Teaching Entrepreneurship the Friends of Bata Way: Real, Practical, Personal
Stories That Inspire: Where students meet the real world of business — and take their first step toward becoming changemakers.
What happens when you connect young minds with real entrepreneurs — not just in theory, but face-to-face, story by story? You get more than a competition. You spark courage, creativity, and the kind of learning that lasts a lifetime.
That’s exactly what unfolded in Stories That Inspire, a national student storytelling competition co-organized by Junior Achievement Slovakia and proudly supported by the Friends of Bata.
This initiative invited student teams from across Slovakia to reach out to real entrepreneurs in their communities, dive into their journeys, and craft stories that reveal the essence of what it means to build something from the ground up — with all the ups, downs, detours, and breakthroughs along the way.
🎥 The grand finale took place online in May 2025. With an international jury and a surprise announcement by Thomas Archer Bata himself, students saw their work recognized on a global stage.
But the real reward? Perspective.
“The students took away much more than just answers from the interviews – they gained a real understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur.”
🚀 The Winning Stories
🥇 1st Place: Felacon Matúš Štefák, Gymnázium Sereď (Teacher: Ľubica Štefáková) A tribute to a grandfather whose passion for cooking and resilience in life became a living lesson in purpose, generosity, and love.
🥈 2nd Place: Eyerim Lenka Ušpaková & Elizabeth Gričová, OA Topoľčany (Teacher: Alena Fodorová) The story of Andrea Zahurancová — a fearless entrepreneur who launched a market-leading sunglasses brand with no experience, just vision and grit.
🥉 3rd Place: STK Vanesa Hrašková & Tamara Lazarčíková, OA Nitra (Teacher: Ľubomíra Kulháňová) From aspiring footballer to successful business owner, Róbert Marenčák’s pivot is a lesson in determination, adaptability, and big-picture thinking.
🌱 Teachers also shared how this real-world challenge brought something powerful into their classrooms — a new approach to learning that’s personal, practical, and deeply human.
This competition stands as a model for how we at Friends of Bata believe education should feel: grounded in values, rooted in community, and open to the world.
We're proud to partner with JA Slovakia, and we’re already looking forward to what the next edition will bring.
“As we say at JA Slovakia: Success through experience!”
Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship can be daunting, fraught with obstacles and uncertainties.
However, the journey of Adrian Escabias, as detailed in our latest Friends of Bata case study, offers invaluable insights and practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here's why young entrepreneurs should delve into Adrian's story of ups and downs, and the strategies employed to successfully launch Aticco Ventures:
Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Adrian's transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship showcases the importance of resilience. He faced significant setbacks, including the collapse of his startup Subbo and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Escamu. His ability to bounce back and continue innovating is a powerful lesson for any entrepreneur.
Learning from failure: The case study highlights how Adrian turned failures into learning opportunities. For example, the legal issues and partner conflicts he faced in Subbo underscore the necessity of solid legal agreements and the importance of having experienced advisors.
Importance of Intellectual Property: Protecting intellectual property is crucial, as illustrated by the challenges Adrian faced with his CTO at Subbo. Ensuring proper legal safeguards can prevent devastating losses and help maintain the integrity of your business.
Securing Funding: Adrian's experiences reveal the complexities of startup funding. From relying on personal finances and bank loans to establishing community-based pledge funds, his journey underscores the need for creative and strategic approaches to secure capital.
Building a Supportive Community: Aticco Ventures is a testament to the power of community-driven innovation. By fostering a network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, Adrian has created an environment where startups can thrive through mentorship, collaboration, and shared resources.
Networking and Relationship Building: The value of strong professional networks is a recurring theme in Adrian's story. Regular networking events and workshops at Aticco Ventures help entrepreneurs build essential connections that can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Adrian Escabias's journey provides a realistic and inspiring look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. It offers practical lessons on resilience, the importance of solid legal foundations, creative funding solutions, and the power of community. By learning from Adrian's experiences, entrepreneurs can better navigate their own paths and avoid common pitfalls.
Click here to download the case study and find our all details about his challenges and journey!
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