About Championship
The top international contest for college/university student business owners. Entrepreneurial students who have founded and run a company while in school compete through city and national rounds. The journey culminates in the GSEA Global Finals (typically each June) – in recent years held in Cape Town, South Africa. Finalists pitch to a global panel; prizes include a share of $100,000+ in cash awards and high-profile media exposure. Founded 1998 by Entrepreneurs’ Organization, GSEA now spans 90+ countries. It offers mentorship, networking and real-world experience (past winners feature in EO’s Start it Up media series). More info and entry guidelines are on the EO GSEA site.
Eligibility: Current university/college students (undergrad or grad) globally who own and operate a business. Businesses must have revenue or sales (see EO site for details).
Format: Local campus or city contests → national finals → Global Finals. Competitions include pitch decks and business reviews. The Global Finals (with ~20 finalists) occur in mid-year (e.g., June 2024 in Cape Town).
Tentative Dates: Regional rounds run year-round. GSEA Global Finals typically in June. EO chapters post regional deadlines on the website.
Prizes: Part of $100K+ global prize pool, plus mentorship. All global finalists gain an all-expenses-paid trip (often via sponsored Start it Up program).
Facts: 27-year history (since 1998). Held in 90+ countries and 100+ cities. 2023 Global Champion streamed 10M+ YouTube views. GSEA builds alumni networks of young CEOs worldwide.
Interested in Joining?
We’ve got you covered with our very own live GPT!
Guidance: We’ll walk you through planning your championship step by step.
Preparation: Get the support you need to train and be ready to compete.
Team Formation: Don’t have a team yet? We’ll help you build one!
Join now and take the first step toward victory!