Junior Achievement Costa Rica

What Junior Achievement Costa Rica does

Junior Achievement Costa Rica (JACR), legally registered as Asociación de Empresarios Juveniles de Costa Rica, is a non-governmental organization established in 1988 as the Costa Rican affiliate of Junior Achievement Worldwide. The organization delivers 30 free educational programs organized across three pillars — Entrepreneurship, Employability, and Financial Education — to approximately 35,000-44,000 children and youth annually across all 7 provinces of Costa Rica. Since inception, JACR has impacted more than 250,000 beneficiaries, maintains a 200,000+ alumni network, and operates through a 15-person staff with volunteer-driven delivery.

Programs are segmented by educational level: primary school programs (Emprendedores Climáticos, Más allá del Dinero), secondary school programs (La Compañía, Economías para el Éxito, Habilidades para el Éxito, Socios por un Día, TITAN, Carreras con Propósito, Aqua Inspiration, La Empresa en Acción), and specialized programs for adults and vulnerable populations (Mujeres Emprendedoras, Mujer Digital, Talent UP). Delivery occurs through a multi-channel model combining partnerships with the Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP), university community service (TCU) programs, corporate volunteer programs, and the AcademiaVirtual digital platform. JACR operates as a CISCO-certified academy through a partnership with CISCO.

The organization is funded entirely through a diversified base of corporate sponsorships (35+ multinationals including BAC Credomatic, CITI, SAP, Deloitte, KPMG, EY, Google Cloud, IBM, Accenture), individual donations via SINPE móvil and the BAC 'Yo me uno' platform, and institutional partnerships (MEP, MEIC, Peace Corps). All programs are provided free to beneficiaries. JACR is governed by a local Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) led by President Andrés Shum León, with Alberto Arguedas Morales (AmCham Director Ejecutivo) recognized as the founder of JA in Costa Rica. The organization received a Nobel nomination in 2024 as part of the global JA network, which operates in 112 countries and is ranked #5 among the world's top 500 NGOs by NGO Advisor.

Name

Junior Achievement Costa Rica

Legal name

Asociación de Empresarios Juveniles de Costa Rica

Website

https://jacostarica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Junior Achievement Costa Rica is a non-profit educational NGO delivering 30 free programs in entrepreneurship, employability, and financial literacy to 35,000-44,000 youth annually across all seven provinces of Costa Rica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Workforce Development

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth entrepreneurship education
• Financial literacy programs
• Employability skills training
• Experiential learning programs
• Nonprofit educational programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Escazú

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Major corporations sponsor JA programs with financial contributions, volunteer hours, and in-kind support. Companies like Auto Mercado, CITI, BAC Credomatic, FIFCO, and others fund specific programs and initiatives.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute via SINPE móvil (phone-based mobile payment) and the BAC 'Yo me uno' platform. Donations support program delivery and operations.
3. Institutional Partnerships: Government and institutional cooperation agreements (e.g., MEP, MEIC, Peace Corps) provide support for program delivery across educational levels and communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Junior Achievement Costa Rica delivers approximately 30 free educational programs for youth organized around three pillars: Entrepreneurship, Employability, and Financial Education. Programs are experiential, classroom- and volunteer-led, and target students from elementary through university level, with additional specialized tracks for women and out-of-school youth. The organization partners with schools, universities, corporate volunteers, and municipalities to deliver its content, and offers an online learning platform (AcademiaVirtual) hosting CISCO-certified curricula.

Product overview

Junior Achievement Costa Rica operates as an educational NGO offering a portfolio of 30 free educational programs organized across three pillars: Entrepreneurship, Employability, and Financial Education. The programs are structured by educational level: Primary programs include Emprendedores Climáticos and Más allá del Dinero; Secondary programs include La Compañía, Economías para el Éxito, Habilidades para el Éxito, Socios por un Día, TITAN Simulación Interactiva, Carreras con Propósito, Aqua Inspiration, and La Empresa en Acción; and specialized programs for specific audiences include Mujeres Emprendedoras for vulnerable women, Mujer Digital for technical digital training, and Talent UP for Google Cloud scholarships. Programs are delivered through volunteers and supported by the AcademiaVirtual platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mujer Digital: A program offering free technical training to young women aged 17-30 in technology areas including Introduction to Coding, Web Development, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity, with certification opportunities.
• Talent UP
• Mujeres Emprendedoras

Products and services

• La Compañía Flagship Junior Achievement entrepreneurship program in which students organize and operate a real student company, learning business fundamentals through hands-on experience. Targeted at secondary-school youth in Costa Rica.
• Economías para el Éxito Financial education program focused on personal finance, savings, and money management for youth.
• Habilidades para el Éxito Employability and life-skills program helping youth develop the competencies required for the future of work.
• Socios por un Día Job-shadowing program in which students accompany a professional for a day to explore careers in practice.
• TITAN - Simulación Interactiva Interactive business simulation that immerses students in entrepreneurial decision-making.
• Carreras con Propósito Career exploration program that helps students map their career paths aligned with purpose and opportunity.
• Aqua Inspiration Program that uses water and environmental themes to inspire entrepreneurial thinking among youth.
• La Empresa en Acción Entrepreneurship program focused on operating a business venture in action as a learning experience.
• Emprendedores Climáticos Climate-focused entrepreneurship program for youth.
• Más allá del Dinero Financial education program that goes beyond basic money topics to explore broader financial concepts.
• Mujeres Emprendedoras Entrepreneurship program targeted at women to develop business and leadership skills.
• Mujer Digital Digital skills program for women, focused on employability in the digital economy.
• Talent UP CISCO-certified curriculum delivered through the AcademiaVirtual platform to upskill youth in digital and employability competencies.
• AcademiaVirtual Online learning platform that hosts Junior Achievement Costa Rica's digital and CISCO-certified content, including Talent UP, enabling remote participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ youth impacted since 1988
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Auto MercadocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional ally that globally sponsors entrepreneurship and employability programs for youth of JA Costa Rica. Provides funding and volunteer support for program delivery.
• American TowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes technology skills and vocational programs for youth, including regional certifications and technology camps. Supports digital skills development initiatives.
• CITIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the 'Mujeres Emprendedoras' program benefiting 500+ female heads of household annually, and 'Capacidades Digitales' promoting digital transformation in regional programs.
• BAC CredomaticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in educational programs for entrepreneurship, financial education, and youth employability including 'La Compañía', 'Habilidades para el éxito', and 'Finanzas juveniles'.
• FIFCOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes innovative digital programs in entrepreneurship and business management for value chain administrators.
• DaviviendasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Costa Rican youth through 'La Compañía' program and personal finance programs.
• ScotiabanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports innovation and financial education programs for youth across the country.
• Portafolio InmobiliariosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the 'La Compañía' program in hosting the Product Fair where youth entrepreneurs present their mini-companies.
• ULACITsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally in promoting youth leadership and entrepreneurial culture, supporting 'La Compañía' program for many years.
• Prival BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignificant efforts in financial education for youth through the 'Millonario por un Día' program, unique to JA Costa Rica.
• DELLsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteering and sponsorship contributions primarily to the 'La Compañía' Program.
• PozuelosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a cooperation agreement with the Vice Ministry of Peace and JA Costa Rica, implements 'Creando mi futuro con Chiky' - a skills and innovation promotion program for vulnerable communities.
• IBMsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes to innovation and entrepreneurship training programs through the 'IBM Start Up Challenge' project.
• Peace CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally in implementing programs including 'Habilidades para el éxito', 'La Compañía', 'Mujeres emprendedoras' and others in very rural communities with significant support needs. Provides annual volunteer and community training coordination.
• Universidad Castro CarazosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally providing high-quality TCUs who are trained by JA to visit communities and implement entrepreneurship and personal/family finance education programs.
• Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally providing TCUs trained by JA to implement programs in entrepreneurship and finance. Participates as tutors/mentors in practically all JA Costa Rica programs, fulfilling university community service hours.
• CISCOcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides vision and excellent virtual platform enabling JA Costa Rica to be a certified CISCO Academy, reaching many beneficiaries in IT and digital skills programs.
• MilleniumsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSponsor and ally in IT, software, and website services for JA Costa Rica.
• Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional cooperation agreement enabling JA Costa Rica programs to reach youth and children throughout the country at all educational levels.
• Amcham (Cámara de Comercio Americana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder and manager of Junior Achievement in Costa Rica over 30 years ago. Part of the Board of Directors, supports programs and projects, and is a dynamic ally of the organization.
• AccenturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally and sponsor in youth entrepreneurship and employability programs, supporting 'La Compañía', 'Habilidades para el éxito', and 'Mujeres Emprendedoras'.
• KPMGsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally in institutional legal advice and auditing. Provides sponsorship in both areas and is one of the founders of JA in Costa Rica and many other countries.
• DeloittesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes the 'Cuentas Contigo' digital financial education program regionally and nationally for youth in all regions.
• EYsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromoter of the 'Socios por un Día' digital program with youth across the country, conducting internships with EY professionals.
• Johnson y JohnsonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of programs for STEAM vocations and careers, mainly for young female students across the country. Also participates in empowerment and financial education programs.
• Western UnionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic regional ally and sponsor promoting vocational orientation and employability in secondary school youth nationwide through the 'Economías para el éxito' program.
• Delta AirlinessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally of JA in the Americas. Provides advisory services, visits, awards, and youth entrepreneurship programs including the 'Company of the Year' competition at JA Americas where Costa Rica participates.
• SAPsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting JA programs.
• Arcos DoradossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors educational programs oriented toward youth entrepreneurship and employability such as 'La Compañía', 'Habilidades para el éxito', 'Se Emprendedor' and others.
• BAYERsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated as ally and sponsor in programs such as 'La Compañía' and 'Mujeres Emprendedoras'.
• MEICsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally as a national entrepreneurial ecosystem manager, supporting programs like 'Mujeres Emprendedoras', 'Cuentas contigo', business promotion content, and financial education nationwide.
• Roma ConsultoressupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLeading consulting firm in areas such as accounting that donates services to JA Costa Rica to make financial processes more secure and transparent.
• MARKlinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic ally in advertising and public relations advice for Junior Achievement Costa Rica, as well as part of the Board of Directors.
• MoodyssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored corporate social responsibility programs mainly directed at women entrepreneurs through corporate volunteer programs.
• UPSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlly and sponsor in youth entrepreneurship and employability programs, supporting 'La Compañía'.
• Libertad Marketing y ComunicaciónsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional expert in marketing strategies, advertising, brand consulting, and interaction design services.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ENACTUS: ENACTUS is a global nonprofit that delivers experiential entrepreneurship programs through university student teams who teach and mentor in surrounding communities. It directly parallels JACR's model of using university student volunteers (TCU) to deliver entrepreneurship education at the secondary and community level.
• Junior Achievement USA: JA USA is the largest country affiliate of the Junior Achievement global network, delivering the same volunteer-led entrepreneurship, employability, and financial literacy programs in K-12 schools across the United States. It is the most direct functional peer to JACR by virtue of shared curriculum, volunteer model, and target audience.
• Junior Achievement Americas: JA Americas is the regional umbrella for 26 country JA operations including Costa Rica itself. As JACR's direct regional network, JA Americas administers cross-country programs such as the Company of the Year competition and shared curriculum, making it a peer in governance and program distribution.
• INJAZ Al-Arab: INJAZ is a regional nonprofit that delivers JA-style entrepreneurship, employability, and financial education programs across the Middle East and North Africa. It is closely comparable to JACR in mission, content pillars, and volunteer-based K-12 delivery, though operating in a different geography.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): NFTE is a US-based nonprofit that delivers entrepreneurship education programs to youth in low-income communities using volunteer business professionals as instructors — essentially the same volunteer-driven, K-12 entrepreneurship education model as Junior Achievement. Strongly comparable in target audience and delivery mechanism.

Others

• Kauffman Foundation: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is the largest US foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and research. As a major grantmaker and thought leader in youth entrepreneurship education, it is thematically adjacent to JACR's mission and a comparable funder/strategic peer in the ecosystem, even though it does not deliver programs directly.
• Ashoka (Ashoka: Innovators for the Public): Ashoka is a global nonprofit that identifies and supports leading social entrepreneurs, including those focused on youth education and economic empowerment. As a global fellow network operating across Latin America with parallel mission in social innovation and youth economic agency, Ashoka is an adjacent ecosystem peer to JACR.

Emerging players

• Technovation: Technovation is a global nonprofit running programs that teach girls aged 10-18 to code and develop tech-based solutions to community problems. It directly overlaps with JACR's Mujer Digital program in mission (girls/women in tech) and target demographic, making it a comparable emerging peer in the same niche.

Broad incumbents

• Cisco Networking Academy: Cisco Networking Academy is a global digital-skills education program delivered via an online learning platform, targeting students and adult learners in IT and networking. It is both a JACR partner (JACR is a certified Cisco Academy) and a broad incumbent in the digital-skills training space that JACR's Mujer Digital and Talent UP programs operate within.

Regional players

• Junior Achievement Brazil: JA Brazil is the largest JA country operation in Latin America, delivering the same global JA curriculum in Portuguese to Brazilian youth. Comparable in mission and program structure but operating at much larger scale and in a different national context, making it a strong regional benchmark for JACR's potential scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJLpY_CINj94sNfQTKariGw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/jacostarica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/junior-achievement-costa-rica
• Instagraminstagram.com/jacostarica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Junior Achievement Costa Rica