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Cook Me Up wins Avanade Digital Innovation Award

Cook Me Up won the Avanade Digital Innovation Award during the JA Europe Enterprise Challenge after winning the national final of the JA Start-Up Programme in France.
JA Start Up programme’s European Enterprise Challenge final took place in Riga (Latvia) on June 25-27 with altogether 16 student start-up teams from 15 countries.

The Junior Achievement (JA) Europe Enterprise Challenge is JA Europe’s annual celebration of the achievements of its Start-Up programme students and their companies from across Europe. At this event, the winning companies from all participating countries presented their business ideas and shared their experiences and learnings. The finalists were chosen to participate in the European challenge after winning their national competitions.

Avanade, the leading digital innovator, realising results for clients and customers through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem, has been collaborating with JA Europe since 2016, supporting its programmes with the aim to teach young people about the world of technology. With JA Europe, Avanade empowers young people to make a considered decision on choosing a career in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In the first year of the partnership, 102 Avanade volunteers supported 1,124 girls across Brazil, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

As part of their collaboration with the JA Start Up programme, Avanade designed the Avanade Digital Innovation Award, to recognise the young entrepreneurs who were best able to put their digital skills into practice resulting in innovative business ideas. Based on their innovative and unique culinary experience, the start-up Cook Me Up won the Avanade Award. The team developed a French restaurant concept following the guideline «1 Product, 3 Cookings, 1000 Flavors» and wish to prove that healthy can also be tasty. In addition, they bring an innovative touch to the catering industry by offering a mobile app, «Click & Sit» which allows customers to save time and increase satisfaction by dramatically reducing the waiting time at the restaurant.

"Our collaboration with Avanade is aimed at encouraging young people and girls in particular to consider STEM related studies and career paths. We take advantage of Avanade employees engaging directly with the students. These volunteers are important role models and a source of practical advice and experience as well as encouragement and motivation. Recognising young people for their capabilities and talents in STEM is key. This year, for the first time, we will launch the Avanade Digital Innovation Award, recognising creativity, innovation and ethics in business." explained Caroline Jenner, CEO of JA Europe.

In addition to a EUR 1000 cash prize, Cook Me Up will receive a mentoring and coaching session, will be invited to selected Avanade events and activities, and be invited to Avanade UK headquarters in London.

“Given the pace of change in the world in which we live, being innovative, creative and curious will be key skills for the future and I’m delighted that Avanade has sponsored this digital innovation award,” said Adam Warby, CEO of Avanade. “I’m personally looking forward to seeing these young people continue to progress their careers and embrace the digital world in new ways in the future.”

“This is a big surprise. We are very happy about this Avanade award. When we heard about the five qualities they were looking for, we thought maybe it could be us. This is more than just an award, this is a recognition of our digital innovation. It is a big opportunity for us to be mentored by senior executives at Avanade. It will be great and we are sure we will learn a lot. As for the prize, we will use it further innovate our idea”, said Martin Courtois, CEO at Cook Me Up

Avanade Signature Award jury members:

• Matt Joe, Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Avanade
• Jens Boegh-Nielsen, Executive, General Manager, Avanade Nordic Region
• Caroline Fanning, Executive, HR Lead, Avanade Europe
• Heba Ramzy, Senior Director Global Citizenship, Avanade
  
  

Avanade Digital Innovation Award judging criteria:

• Use of Digital Innovation (45%)
• Viability & Feasibility (30%)
• Business Sustainability (15%)
• Presentation and soft skills (10%)
• BONUS Criteria (5points): Digital Ethics

About JA Europe
JA Europe ( www.jaeurope.org ) is Europe’s largest provider of education programmes for entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy, reaching 3.6 million students in 41 countries in 2017. JA works with the education and business communities as well as governments to provide young people from primary school to university with experiences that build the skills and competences they will need to succeed in a global economy. JA Europe is the European Regional Operating Centre for JA Worldwide®.

About Avanade
Avanade is the leading provider of innovative digital and cloud services, business solutions and design-led experiences delivered through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem. Our professionals bring bold, fresh thinking combined with technology, business and industry expertise to help fuel transformation and growth for our clients and their customers. Avanade has 30,000 digitally connected people across 24 countries, bringing clients the best thinking through a collaborative culture that honors diversity and reflects the communities in which we operate. Majority owned by Accenture, Avanade was founded in 2000 by Accenture LLP and Microsoft Corporation. Learn more at www.avanade.com

Contact:
Tom Barton, tom.barton@avanade.com