A student company from Thessaloniki in northern Greece has won the top prize in an international competition for young entrepreneurs for its 3D-printed puzzle game Wizzle, which boasts applications in medicine and education.
Isometricks from the Experimental High School of the University of Macedonia won the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, the highest honor within the JA Company Program, and a cash prize of USD 15,000.
Representing Europe in this competition was the Greek team consisting of Corina Marasidi, John Terpsiadis, Fay Katsanou, Marina Jakoumoglou and Nicolas Sivas, along with JA Ghana (AID Electronics), JA Argentina (MANIK) , Prestasi Junior Indonesia (SIEVASCO), INJAZ Oman (Warif), JA Southeastern Pennsylvania (Youthful Thinkers).
“I still can’t believe it. We’re on cloud 9,” CEO Marasidi said. “All team members are deeply moved. Despite the heavy responsibility and fierce competition, we managed to overcome what can be called the most difficult challenge to date,” she added.
The company’s flagship product, Wizzle (a portmanteau of the words “wizard” and “puzzle”), represents an open-ended game that fosters thinking and creativity, while also harboring mathematical elements that are widely useful in education and medicine. . This innovative vibrant tile assortment adheres to mathematical principles and is pieced together using mosaic logic, offering endless avenues of creativity.
As a non-digital, tactile learning experience, Wizzle serves as a valuable educational resource for both teachers and students, facilitating an inclusive learning environment for individuals with dyslexia and refugee students grappling with language barriers. Additionally, Wizzle presents a promising non-drug intervention suitable for individuals of all ages grappling with mild cognitive impairment.
Isometrics was founded in October 2022 by 16 high school seniors. Through JA Greece he participated in the JA Corporate Programme, Isometrics, which received the JA Europe Company of the Year award at the regional Gen-E Festival in July 2023.
