Now in its fourth edition, the Avenor Entrepreneurship Challenge has become one of the most anticipated projects for Grade 9 students, where creativity is the key ingredient in tackling a real entrepreneurial challenge.

This experience gave student teams the opportunity to create a fully innovative food product, going through all the stages of development – from concept to final product. The highlight was presenting their creations in front of a jury of specialists and an audience of peers and parents, ready to support them.

Victor Bratu, EdTech & Data Lead and the competition coordinator, shares in the interview below insights about this year’s edition and how the challenge unfolded.

A project born from the desire to learn differently

The Avenor Entrepreneurship Challenge is part of the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) programme, designed for Grade 9 students, with the aim of transforming education into a practical and meaningful experience.

Launched in 2022, the project was created to provide an engaging learning context where students can apply, in a concrete way, the knowledge acquired in class.

The 2026 challenge: a snack “from beyond our world”

While maintaining the core concept of the competition, students were challenged to create a healthy snack, either sweet or savoury. The 2026 edition introduced a new element: a unifying creative theme – developing a healthy product with a celestial inspiration, “from beyond our world,” while meeting several interdisciplinary requirements:

  • Design & Technology and Arts: creating original and suitable packaging
  • Business Studies: developing a solid business plan
  • Media Studies: building a compelling marketing campaign

Teamwork: clear roles, shared goals

To closely reflect the structure of a real company, each team consisted of seven members, each with a clearly defined role:

  • CEO (team leader)
  • Two chefs (product development)
  • Graphic Designer (packaging and visual identity)
  • Business Analyst (financial plan)
  • Marketing Director (promotion strategy)
  • A seventh flexible member, supporting one of the last three roles based on their strengths

Each team received a budget of 200 RON to develop their prototypes and participated in workshops led by jury members, where they received guidance on nutrition and evaluation criteria.

Competition, emotions, and performance

Nine teams presented their products in front of a jury made up of industry professionals:

  • Ioana Bucin, Business Specialist Transformation Manager at GreenGroup
  • Andrei Roșu, Marketing and Packaging Specialist and co-founder of Filgud
  • Dan Neacșu, Chef at Avenor Living

The level of competition was high, with students demonstrating not only creativity but also determination and strong presentation skills. Emotions ran high, but their drive to impress the jury was even stronger.

Winners of the 2026 edition

After deliberation and feedback sessions, the winning teams were announced:

🥇 1st place – BlissBites – crunchy cookies, perfect for a quick sweet break
Team: Ștefan (9 Delta), Horia (9 Alfa), Ileana (9 Delta), Maya (9 Delta), Izabela (9 Delta), Tania (9 Delta), Andreea-Maria (9 Delta)

🥈 2nd place – PLANITz – sweet protein bites, ideal for energy and an active lifestyle
Team: David (9 Omega), Thea (9 Omega), Alexis (9 Omega), Andrew (9 Omega), Carmen (9 Omega), Mihai (9 Omega), Andrei (9 Omega)

🥉 3rd place – Banoffee – chocolate bars inspired by the classic banana and caramel combination, for a delicious treat
Team: Diana (9 Omega), Sara (9 Omega), Anda (9 Omega), Alexis (9 Omega), Alexandra (9 Omega), Sofia (9 Omega), Anna-Sophia (9 Omega)

More than a competition

The Avenor Entrepreneurship Challenge is more than a contest – it is an authentic learning experience where students discover their potential and develop essential skills for the future.

The products created and the presentations delivered demonstrated not only the high level of the participants, but also their genuine interest in entrepreneurship. Their enthusiasm and engagement confirm that this project will continue to grow and inspire future generations.