Family Entrepreneurship Schools Tournament

SVEN

Family Entrepreneurship Schools Tournament

A case competition connecting high school talent to family businesses

Upper-secondary students in Jönköping Region solve real challenges in a family business from the region. The best teams meet in a final at Jönköping International Business School.

3
stages
4–5
students per team
2
day final

Teachers' portal ↗Register interest

Stage 01 — January–February

Teams solve a case built on real challenges in a family business from the region.

Teachers build the case into their regular teaching. Students work in teams and finish with a video presentation of their solution.

A team working round a table with laptops and notes
A team working on its case.

Scope

6–8 lessons over 3–4 weeks. CeFEO provides the case, a teaching guide and ready-made lesson plans.

Case themes

  • sustainability
  • entrepreneurship
  • leadership
  • succession

Submission

A 5–7 minute video presentation, recorded in front of the class with supporting slides, in Swedish or English. Teachers choose which teams go on to the semifinal.

About FEST

Family businesses are the backbone of Småland

But how do we make sure tomorrow's talent notices them?

FEST brings family business into Swedish upper-secondary school. Students discover what family businesses do, why they matter locally and how to build a career with them. The teaching material comes from the Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership (CeFEO) at Jönköping International Business School.

Who it is for: second-year upper-secondary students in Jönköping Region.

ChallengeFamily businesses struggle to reach young talentDespite their important role in the region, family businesses find it hard to attract young talent and entrepreneurial skills. Many successful mid-sized family firms in the region remain relatively unknown.
GoalSpark young people's interest in family businessBuild interest in family entrepreneurship and business ownership, and show that family businesses are attractive employers.
SolutionA school competition built on real casesFEST connects young people to family businesses through cases from the region, and gives teachers ready-made lesson plans to teach around.
Upper-secondary students fill the lecture hall at JIBS during the final
The audience at the FEST 2025 final at Jönköping International Business School.

What participants say

Voices from students, teachers and family business owners who have taken part in FEST. Translated from Swedish.

Students

  • Very motivating
  • Interesting subject
  • I recommend it to others
  • Nice to represent our school

Teachers

  • The students appreciated the project, and it was pitched at the right level
  • It gives an insight into local business life, which students recognise and which motivates them

Family business owner

  • I got so many good ideas that I can use
Two students presenting to the audience
Teams present.
The jury asks questions from the audience seats
The jury asks questions.
A team cheers with a cheque and flowers
Cheers at the prize-giving.
Students in hi-vis vests on a company visit
On a company visit.

Calendar 2027

The activities before and during FEST 2027.

Dates not yet set are marked and will be filled in once confirmed.

  1. Date to be added

    Workshop for teachers

    Workshop on family business and case teaching for teachers at the participating schools.

    JIBS

  2. Date to be added

    Introduction in the schools

    Teachers and CeFEO present the competition to the students.

    Participating schools

  3. Date to be added

    Lecture and campus visit

    Introductory lecture on family business for all participating students, with a campus visit.

    JIBS

  4. January–February 2027

    Stage 01 – Case study in school

    Teams work on the case in class. Exact weeks to be added.

    Participating schools

  5. Date to be added

    Submission deadline

    Teachers send the selected teams' video presentations to CeFEO.

    Online

  6. March 2027

    Stage 02 – Semifinal

    The jury assesses the video presentations. Exact date to be added.

    Online

  7. Date to be added

    Finalists announced

    CeFEO announces which teams go through to the final.

    Online

  8. April 2027

    Stage 03 – Final at JIBS

    Two-day final in English, with the prize-giving. Exact dates to be added.

    JIBS

Schools, case and winners

The schools that took part in each edition, the family business behind the case, and the teams that won.

Participating schools 2027

  • To be added
  • To be added
  • To be added

Case 2027

Company
To be added
Website
To be added

Winners 2027

The winners will be chosen at the final in April 2027.

Organisers and sponsors

FEST is organised by CeFEO at Jönköping International Business School. We thank our partners and sponsors.

Organiser
Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership (CeFEO), Jönköping International Business School
Partners
Region Jönköping CountyJönköping MunicipalityJunior Achievement Sweden (Ung Företagsamhet)
Sponsors
Syskonen Inger & Sixten Norheds stiftelseLänsförsäkringar JönköpingSwedbank

Contact

Would your school like to take part?

Do you teach at an upper-secondary school in Jönköping Region, or run a family business that would like to contribute a case? Get in touch with CeFEO.

infocefeo@ju.se

Teachers' portal ↗