Introducing the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Award finalists
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AmCham EU and JA Europe are pleased to announce the finalists for the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2026. The award, now in its 14th edition, recognises young people’s entrepreneurial spirit and aims to foster innovation in Europe. The finalists were selected from a pool of female entrepreneurs from all over Europe.
Outlast Fund
Entrepreneur: Marija Ručevska
Country of origin: Latvia
Outlast Fund is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in pre-seed and seed technology companies across the Baltics and Nordics. With €21 million in assets under management, the fund backs high-potential founders building in areas such as AI-native teams, hard tech, next-generation marketplaces, health and wellbeing. Beyond capital, Outlast Fund is building value infrastructure for Europe’s next generation of technology companies, including Shipyard, a hacker-space for first-time AI founders. Through this model, Outlast Fund aims to strengthen the Baltic start-up ecosystem, support the creation of globally competitive companies and accelerate innovation across Europe.
Marija Ručevska, Founding Partner at Outlast Fund, is an entrepreneur and investor with a decade of experience building companies and supporting start-ups. She has also built one of the leading innovation consultancies in the Baltics and became the youngest female General Partner in Europe when co-founding Outlast Fund.
Pigi
Entrepreneur: Bora Selenica
Country of origin: Albania
Pigi is a family-centred financial education mobile app for children aged 5-14 and their parents. The app helps children build healthy money habits before they open their first bank account by combining education and gamification. Through a complete learning journey, children can learn, earn, save and spend in a safe, parent-monitored environment. By connecting families, schools and financial institutions around financial literacy, Pigi aims to address a growing need at the intersection of finance, education and technology, while supporting children’s long-term financial wellbeing.
Bora Selenica, Co-Founder of Pigi, leads business development for the company. She has experience in financial education through her work with JA Europe and has contributed to children-focused initiatives with Save the Children.
Medilert
Entrepreneur: Elenya Spiteri
Country of origin: Malta
Medilert is a smart medication management system designed to support older adults and caregivers with greater peace of mind. The solution combines an automated pill dispenser, app-based monitoring and voice-enabled reminders to help ensure medication is taken at the right time. Caregivers can set dose schedules, receive real-time updates and monitor adherence, while users benefit from accessible voice alerts and a simple medication routine. By reducing the risk of missed doses and accidental double dosing, Medilert aims to support healthy ageing and address a growing challenge in elderly care.
Elenya Spiteri, CEO of Medilert, is leading the development of the company from prototype to market-ready healthcare solution. Inspired by her grandparents’ experience managing complex medication, she is focused on building ethical, accessible technology that supports vulnerable people and strengthens care delivery.
Each year, the Youth Entrepreneurship Award celebrates outstanding entrepreneurs who are tackling pressing societal challenges through innovation, sustainability and purpose-driven leadership. The finalists were selected through a competitive evaluation process led by AmCham EU and JA Europe.
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