneurial School of the Year.
• Dr. Drone (Aspire British Private School) and BaeBeSafe (GC School of Careers) earned a spot at the European Trade Fair in Sofia, Bulgaria in November 2026.
• Be the Match – Youth Edition: A special award for bone marrow donor awareness was given to Chrysovalantis Chatzimarkou, Kalia Tsiourtou, Nikoletta Assioti, and Katerina Vasou, who will take their campaign to the University of Patras.

Minister of Energy, Michael Damianos, attended the event to celebrate the students' drive. JA Cyprus, a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, remains dedicated to empowering the next generation with financial literacy and business skills, ensuring that the "doers" of today become the leaders of tomorrow.

Source: Brief