At Gen-E 2025, Europe\u2019s largest festival for youth entrepreneurship\u2014held in Athens from July 1st to 3rd and organised by Junior Achievement Greece under the auspices of the European Commission\u2014we had the opportunity to interview 10 student-led small businesses from across the continent. Over 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries came together to showcase their projects and compete to be named Europe\u2019s best student startup of the year.<\/p>\n
In this vibrant and competitive setting, we asked each team to reflect on a key aspect of their journey: What has been the biggest challenge you\u2019ve faced while building your business?<\/p>\n
From product development setbacks to team coordination struggles, their honest answers reveal what it really means to grow an idea from scratch\u2014and the resilience it demands.<\/p>\n
Keep reading to discover what they told us!<\/p>\n
Rhythm, Kyle, Daniel, Miguel, Fatima, and Jack<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, coming up with our prototype\u2014actually getting the idea\u2014was a major challenge. This is the newer version, but we had an older one before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDesigning something that fits was very difficult. We made a pill popper that needed to fit various pill sizes, and then came the production issues. There was a huge demand for orders, and we couldn\u2019t find parts. We initially attached hinges, which we ordered from Italy, but they fell overboard during shipping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe ended up 3D printing everything, which is what we use now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a team, we also faced challenges. We had just started school and didn\u2019t know each other. We came from different subjects and groups, so forming a cohesive team and getting to know each other was quite difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Radmila Andovska (Teacher)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cProbably motivating the children to be the best they can be. Our product is a picture book of traditional children\u2019s games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe students came up with the idea themselves and worked as a team\u2014researching, illustrating, and writing the book together.\u201d<\/p>\n Chlo\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe created an inclusive game for sighted and non-sighted people so everyone can play together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur biggest challenge was production. But beyond that, it was learning to stay motivated, consistent, and focused as a team. We had ups and downs, but always managed to overcome them, and I\u2019m quite happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n Anja Pajic<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe organise creative labs for kids aged 8 to 18 to show that science and learning can be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe hardest part was becoming teachers ourselves. We had never taught before, and suddenly we were instructors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, my biggest challenge was organising the team. Everyone has different schedules, and it\u2019s hard to coordinate; someone always ends up doing more.\u201d<\/p>\n Joana Rodrigues<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe developed a test strip that detects if a drink has been spiked\u2014just dip it in your drink, and if it glows fluorescent, it\u2019s unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur main challenge was being innovative. There are similar products on the market, but they\u2019re often chemical-heavy and hard to use. We wanted to create something simple and accessible\u2014that was the hardest part.\u201d<\/p>\n Voloshin Yohan<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe built a smart crutch with a touch button and GPS tracker, aiming to save lives when seconds matter. Every year, 680,000 people die because they don\u2019t get help in time after falling or fainting alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest challenge was building a prototype that worked and getting it ready for the market.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe collaborated with a team from Ivory Coast after winning the Furaton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest challenge was communication, working with a team in a different country and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe greatest takeaway was learning patience and the value of cross-cultural collaboration. (Joking) Also\u2014women. That was my biggest challenge!\u201d<\/p>\n Noah Berlenger<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe project was ambitious\u2014we had to contact businesses, pitch our idea, and follow up. That was time-consuming and not always easy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs team leader, managing a group with very different skill sets was also challenging. We often worked in smaller teams to stay efficient. It was tough, but also fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Juris Celapiters<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest challenge was acquiring the necessary skills. We needed to improve our design and programming abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, teamwork\u2014at first, we weren\u2019t that close as a team, but we developed a strong friendship and improved a lot in how we worked together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOrganisation was the biggest challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to work every day, regularly, without many external deadlines. We had to be self-disciplined and make steady progress on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What does it really take to launch a student startup in today\u2019s world? Beyond creativity and ambition, young entrepreneurs often face technical, organisational, and emotional issues that test their ideas. 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