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Early Entrepreneurship Journey

Co-founded a high school startup through Junior Achievement Albania, transforming military wood scraps into artistic paintings. Won the national competition as 'Students' Company of the Year' and represented Albania at the international fair in France.

Early Entrepreneurship Journey showcase

Overview

In my second year of high school, our class joined an extracurricular entrepreneurship program through Junior Achievement of Albania. What started as a project to pass the time quickly became something much bigger.

Together with four classmates, we created a company that transformed discarded military wooden chests into artistic paintings. The idea was simple but meaningful: take something forgotten and turn it into something beautiful.

We made it to the national competition and won first prize as the Students' Company of the Year. That victory earned us a ticket to represent Albania at the international fair in France, an experience that taught me more about business, resilience, and people than I could have imagined.

The moment they announced us as winners: pure emotion and disbelief.
The moment they announced us as winners: pure emotion and disbelief.

Our presentation video from the international fair in France.

From military wood scraps to art: the raw materials that became our canvas.
From military wood scraps to art: the raw materials that became our canvas.
Transforming forgotten materials into something beautiful.
Transforming forgotten materials into something beautiful.
Presenting our business model and impact story to the jury.
Presenting our business model and impact story to the jury.
At our stand during the entrepreneurship competition.
At our stand during the entrepreneurship competition.
The first painting I ever sold, to a visitor from Belgium. That moment changed everything.
The first painting I ever sold, to a visitor from Belgium. That moment changed everything.
Visitors from around the world engaging with our work and leaving feedback.
Visitors from around the world engaging with our work and leaving feedback.
More visitors discovering our story and connecting with the mission.
More visitors discovering our story and connecting with the mission.
The first day of the competition: excited, nervous, and ready to show what Albania brought to the table.
The first day of the competition: excited, nervous, and ready to show what Albania brought to the table.
Recognized by the President of Tirana Business University for entrepreneurship initiatives.
Recognized by the President of Tirana Business University for entrepreneurship initiatives.
Pitching my startup to investors.
Pitching my startup to investors.
With the team I mentored, celebrating their win at the Junior Achievement Albania competition.
With the team I mentored, celebrating their win at the Junior Achievement Albania competition.

Documentary by Junior Achievement Albania featuring my entrepreneurship journey.