On Tuesday, 29 April 2025, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice hosted the third edition of the Founders Challenge Camp, organised in cooperation with the Innovation Centre of the Košice Self-Governing Region. It was attended by approximately 160 high school students from across the entire Eastern Slovakia region.
The participants were welcomed by JUDr. Ľudmila Elbert, PhD., University Associate Professor, Vice-Rector for Undergraduate and Lifelong Learning, in the M5 auditorium at Šrobárová 2, and afterwards Mgr. Laura Hoľanová, PhD., the UPJŠ spokeswoman, introduced the University and the possibilities of studying at UPJŠ.
The high school students were also addressed by Ing. Rastislav Trnka, the President of the Košice Self-Governing Region, whose personal presence underlined the importance of this event aimed at young talents.
Founders Challenge Camp 2025 then continued with inspiring lectures in the fields of marketing and entrepreneurship and the solving of tasks by the participants under the expert guidance of representatives of partner companies, who advised the students how to identify target groups, create real products, develop business concepts, and solve problems effectively.
As part of the accompanying programme, the participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with our five faculties and the Institute of Physical Education and Sport of UPJŠ Košice and their study programmes offer in the exhibition stands. Thanks to interesting presentations, quizzes and competitions, the atmosphere throughout the day that was made even more pleasant by the reproduced music played by Student Radio Košice (ŠtuRKo).
Founders Challenge Camp 2025 is the culmination of a year-long effort of high school students who have been working on their own business ideas since the beginning of the school year. The best teams will be selected by partner companies and presented in the grand finale – on 13 May 2025 at Kunsthalle in Košice. The winner will receive financial support to implement their business projects.
