Dozens of high school students participated in the “Marathon for Entrepreneurial Education” organized in Cluj-Napoca. “Marathon for Entrepreneurial Education” is the program initiated in 2023 by the National Association of Entrepreneurs (ANAA), in partnership with the National Confederation of Female Entrepreneurship (CONAF).
This year CONAF Cluj Branch, together with ISJ Cluj, organized entrepreneurial education classes in 4 high schools in Cluj Napoca for approx. 700 students.
At the county stage of the business plan competition, 8 teams of 4-6 students each from Cluj high schools participated.
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PHOTO. Dozens of high school students, PARTICIPANTS in the “Marathon for Entrepreneurial Education” from Cluj-Napoca
“We started last year with the organization of the entrepreneurship education marathon, unique at the national level with the final in Bucharest, with the participation of over 10 counties. This year we have over 20 counties that are involved, next year we hope to have it all over the country.
The goal is quite clear, which brings added value to everything that young high school students mean, to discover their own vocation and find their entrepreneurial capabilities or not, in this competition that is carried out together with the County School Inspectorate and a protocol signed with the Ministry of Education.
Today, in Cluj, the marathon was held with 8 teams from 4 high schools in the city, only next year we hope to bring from the whole county, and of course we are very confident that at the final in Bucharest we will be on the stage of the big winners. It is an Arena Leilor competition, dedicated strictly to 10th and 11th grade high school students, where they present their business ideas in front of a well-prepared jury of successful businessmen at the national level.
The best are declared winners and all 3 winners have a chance to participate in the grand final in Bucharest, and the business that won, for example, last year, of a team from Brăila, was a purchased business, purchased even by a town hall, and many have managed to scale at the national level”, he told Cluj 24 Siginia Luca, President of CONAF Cluj Branch.
Virgil Ianțu, about the price of success
Virgil Ianțu was one of the surprises of the event. Joking, but also with a desire to help those at the beginning of the journey with advice, he confessed a few things that, he says, made him get to where he is now. In his opinion, perseverance and ambition are the keys to success.
“Any idea that gives young people the opportunity, first of all, to express their thoughts and find a direction, maybe fulfill a dream, is very welcome and puts them to work, puts their minds to work and gives them credit to do or encourages them to try something else.
The entrepreneurial education marathon idea is an excellent one. I advise them, from personal experience, to try and if it’s the wrong direction they will find out at some point and they will find the right direction in the end, but to go in faith and live everything with emotion”, he declared for Cluj24 Virgil Ianțu.
Students from the Computer Science High School, “Emil Racoviță” High School, “Gheorghe Șincai” High School, “Onisifor Ghibu” High School in Cluj-Napoca had the opportunity to present their business ideas to the public. Thus, one by one, the eight teams came before the jury, trying to convince them that their investment was worth winning.
Jury members
• Hildegard Brandl, architect and director of architecture firm UNITH2B, is a source of inspiration in the field of design and innovation.
• Tatiana Diaconu, passionate and visionary entrepreneur, brings a pragmatic and results-oriented perspective to the evaluation of entrepreneurial ideas.
• Nicoleta Munteanu, Vice-President of CONAF and Founder of Kids in Business, is a passionate supporter of entrepreneurship among children and young people.
• Sorin Popa, MRICS member with an MBA and an MSC, brings a deep and holistic perspective on business and innovation.
• Constantin Buznea, Zonal Director at Auchan, brings to our jury a vast expertise in the field of retail and operational management
The winning team
– 1st place, the team from the Informatics High School; prize worth 3,000 lei
– Second place, the team from the Emil Racoviță National College; prize worth 2,000 lei
– Third place, from the Computer Science High School; prize worth 1,000 lei
Andreea Ungur
