The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) 2019 is the world’s premiere award for students who run companies and study at the same time and the aim is to provide exposure to students who are currently running their own businesses.
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global network of more than 13,000 influential business owners with 179 chapters in 57 countries, and enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.
Where can students enter?
The entry process is seamless at www.gsea.org/apply
When will Cape Town event take place?
The Cape Town event will take place on 3rd, entries close on 30th September 2019.
6 finalists will then be chosen and invited to present at the Stack Club in Gardens, Cape Town. Students are expected to make a presentation to a group of judges as it is a pitching event, the focus being more on the individual as opposed to just the business concept.
An experienced judging panel will then select 2 winners who will be flown up to Durban to compete in the South African finals on 28th January 2020.
The Global finals take place in Cape Town, 28th April 2020.
What’s in it for entrants/winners?
The top 2 Finalists will receive:
- WIFI enabled iPad 6 – 32 Gig
- A copy of the “The Entrepreneur’s Playbook: From Rookie to Rainmaker in Seven Steps” by Sandy Van Dijk and Lesley Waterkeyn
- Access to mentorship
- Great exposure for their business’s
All Cape Town finalists will receive:
- Automatic entry into the CWDI 67 Logos event where they will get a professional logo designed for their business
- Free entry into the I am an Entrepreneur event
Who is eligible to enter?
- Applicants must be enrolled for the current academic year in a university/college, this can be part-time. Must be the owner, founder or controlling shareholder of your company and principally responsible for its operation.
- Your business must have been in operation for at least six consecutive months prior to the application.
- Business must have generated R7500 or received R14 000 in investments
- The age cap for participation is 30 years of age
Previous success stories:
Last year Keaton Harris made it to the Global Finals which was held in Macau. His business Informed has developed an offline mobile language translation application which is used as a translation tool for doctors to communicate with patients effectively.
And in 2011 Ludwick Marishane from Limpopo won the Global Student Entrepreneur award for with his DryBath soap product which, alleviates the need to use soap and water to sanitise your skin. He won the grand prize of U$10 000 , which has moved up to U$40 000 for this year’s global winner.
Websites to check out:
• Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) 2019,
• To enter GSEA
• GSEA South Africa
• The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)
