On Friday, May 30th, from 2:00–4:00 PM EST, a remarkable group of young innovators will compete in the 2025 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (NYEC), an exclusive virtual event hosted by BNS News. The event brings together some of the most promising young entrepreneurial minds across the country, selected from submissions received through schools and youth organizations nationwide.
Participants will pitch their business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges in a live format, featuring Q&A rounds, formal scoring, and a final People’s Choice vote. Winners will be published in the Winner Magazine Brilliant Youth Edition—an online editorial feature celebrating exceptional young minds shaping the future through bold ideas and innovative thinking.
Judges for NYEC 2025
The judging panel features leaders known for excellence and innovation in their fields:
- Karen Lau– With over two decades of experience in the sales & service and financial sectors, Karen Lau brings a wealth of expertise to the judging panel. Her passion to lead teams towards a common goal, and develop talent throughout the years, has resulted in empowered team performance. She has dedicated time to mentoring high school students with entrepreneurial aspirations—guiding them as they develop business ideas, refine their pitches, and learn financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Her combined industry knowledge and passion for youth development make her a valued expert in this year’s Entrepreneurship Challenge.
- Christina Mattina, Founder of Sugar & Spice Kids Spa and Party– With a background in business and accounting, Christina Mattina built Sugar and Spice Kids Spa and Party from the ground up to become one of Ontario’s most recognized destinations for children’s events. She combines creativity with strong business fundamentals and community involvement, including partnerships with Girl Guides, Autism Ontario, and numerous local causes. Her eye for opportunity and service excellence brings valuable insight into branding, user experience, and service innovation. (View feature)
Finalists by Grade Category
JK/SK Category
- Samira Jaffer – SLI The Sidney Ledson School
- Rasa Gholami – SLI The Sidney Ledson School
Grade 1/2 Category
- Sophia Abdulhussein – SLI The Sidney Ledson School
- Annie Wilson – Mensa Youth
Grade 3/4 Category
- Arielle Chan-Kim & Aathieya Dileepan – SLI The Sidney Ledson School
- Nicholas Wong – Mensa Youth
Grade 5/6 Category
- Maya Kara – SLI The Sidney Ledson School
- Ram Sahasrabudhe – Mensa Youth
These students were selected for their creativity, originality, and clarity of vision, and represent the top entries from a competitive pool of submissions.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in joining the 2026 National Youth Entrepreneurship challenge can email info@bns-news.com to join the waitlist and be among the first notified of next year’s registration.
BNS News is proud to foster early innovation and confidence in the next generation of Canadian business leaders.