YEREVAN, Armenia — From January 25 to 26, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) at the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the EPIC Jam two-day Ideathon. EPIC Jam is a dynamic 48-hour solution development hackathon designed to creatively brainstorm, refine, and pitch solutions to existing problems in Armenia and beyond. Participants select a business problem, form a dedicated team, and work together to propose solutions that can be transformed into potential startups. The proposed business venture is pitched to a jury, offering the participants a chance to win prizes. Regardless of academic background, participants benefit from personalized mentorship sessions, which help to enhance their idea generation, business model evaluation, and pitching skills. These sessions are supported by workshops and guided by dedicated coaches who are embedded within each team. Winners can then fast-track into the EPIC Incubation Program. Jam presents an opportunity for passionate innovators to begin the process of turning their ideas into successful startups in a fun, fast-paced, and rewarding environment.
EPIC Jam has proven to be a highly successful and increasingly popular format, with the number of applications growing steadily each time. In addition to the regular EPIC Jams, the program has also hosted special editions that attract additional interest. For example, in November, within the scope of Global Entrepreneurship Week, EPIC organized a special edition of Jam aimed at addressing sustainability challenges in the fashion and wine industries. This special event, held in collaboration with GIZ, was supported by key industry partners, including the Fashion and Design Chamber of Armenia and the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia. Such initiatives support one of EPIC’s core goals which is being as inclusive as possible, engaging entrepreneurial minds from a wide range of fields and backgrounds to foster diverse solutions and innovation.
First Day: Team Building and Idea Generation
The first day kickstarted with engaging team-building activities that fostered a collaborative and cooperative environment, which lasted throughout the entirety of EPIC Jam. These activities were carefully designed to break down initial barriers among individuals, encouraging open communication and building trust within the teams. By actively participating in these exercises, participants not only got to know each other on a personal level but also discovered and harnessed the diverse strengths and talents each team member brought to the table.
As a result, when the teams transitioned from team-building to the brainstorming session, which was led by EPIC’s Assistant Director Nejdeh Hovanessian, they did so with a solid foundation of mutual acquaintance. This collaborative spirit significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the brainstorming session, allowing for the free flow of ideas and a more productive exploration of innovative solutions to the challenges at hand.
In addition to team-building activities, the newly formed teams also benefited from guidance provided by dedicated coaches — many of whom were alumni of the EPIC Incubation program. With firsthand entrepreneurial experience, the coaches brought valuable insights to the teams, helping them navigate challenges, and stay focused on problem-solving. Throughout the weekend, they provided support, encouragement, and practical advice to newcomers in the entrepreneurial field.
Arsen Asatryan, CEO and co-founder of EdMap, an EPIC graduate startup currently part of the Plug and Play Acceleration program in Armenia and the new program lead for EPIC’s STRIVE Pre-U, shared his perspective on the experience, remarking, “EPIC Jam is an intense, fast-paced experience that mirrors the entrepreneurial journey in a condensed format. Participants go through the full emotional cycle — exciting ‘aha moments,’ disappointments, team discord, and ultimately, the realization that collaboration and adaptability are key to overcoming challenges. It’s a unique opportunity to test resilience, build problem-solving skills, and experience firsthand what it takes to turn an idea into a viable solution.”
After the teams developed their first draft ideas, they attended mentorship sessions. Drawing from their extensive experience, EPIC Jam mentors served as sounding boards, helping participants refine their concepts, navigate hurdles, and make informed decisions.
Tak Lo, founder of Zeroth.ai, one of the first AI-focused accelerators based in Asia, and visiting associate professor at AUA, mentored teams and served as a judge during EPIC Jam. Reflecting on the event, he shared, “I really enjoyed my time at EPIC and was glad to see the student engagement. As I tell my students — the most important thing is to be brave and to go for it — and those students really did!”
Second Day: Finalizing Business Concepts and Pitching
The teams returned to AUA early on Sunday morning to join a workshop led by EPIC Community and Operations Manager Anna Khachatryan about pitching. The rest of the day was spent refining business concepts and preparing for the most exciting part of the Ideathon: the pitching session.
As the much-anticipated pitching session finally began, judges — including Dr. Michael Kouchakdjian, director of EPIC; Tak Lo, founder of Zeroth.ai and visiting associate professor at AUA; and Margarita Hakobjanyan, owner/director of Modus Consulting Armenia — evaluated the teams’ innovative ideas and progress.
Hakobjanyan, who has extensive experience in financial management and international development, having worked with USAID, EU, and BMZ-funded projects, shared her impressions of the event, stating, “It was impressive to see how well the teams prepared for the pitching session in just two intense days. I especially appreciated the strong sense of collaboration within each team. All eight teams delivered outstanding presentations, pitching their ideas professionally and enthusiastically. I was particularly impressed by how confidently they answered the jury’s challenging questions, demonstrating the depth of their preparation.”
Eight teams took the stage to deliver their initial pitches, presenting their startup ideas and outlining the problems they aimed to solve.
The Winners
MOMents, taking third place, stood out with its empowering concept for mothers on maternity leave. The application offers a supportive platform where mothers can access professional development, learning opportunities, and rewards. MOMents creates a strong sense of community, allowing mothers to thrive during this important phase of their lives while being away from the office but continuing to develop their careers.
Bin, the second-place winner, introduced a mobile app designed to simplify and incentivize recycling. The app integrates smart scanner devices into existing recycling bins, tracking sorted waste, generating QR codes, and converting the weight of recycled materials into reward points. Users can redeem these points at partner businesses, creating a sustainable, circular ecosystem that benefits individuals and companies alike.
vAIral claimed the top spot with its innovative approach to helping influencers create viral content. By leveraging AI-driven insights and data analytics, vAIral helps influencers optimize their social media engagement, enabling them to reach larger audiences and elevate their online presence.
The prizes for the winning teams included a curated selection of top industry books for entrepreneurs, gift cards, and EPIC merchandise. The winning teams additionally received an exclusive invitation to participate in the EPIC Incubation program selection pitching sessions, bypassing the initial application and interview stages. This opportunity gives them a significant advantage in the Incubation program selection process, especially considering the high level of competition for entry.
The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.
