JA Business Challenge 2026

A one-day virtual business strategy tournament which teaches high school students how to run their own business where they can earn post-high school scholarships. This year's event will happen on March 20th 2026 and the Lunda Center in La Crosse. Local business professionals mentor student teams and guide them to make decisions in a real-world environment.

The Junior Achievement Business Challenge, is an opportunity available to all high school students at no charge. Teams of 2 students are matched with a business community mentor who during the simulation, help student teams strategize to operate the most successful business and perform the duties of a company’s management team. Students must make real economic decisions on price, production, marketing, capital investment, research and development, and charitable giving. 

Each round of the competition simulates a business quarter in which students make decisions which result in a performance index (PI). With the competitive fires burning, the students are just as eager to beat the competition as CEO’s of actual companies!