Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA)

About the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA)

GSEA is the premier global competition for university and college students who own and operate a business while attending school. Since 1998, the competition has been supporting student entrepreneurs with mentorship, recognition, and connections to take their businesses to the next level of success.

Competition Overview

Students compete in a series of local and national competitions held in cities and countries worldwide throughout the calendar year. The journey culminates in the GSEA Global Finals, typically held in June.

• GSEA has 100+ cities where local competitions take place
• Advance from local competitions and receive a fully sponsored trip to the regional rounds, where you'll connect with top-tier mentors, network with like-minded innovators, and pitch your story on an international stage
• Advance to Global Semi-Finals and Finals where you will compete against the top 20 student entrepreneurs from around the world in the Start it Up bootcamp in Cape Town, South Africa
• Your journey will be captured in the Start it Up series with 10M+ views on YouTube

Benefits of Participating

Juggling academics and business isn't easy. Participating in GSEA gives you advantages that include:

• Practical application of classroom learning
• Building a professional network at an early stage
• Gaining real-world business experience
• Potential financial independence

Skills Developed

• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Leadership and team management
• Financial literacy and budgeting
• Marketing and communication
• Time management and prioritization
• Resilience and adaptability

Prize

Competitors compete for their share of $100,000 in cash prizes.