Israeli team ranks 4th in European bee for budding entrepreneurs
WIZO Hadassim's ninth-graders comes in at fourth place in prestigious European Young Entrepreneurs Awards in Stockholm; German teams wins, Swedes take second place
The contest – celebrating its 19th year – was held in Sweden over the weekend and hosted teams from 33 countries. Representing Israel were Hadassim's Dikla Cohen, Karen Jason, Talia Re'im and Inbal Zeldin.
The four qualified for the European finals after winning the contest's Israeli equivalent in June, by creating a startup company named "Shamaim" (sky), which specializes in manufacturing novelty soap bars, dubbed "Soaprise".
Each bar of soap, as implied by the name, hides a little surprise toy and is meant to encourage children to wash their hands, by promising that the more you use the soap, the closer you get to finding out what the surprise is.
The startup included a full directorial structure, as the team named a CEO, a marketing director, a director of business development and other department heads for their venture.
A competition favorite
A special peak in excitement was noted on Saturday, when the all-girl team found that one of Sweden's top publications, the Dagens Nyheter, featured them and their invention as the focus of its story on the awards' contest.
The winners were announced in a gala event hosted by the Stockholm Municipality. Though the Israeli team and its unique invention were considered one of the favorites throughout the event, the first place eventually went to the German team, which created an instructional CD for tourist arriving in their hometown.
The second place went to the Swedish team, which targeted teenagers in their presentation and designed special underwear packaging which contained both underwear and a packet of condoms; and the third place went to the Belgium team, which composed a children's educational book.
Young Entrepreneurs Israel in a non-profit organization sponsored by Bank Leumi. The initiative enjoys the support of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's Chief Scientist's Office.
Amit Schneider was Young Entrepreneurs Israel's guest at the European Young Entrepreneurs Awards
