The Gen-E Virtual Expo is an online platform where young entrepreneurs from across Europe showcase their innovative business ideas as part of Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival. The expo features virtual booths from national winners of JA Europe’s educational programs, allowing visitors to discover and interact with student-led startups and mini-companies.

When does the Virtual Expo take place?

The Gen-E 2025 Virtual Expo starts on May 21, 2025 with the Virtual Opening & Live Day. While the Gen-E 2025 Festival concludes on July 4, 2025, the Virtual Expo platform and all stands remain accessible even after this date. You can even browse stands from previous years using the school year filter. However, please note that virtual rooms and opportunities to directly talk with the young entrepreneurs are only available during the Live Day on May 21st from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET.

Who can access the Virtual Expo?

The Virtual Expo is open to everyone. This includes participants (student entrepreneurs), judges, business professionals, educators, potential investors, sponsors, and the general public interested in youth entrepreneurship.

Is registration required to access the Virtual Expo?

Basic browsing of the Virtual Expo does not require registration. However, certain features such as voting for favorite projects, accessing virtual rooms, or participating in interactive sessions may require registration.

Is there a cost to attend the Virtual Expo?

No, attending the Virtual Expo is completely free for all visitors.

What types of projects are featured in the Virtual Expo?

The expo features a diverse range of student-led businesses and startups across various sectors, including technology, sustainability, healthcare, education, agriculture, and more. Projects come from both upper secondary school students (Company Programme) and university students (Startup Programme).

How are projects selected for the Virtual Expo?

Projects featured in the Virtual Expo are national winners from JA member countries. These teams have successfully competed in their respective national competitions and have earned the right to represent their countries at the European level.

Platform Navigation

How do I navigate the Virtual Expo platform?

The platform has a navigation bar at the top with the following main sections:

• Stage: View presentations, webinars, and recorded events
• Expo: Browse virtual booths of all participating teams
• Partners: View sponsors and supporting organizations
• Discover: Learn more about the Gen-E festival and related initiatives
• FAQ: Access help resources (this document)

How do I search for specific projects?

In the Expo section, you can use the filtering options at the top of the page to narrow down projects by:

• School Year (e.g., 2024-25)
• Country
• Type (Company Programme or Startup Programme)
• Sector (e.g., Healthcare, Education, Agriculture)
• Tags (e.g., Eco-Friendly, AI, Sustainable Practices)

You can also use the “Show map” feature to view projects geographically.

How do I access a team’s virtual booth?

Simply click on a team’s card in the Expo section to view their full virtual booth. Each booth contains detailed information about the team, their product or service, multimedia content, and contact options.

What information is available in a virtual booth?

A typical virtual booth includes:

• Team/company name and logo
• Country of origin
• Business sector and relevant tags
• Product/service description
• Promotional videos
• Images and presentations
• Social media links
• Virtual room access
• Contact information
• Downloadable materials (brochures, business reports)

How do I vote for my favorite project?

To vote for a project, navigate to the team’s virtual booth and click the “Vote” button (represented by a medal icon) at the bottom of the page. No registration is required to vote. You can vote for as many different stands as you like, but you can only vote once per stand. The voting system is designed to be simple and accessible to encourage support for the young entrepreneurs’ projects.

 Technical Requirements

What browser should I use to access the Virtual Expo?

The Gen-E Virtual Expo is optimized for modern browsers including:

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari (for Mac users)

For the best experience, please ensure your browser is updated to the latest version.

Can I access the Virtual Expo on mobile devices?

Yes, the Virtual Expo platform is responsive and can be accessed on smartphones and tablets. However, for the optimal experience, especially when joining virtual rooms, a desktop or laptop computer is recommended.

What internet connection speed is recommended?

For smooth browsing of the Virtual Expo, a minimum internet connection speed of 5 Mbps is recommended. For participating in virtual rooms with video, a minimum of 10 Mbps is recommended.

Do I need any special software to access the Virtual Expo?

No special software is required to browse the Virtual Expo platform. However, to access virtual rooms, you may need to:

• Allow browser permissions for microphone and camera
• Have Microsoft Teams installed or accessible via browser for Teams rooms
• Ensure your browser supports WebRTC for Jitsi rooms (meet.gen-e.eu)

 Virtual Rooms

What are virtual rooms?

Virtual rooms are online meeting spaces where visitors can interact with team members in real-time through video conferencing. Each participating team has a dedicated virtual room accessible from their virtual booth.

What platforms are used for virtual rooms?

Gen-E 2025 uses two different platforms for virtual rooms:

• Microsoft Teams: For some teams and official events
• Custom Jitsi (at meet.gen-e.eu): For other teams and informal meetings

The platform used for each room is clearly indicated in the virtual booth.

Read the guide on how to use Teams or Jitsi.

How do I join a Microsoft Teams virtual room?

To join a Teams virtual room:

1. Click on the “Virtual Room” button in the team’s booth
2. You will be redirected to the Teams meeting link
3. Choose whether to open in the Teams app or join via browser
4. Enter your name if prompted
5. Adjust your audio/video settings
6. Click “Join now”

How do I join a Jitsi virtual room (meet.gen-e.eu)?

To join a Jitsi virtual room:

1. Click on the “Virtual Room” button in the team’s booth
2. You will be redirected to meet.gen-e.eu with the specific room name
3. Enter your name when prompted
4. Allow browser permissions for camera and microphone when asked
5. Click “Join meeting”

While there is a Jitsi mobile app available for download, it is not required. You can access Jitsi rooms directly through your browser on both desktop and mobile devices.

When are team members available in virtual rooms?

Team members are only available during the Live Day on May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET. Please note that even during this window, some teams might not be available due to various factors such as time zone differences, technical issues, or other commitments. We appreciate your understanding if you’re unable to connect with a particular team.

Can I share my screen in virtual rooms?

Yes, both Microsoft Teams and Jitsi (meet.gen-e.eu) support screen sharing. Look for the screen sharing icon in the meeting controls once you’ve joined the room.

Is there a time limit for virtual room meetings?

There is no specific time limit for virtual room meetings during the Live Day. However, please note that the virtual room feature will be disabled after May 21, 2025. This means that virtual rooms will not be accessible after the Live Day concludes.

How many people can join a virtual room simultaneously?

• Teams rooms: Up to 300 participants
• Jitsi rooms (meet.gen-e.eu): Optimal performance with up to 35 participants

Are virtual room conversations private?

Yes, virtual room conversations are private to those who have joined the specific room. No one is permitted to record virtual room sessions. If anyone needs to record a session for any reason, they must contact the event organizers in advance for permission and guidelines.

Do I need to schedule a meeting with teams beforehand?

No, it’s not possible to schedule meetings with teams beforehand. You can only interact with teams during the Live Day on May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET. There is no guarantee that specific teams will be available, so we recommend joining virtual rooms during this time window if you wish to speak with the young entrepreneurs.

 For Participants

How do I access my team’s virtual booth management panel?

Participants who have registered as team members can access their booth management panel through the JA Business Portal:

1. Log in to the JA Business Portal with your team credentials
2. Navigate to the Edit Stand section
3. From here, you can edit and update all aspects of your virtual booth

How can I update the content in my team’s virtual booth?

To update your virtual booth content:

1. Access your booth management panel
2. Select the section you wish to update (Description, Media, Team Info, etc.)
3. Make your changes in the provided fields
4. Click “Save Changes” to publish your updates

When should team members be available in our virtual room?

Team members should be available in your virtual room during the Live Day on May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET. This is the only time window when visitors will be able to interact with your team through the virtual room feature.

What should I do if I encounter technical issues with my booth?

If you experience technical issues with your virtual booth:

1. First, try refreshing your browser and clearing your cache (see “How to clear your browser cache” in the Troubleshooting section)
2. Check if other team members are experiencing the same issue
3. Submit a support ticket through the button at the top of the FAQ page
4. During the Live Day (May 21), you can also join the live support room for immediate assistance
5. Provide detailed information about the problem you’re experiencing to help us resolve it quickly

For Judges

What if I encounter technical difficulties during judging?

If you experience technical issues during judging:

1. Try refreshing your browser or using a different browser
2. Clear your browser cache (see “How to clear your browser cache” in the Troubleshooting section)
3. Submit a support ticket through the button at the top of the FAQ page
4. During the Live Day (May 21), you can join the live support room for immediate assistance
5. Contact the organizer in charge of the award you are judging directly
6. Document the issue so it can be considered in your evaluation timeline

For General Attendees

How do I browse projects in the Virtual Expo?

To browse projects:

1. Click on the “Expo” tab in the main navigation
2. Use the filters at the top to narrow down by school year, country, type, sector, or tags
3. Scroll through the project cards displayed
4. Click on any project card to view their full virtual booth

Can I interact with the teams?

Yes, you can interact with teams by joining their virtual room on the Live Day (May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET). This is the only time window when team members will be available for direct interaction. Please note that some teams might not be available due to various factors, so we cannot guarantee that all teams will be present in their virtual rooms during this time.

How do I vote for my favorite projects?

To vote for a project:

1. Navigate to the team’s virtual booth
2. Click the “Vote” button (medal icon) at the bottom of their page
3. That’s it! No registration is required to vote

You can vote for as many different teams as you like, but you can only vote once per team. Your votes help recognize and encourage the young entrepreneurs’ hard work and innovation.

Can I attend live presentations or events?

Yes, live presentations and events can be accessed through:

• The “Stage” section for main events
• Team virtual booths for individual team presentations
• The event calendar accessible from the homepage
• Notification banners for currently live events

How can I learn more about JA Europe and the entrepreneurship programs?

To learn more about JA Europe and their programs:

1. Visit the “Discover” section of the platform
2. Check the “Partners” section for supporting organizations
3. Look for the JA Europe information booth in the Expo
4. Follow links to the official JA Europe website

Can I download materials from the Virtual Expo?

Yes, many teams provide downloadable materials in their virtual booths, including:

• Business brochures
• Product catalogs
• Annual reports
• Presentations
• Educational materials

Look for download buttons or links within each team’s booth.

Troubleshooting

How to clear your browser cache

Clearing your browser cache can resolve many display and performance issues. Here’s how to do it in common browsers:

Chrome:

1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner
2. Select “More tools” > “Clear browsing data”
3. Choose “Cached images and files”
4. Select a time range (preferably “All time”)
5. Click “Clear data”

Firefox:

1. Click the menu button (three lines) in the top-right
2. Select “Settings” > “Privacy & Security”
3. Under “Cookies and Site Data,” click “Clear Data”
4. Check “Cached Web Content”
5. Click “Clear”

Edge:

1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner
2. Select “Settings” > “Privacy, search, and services”
3. Under “Clear browsing data,” click “Choose what to clear”
4. Select “Cached images and files”
5. Click “Clear now”

Safari:

1. Click “Safari” in the top menu
2. Select “Preferences” > “Advanced”
3. Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
4. Click “Develop” in the top menu
5. Select “Empty Caches”

Videos or images aren’t loading

If media content isn’t loading:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Refresh the page
3. Try a different browser
4. Disable any ad-blockers or content blockers
5. Clear your browser cache (see above)
6. Ensure your device meets the technical requirements
7. Update your browser to the latest version

I can’t join a virtual room

If you’re unable to join a virtual room:

1. Check which platform the room is using (Teams or Jitsi)
2. Ensure you’ve allowed camera and microphone permissions in your browser
3. For Teams rooms, try joining through the app if browser access fails
4. For Jitsi rooms, ensure your browser supports WebRTC
5. Check your internet connection speed
6. Try using a different device or browser

The platform is running slowly

If the platform is performing slowly:

1. Check your internet connection speed
2. Close other applications and browser tabs
3. Clear your browser cache
4. Try a different browser
5. Restart your device
6. If using mobile, try switching to a desktop device

My vote isn’t being counted

If your vote isn’t being registered:

1. Try refreshing the page
2. Clear your browser cache (see instructions above)
3. Try using a different browser
4. Check if you’ve already voted for this team (you can only vote once per team)
5. Contact support if issues persist

The filtering system isn’t working correctly

If filters aren’t working properly:

1. Reset all filters by refreshing the page
2. Apply filters one at a time to identify any problematic filter
3. Try using a different browser
4. Clear your browser cache
5. Report the specific issue to support

I’m experiencing audio/video issues in virtual rooms

For audio/video issues in virtual rooms:

1. Check your device’s audio/video settings
2. Ensure the correct microphone and camera are selected
3. Give proper permissions to your browser
4. Try leaving and rejoining the room
5. Restart your browser
6. For Teams rooms, try using the desktop app instead of browser

Contact Support

How do I submit a support ticket?

To submit a support ticket:

1. Click on the support button at the top of the FAQ page (current page)
2. Select your user type (Participant, Judge, or General Attendee)
3. Choose the category that best describes your issue
4. Complete the required fields with detailed information
5. Include screenshots if relevant
6. Submit your ticket

During the Live Day (May 21), you can also join the live support room for immediate assistance with any technical issues.

What information should I include in my support ticket?

Please include:

• Your full name and email address
• User type (Participant, Judge, General Attendee)
• Detailed description of the issue
• Steps to reproduce the problem
• Device and browser you’re using
• Screenshots showing the issue (if possible)
• Time when the issue occurred
• Any error messages received

What are the support hours?

Technical support is available:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
• During special events: Extended hours as announced
• Virtual Opening & Live Day: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM CET

Outside these hours, tickets will be addressed the next business day.

What is the expected response time for support tickets?

Expected response times vary by issue priority:

• Critical issues (platform-wide): 15-30 minutes
• High priority (affecting core functionality): 1-2 hours
• Medium priority (feature limitations): 1 business day
• Low priority (questions, enhancements): 3 business days

Where can I find additional self-help resources?

Additional resources are available at:

• The official Gen-E 2025 website
• JA Europe support resources

How do I report inappropriate content or behavior?

To report inappropriate content or behavior:

1. Use the “Report” button available in virtual booths and rooms
2. Submit a support ticket with category “Content Report”
3. Provide specific details about the content or behavior
4. Include location (booth name, room, etc.) and time of occurrence
5. Your report will be handled confidentially and prioritized by our moderation team