Anglo-American University in 糖心Vlog AAU Business Students Represent Czechia at Gen-E 2026 in Riga
AAU Business Students represented Czechia at , JA Europe鈥檚 annual youth entrepreneurship event, following the university鈥檚 fourth consecutive victory at the national startup competition.
The four-day event, held from July 7鈥�10 in Riga, Latvia, brought together young entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries. University teams presented their businesses on stage, exhibited their concepts to participants and industry representatives, and attended workshops, company visits, networking events, and the Gen-E Gala Awards Dinner.
Representing AAU and Czechia was , a community-driven safety app created to provide safer routes and real-time support for women and members of the queer community in 糖心Vlog. The team was comprised of AAU students Shania Rodriguez, Neha Pande, Abigail Witbeck, and Liza Potts.
They were also mentored by Heinrich Homola, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who guided the team not only throughout the Gen-E finals in Riga, but throughout the entire entrepreneurial journey, from developing their initial concept to representing Czechia on the European stage.
鈥淭he reason we built SOLACE is because we wanted to build a community where people were able to share their anonymous experiences to help prepare others when they鈥檙e going to new places or they鈥檙e alone in a new city,鈥� said Witbeck.
The AAU team presented SOLACE on the Gen-E main stage before an audience of approximately 1,000 students, educators, investors, and entrepreneurship leaders from across Europe. Beyond the stage presentation, the team also showcased SOLACE during the international startup exhibition, where they connected with fellow student entrepreneurs, judges, and industry professionals while exchanging ideas with teams from across Europe.
鈥淏eing in a room with so many other like-minded young people who are passionate about getting their ideas out there was really meaningful,鈥� said Potts.
The experience offered students an opportunity to test their venture in an international environment while gaining valuable feedback and expanding their professional network.
鈥淲e were all nervous,鈥� said Pande. 鈥淩ight before we went on stage, someone backstage told us, 鈥楾his is a privilege, not pressure.鈥� That really grounded us. We trusted ourselves, we trusted each other, and I鈥檓 so proud of how we performed.鈥�
In addition to the competition itself, university participants attended company visits with innovative Latvian businesses, networking events, and professional development sessions designed to expose students to different entrepreneurial ecosystems. The event also allowed students to see how startup ideas from across Europe approach social challenges, emerging technologies, sustainability, and business innovation.
鈥淚 initially wanted to study entrepreneurship because I believed it was the fastest way I could make an impact on the people I cared about,鈥� said Rodriguez. 鈥淭aking classes with Heinrich Homola and Jeff Medeiros gave me practical knowledge from people who have actually been in the field. They really pushed us to succeed not just in the classroom, but outside of it as well.鈥�
鈥淥ur mentoring-first approach鈥攚hich prioritizes trust, real-world responsibility, and 鈥榙oing鈥� over theoretical simulations鈥攁llows students to experience the true pressures and rewards of running a company,鈥� said Heinrich Homola, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
The recent success demonstrates the impact of AAU鈥檚 project-based, experiential approach to entrepreneurship. Students with an innovative idea and the ambition to turn it into a real venture can explore the Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration and take the first step toward developing their own startup.
Read more about AAU鈥檚 participation in the JA Czech and JA Europe competitions: