Prizes
The 10 finalists will receive customised guidance and resources through a pre-incubation/acceleration programme valued at up to €20 000. This comprehensive support is designed to equip them with the tools and expertise needed to elevate their businesses to the next level.
Following the pitching event and award ceremony, the top three applicants will benefit from extensive media coverage and promotional support, showcasing their achievements to a wider audience. Additionally, they will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to the SME Assembly in November 2025, held in Denmark, where they can connect with industry leaders and expand their networks.
The winner will receive a trophy, symbolising their exceptional innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.
Explore the EU Industry Days 2025 and SME Assembly for networking and innovation opportunities.
Jury members
The applications for the YEEA award are evaluated by a three-person jury representing both academia and industry.
- Responsibilities
Arthur Jordão, currently the Executive Director of ESNA, has been integral to its inception since the 2021 Portuguese Presidency of the European Council, leveraging his advisory role in entrepreneurship and digital areas at the Portuguese Ministry of Economy. His 15-year career began in the Canadian startup sector, followed by consultancy roles. First across EMEA geographies for retail real estate industry and then a significant tenure in strategic consulting at Deloitte. Arthur holds a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in marketing management, underpinning his diverse expertise in business and marketing.
- Responsibilities
Tom is Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Technological University Dublin and also Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Inclusion and Innovation at TU Dublin. He is a former President of the International Council for Small Business (2012-13) and of the European Council for Small Business (2009-11), and was Chair of the ICSB 2014 World Entrepreneurship Conference. He is a policy advisor to Governments, European Commission, OECD and other international organisations. He is a Director of two enterprises and works in various capacities with a range of businesses. He has published widely on the topic of entrepreneurship, particularly in the area of minority entrepreneurship, and his works include 13 books, 26 book chapters, 38 journal articles, and 20 case studies. He has previously been Editor of the journal Small Enterprise Research and a Guest Editor of Special Issues of the International Small Business Journal (twice), Irish Journal of Management, Journal of Enterprising Communities, and the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Further details about his work can be found at www.thomascooney.ie.
- Responsibilities
Vasilis Siemos is a business and innovation consultant with over two decades of experience in business planning, financial reporting, valuation, and industry research. He has held senior leadership roles in management consulting firms, successfully leading strategy-driven projects focused on corporate growth and development. Since 2019, he has been the Head of the Business Accelerator at the Archimedes Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he supports researchers, entrepreneurial teams, and startups in bringing their ideas to the market. He holds an MSc in International Banking and Finance from the University of Salford and a BSc in Economics from the University of Athens.