Startup World Cup Championship-2026: Winners

In July 2026, Davos once again became a center of global dialogue about the future — this time thanks to the World Championship in Entrepreneurship for Children and Youth. Hundreds of participants from different countries presented their innovative projects, demonstrating maturity of thinking, a high level of preparation, and the ability to create solutions that are already changing the world today.

The championship was held in two main leagues — MINIBOSS and BIGBOSS, each becoming a platform for bright ideas, technological breakthroughs, and socially significant initiatives.

The level of projects was especially impressive: participants showed a deep understanding of modern challenges, teamwork skills, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial courage that inspires even adult professionals.

MiniBoss League

Business League (SIFE)

1st place — SolEase: insoles and footwear designed specifically for people with flat feet, combining comfort, support, and style.

2nd place — School Assistant / Good Guys: an intelligent application that helps students effectively organize their study process and daily tasks, reduce stress levels, and improve academic performance.

3rd place — Smell Well: an innovative aromatic solution designed to maintain the freshness of clothing and personal space. The set includes natural wooden balls and chips that can be infused with perfume and placed in closets, suitcases, or sports bags.

Social League (SAGE)

1st place — Mood Battery & Magic Notebook: a mood indicator for doors with a color scale and slider that allows children to show their current emotional state (red, yellow, green).

2nd place — Happy Friends: an activity book that helps children make friends.

3rd place — Irs Bow: a project dedicated to creating bow ties using Azerbaijani national symbols and ornaments — such as the Karabakh horse, the “buta” pattern, pomegranate, mugham instruments, and traditional carpet motifs.

BigBoss League 

1st place — Guide for Pregnant Women VADEMECUM: a step-by-step guide that helps navigate the journey from the first weeks of pregnancy to childbirth.

2nd place — AvatArt: a business digitalization studio offering professional services for implementing modern IT technologies and AI-based solutions into business processes.

3rd place — FITIO: a smart application with recipes for people with dietary restrictions, helping them eat safely, cook, and control their nutrition. 

UN Special Awards 

BREAKING NEWS: 12-Year-Old South African MiniBoss Student Makes History as Startup World Cup Champion in Switzerland

For the first time in African history!

Davos, Switzerland – South Africa is celebrating a historic achievement after 12-year-old Lubanzi Dube, a MiniBoss Business School Johannesburg student and founder of SolEase, was crowned in the SIFE MiniBoss League at the Startup World Cup Championship, held during Global Business Week in Davos, Switzerland.

Lubanzi's victory marks a significant milestone for South African youth entrepreneurship, with Team South Africa becoming the first South African team to win the Startup World Cup Championship in the SIFE MiniBoss League. Competing against outstanding young entrepreneurs from countries around the world, Lubanzi impressed the international judging panel with SolEase—an innovative business developing orthotic insoles and supportive footwear for people living with flat feet.

Inspired by his own personal experience, Lubanzi transformed a challenge into an entrepreneurial opportunity, demonstrating how innovation often begins by solving problems close to home.

His success is a testament to the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Rather than simply creating a product, Lubanzi built a business focused on improving lives while addressing a growing healthcare need through practical, accessible innovation.

Developed through MiniBoss Business School Johannesburg, Lubanzi has spent the past 5 months learning entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation through hands-on business education. The programme equips young people with the knowledge and practical experience to identify opportunities, build sustainable businesses and confidently compete on international platforms.

The championship victory reflects not only Lubanzi's dedication and resilience, but also the growing capability of South Africa's young entrepreneurs to compete alongside the very best in the world.

"This achievement demonstrates what becomes possible when young people are trusted with real opportunities to innovate and lead," said Wendy Silinyana, Director of MiniBoss Business School Johannesburg. "Lubanzi has shown that age is not a limitation to creating meaningful solutions with global relevance. His success is an inspiration to young innovators across South Africa and the African continent."

As SolEase continues its journey, the international recognition gained through the Startup World Cup Championship is expected to open new opportunities for collaboration, market expansion and future growth.

Lubanzi Dube's remarkable achievement is more than a personal victory—it is a proud moment for South Africa and a powerful reminder that the country's next generation of entrepreneurs is already shaping the future through innovation, courage and determination.

From Johannesburg to Davos, Lubanzi Dube has shown the world that South African innovation knows no age limits, and that the future of entrepreneurship is already here.

From Idea to Startup: How MINIBOSS Students Build Real Projects

From Idea to Startup: How MINIBOSS Students Build Real Projects During the Academic Year

At MINIBOSS Business School, children do not only study business theory — they learn how to create real startups from A to Z. During one academic year, every student goes through a full entrepreneurial journey: from the first idea to a finished product, presentation and public exhibition.

The course begins with discovering problems, needs and opportunities in the real world. Children learn how to observe people, understand what customers want, generate business ideas and choose the most promising one. Step by step, they turn a simple idea into a startup concept.

Throughout the year, students work on branding, product design, market research, pricing, promotion, teamwork, leadership and financial thinking. They learn how to create value, how to explain their idea clearly, how to calculate costs and how to present their project with confidence.

A very important part of the MINIBOSS methodology is practice. Children do not just write about business — they create prototypes, prepare products, develop packaging, design posters, rehearse pitches and learn how to communicate with potential customers, partners and investors.

At the end of the academic year, students present their startups at the Startup Exhibition. This is a special event where young entrepreneurs showcase their products, explain their business ideas, answer questions and demonstrate what they have created during the course.

The Startup Exhibition becomes the final result of the year: children see that their ideas can become real products, their creativity can become business value, and their confidence can become leadership.

This is the power of MINIBOSS education: it helps children understand business not as an abstract subject, but as a real-life skill. They learn to think, create, cooperate, present and act like entrepreneurs — from the very first idea to the final startup presentation.