AmCham EU and Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) are delighted to announce that Tiaki, a UK start-up, is the winner of the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2024. Following the previous four editions, this year was again dedicated to women entrepreneurs. Rosanna Collis, Founding Director, won over the jury with her dedication to providing specialist sports equipment for women while driving a wider conversation around breast health in sports. 

Impacts to breasts can leave permanent damage, leading to restricted blood flow to the tissue and can cause issues with breast feeding. Despite this, women lack specialist sport equipment to avoid these complications. By offering a protective sports bra insert, Bra-Vo, for use in contact sports, Tiaki is working to protect players against high impact injuries. Outside of ensuring breast pain is not an obstacle in contact sports, their vision is to start a wider conversation on breast health in sports.   

Rosanna Collis is the Founding Director of Tiaki. She has been recognised with the Delta Airlines Leadership Award and Tiaki was named the UK Young Enterprise Company of the Year in 2023.  

The distinguished jury was composed of Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director-General, Legal Service, European Commission; Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU; Audrey Flore-Ngomsik, CEO and Co-founder, Trianon Scientific Communication and President, Brussels Binder; Eva Maydell, MEP (EPP, BG); Melodie Nakhle, Managing Director, Europe, Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Amway and Vice-Chair, Executive Council, AmCham EU and John Simmons, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, US Mission to the EU. The three finalists were Rosanna Collis, Founding Director of Tiaki from the UK; Maro Manoli, Founder and CEO of E-mbracelet from Cyprus and Janna Naser, CEO and Founder of Alga Insulation from Sweden. 

Along with the award, Rosanna Collis will receive a prize of 10,000 Euros and executive mentorship from top European CEOs of AmCham EU member companies.

Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, said: ‘With such a range of creative ideas on display, I am proud to champion female entrepreneurs through this award. Rosanna symbolises the innovative spirit that fuels the Single Market, while serving as an inspiring role model for young women across Europe.’ 

Salvatore Nigro, CEO, JA Europe, said: ‘This award highlights the incredible potential of young women entrepreneurs to drive innovation and change across various sectors. Rosanna and her startup ‘Tiaki’ embody the entrepreneurial mindset by providing a game changer solution for women in sports.’ 

The AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award was launched in 2013 to recognise young people who have chosen to become entrepreneurs and to foster entrepreneurship in Europe. The initiative is supported by AmCham EU's Executive Council and organised in collaboration with JA Europe. The three finalists are presented with a monetary prize toward their start-up and will receive mentorship from top European CEOs of AmCham EU member companies. AmCham EU also makes a contribution to the three local JA Europe organisations, recognising their contributions to fostering entrepreneurship at local level.

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About AmCham EU  

AmCham EU speaks for American companies committed to Europe on trade, investment and competitiveness issues. It aims to ensure a growth-orientated business and investment climate in Europe. AmCham EU facilitates the resolution of transatlantic issues that impact business and plays a role in creating better understanding of EU and US positions on business matters. Aggregate US investment in Europe totalled more than €3.7 trillion in 2022, directly supports more than 4.9 million jobs in Europe, and generates billions of euros annually in income, trade and research and development.  

About JA Europe 

JA Europe is the largest organisation in Europe dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. JA Europe is a member of JA Worldwide® which for 100 years has delivered hands on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. JA creates pathways for employability, job creation and financial success. Together we work in 41 countries in Europe, offering 4 million learning experiences every year in core programmes and inspiring millions more through online events and activities. JA Worldwide was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022. For the fourth year in a row, JA Worldwide was selected in 2022 as a top-ten global NGO by thedotgood (formerly NGO Advisor).