Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge 2026 Showcases the Future of New Orleans Innovation
The energy was electric at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) as Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA) brought together the region’s most promising young innovators for the 2026 Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge Greater New Orleans Final Pitch, known as The Big Pitch. What began months ago as classroom ideas has transformed into bold solutions from confident young entrepreneurs ready to shape the future of our region.
Through JA’s Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge, presented in partnership with the Brees Dream Foundation, students from across Louisiana were invited to develop and pitch original business ideas for the opportunity to earn up to $15,000 in scholarships and up to $7,500 for their schools. Beyond the competition, the program is about something bigger. It empowers young people to see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and leaders in a rapidly changing economy.
This year’s Greater New Orleans finals showcased an extraordinary range of student-led ventures tackling real-world challenges, from sustainability to personal safety to youth development. After an intensive eight-week Accelerator experience, where students worked alongside mentors to refine their business models, financial plans, and pitches, the top teams took the stage to present to a panel of business and community leaders.
Taking home first place, BioFresh Containers from Ben Franklin High School impressed judges with their innovative, antimicrobial, reusable food containers made from chitosan, a plastic-free byproduct derived from shellfish. Team members Alvin, Brianna, and Marianne earned $5,000 in[MB1] scholarships and a year of Chick-fil-A. More importantly, they demonstrated the kind of forward-thinking innovation that addresses both environmental and consumer needs. They will advance to the Regional Championship on April 17, 2026, at Loyola University New Orleans.
Second place honors went to Hair Tag, developed by Josie Leingang and Mckenzy Lange of Fontainebleau High School, under the leadership of educator Jessica Constant, who has now led a winning team on the Northshore for the third consecutive year. Hair Tag is a discreet hair elastic safety device designed to provide location tracking and SOS signaling in the event of an emergency. Judges were impressed by the team’s thoughtful approach to personal safety, combining innovation with practical, real-world application. Their work highlights how young people are designing solutions that are not only creative but deeply relevant to the challenges they and their peers face every day. The team will advance to the Regional Championship alongside the first-place winners.
Third place was awarded to SpeakWild from Frederick Douglass High School, led by student entrepreneur Tarrel Brooks. SpeakWild is a communication and confidence-building nonprofit that blends public speaking with wilderness skill development. The idea is rooted in helping young people find their voice and build resilience. Tarrel’s vision reflects the lived experiences of many young people in our community, where confidence, exposure, and opportunity are not always evenly distributed. Through SpeakWild, he is creating a pathway for others to develop the skills and self-assurance needed to lead, communicate, and thrive.
These finalists emerged from a highly competitive cohort of student ventures developed through the JA Accelerator, which builds on earlier exposure through JA Catalyst, where more than over 1,500 students explored entrepreneurship in their classrooms. Together, these programs create a pipeline that moves students from idea to execution. Students gain real-world skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and professional communication.
The success of this program is made possible through the generous support of the Brees Dream Foundation, Chick-fil-A, and Capital One Bank, whose collective investment continues to open doors for young people across our region. JA also extends its gratitude to NOEW and Loyola University New Orleans for hosting this year’s Big Pitch and providing a platform where student voices and ideas can shine.
As these young entrepreneurs move forward to regional competition, one thing is clear. The future of Greater New Orleans is already being built by students who are bold enough to trust their crazy ideas.
To learn more and follow their journey, visit www.trustyourcrazyideas.org.
[MB1]Can we add their last names or take out the last names of the team members from the other teams?