Anglo-American University in Prague AAU Business Students Win JA Europe Competition
AAU Business Students won the AI Innovators Award, supported by EY, at the Gen-E 2025 Athens competition, following their win at the Junior Achievement (JA) Czech nationals and three consecutive years of AAU’s participation at the JA Europe finals.
The Cooltivate team aims to enhance agricultural efficiency using drones to collect crucial data that optimizes operations, reduces workload, and improves both profitability and sustainability.
Nicholas Ripper, Radim Zavoral, and Jan Švec—commented this about their achievement:
“As a student from the Czech Republic, this recognition feels bigger than just a personal achievement: it’s a proud moment for our team, our university, and everyone who believed in us,” said Švec.
“AAU has taught me to not back down in the face of adversity, to problem solve, and to make the most of what you have available. I am blessed to have found two teammates who stuck with me no matter what,” Ripper said.
“Seeing our idea evolve and get this kind of recognition makes every late night and obstacle worth it. It feels like the cherry on top of the last two semesters, ” said Zavoral.
AAU provides hands-on experience and opportunities to student entrepreneurs through the university’s Business Administration Entrepreneurship and Innovation program which both Cooltivate and Innova team members have taken part. Led by Heinrich Homola and (formerly) Jeff Medeiros, students learn the process of developing a business from conception to launch. This course allows students to participate in JA competitions on local and European levels.
“Entrepreneurial thinking is about translating theory into practice, combined with requirement for personal initiative, drive, reading the environment, and the ability to win people on your side,” said Homola.
“My job is to mentor, to teach, to educate. Learning happens only in ‘AHA’ moments—if the students get ‘WOW!’ moments. My job is to provide as many as possible of such moments. They can’t be predicted nor planned in class,” he concluded.
AAU is building a legacy with its participation in international JA competitions three years in a row. In 2024, students took first place on the national level in the Top Project category with the travel app DIVEIN while, the previous year, another AAU team won in the same category with the dietary and lifestyle app List-n-Eat.
In announcing the award to Cooltivate, EY representative Georgios Papadimitriou said:
“This award is so special for all of us at EY. It reflects our belief that when young innovators are provided the right tools and the right mindset, then they can unlock the powerful potential of technologies, like AI.”
Vice-Dean Jan Vašenda was integral in connecting AAU with Junior Achievement and integrating the competition with the Entrepreneurship in Practice program. Vašenda regards Cooltivate’s success as a testament to the caliber of AAU’s School of Business.
“I’m incredibly thankful to JA Czech for giving us the platform to explore entrepreneurship and to Anglo-American University where I’ve learned not only how to think, but how to act when things are uncertain,” said Švec.
Junior Achievement (JA) was founded in the United States in 1919 to show school-aged students the path to starting their own ventures. JA provides a structured learning environment and experienced mentors, operating in 120 countries and reaching over 3 million students annually. The organization has now been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the fourth year in a row.
JA Europe, the European representative of Junior Achievement, currently has over 300 universities enrolled in its programs throughout Europe, representing over 15,000 participating students.