The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the premier global competition for students who have founded and operate businesses while attending college or university, today announces the 2012 Global Finals. More than 1600 student business owners from 30 countries around the world applied for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s GSEA hoping to attend the Global Finals, which is hosted for the second year at the New York Stock Exchange, from November 14 – 16. The top students from around the world are coming together in New York City to vie for their chance at the title of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year and $250,000 in cash and in-kind business services.
“The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s GSEA global finalists represent the top business leaders of tomorrow,” said Samer Kurdi, Global Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. “In experiencing peer learning and the global interconnectivity of entrepreneurship even before graduating college, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards provides each finalist a leg up on their competition that will push their business to the next level for years to come. With the tremendous efforts of Entrepreneurs’ Organization members, we have received more GSEA applications than ever and continue to expand our network worldwide.”
This year, student finalists represent a diverse mix of countries, with nominations and applications pouring in from 30 distinct countries, from Nepal to Nigeria. In 2012, Mexico, India, Russia, Turkey and Canada represent the top five countries where student business owners submitted the most Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards applications. Mexico led the world with 288 student entrepreneurs applying for their chance at the Global Finals. India came in second with 186 applications, followed by Russian students who submitted 146, Turkish students at 135 and finally Canadian student business owners submitting 76 applications.
| 2012 Top Applying Countries | ||
| Rank | Country | Applications |
| 1 | Mexico | 288 |
| 2 | India | 186 |
| 3 | Russia | 146 |
| 4 | Turkey | 135 |
| 5 | Canada | 76 |
| 6 | US | 64 |
| 7 | El Salvador | 48 |
| 8 | Puerto Rico | 23 |
| 9 | Nigeria | 15 |
| 10 | Sweden | 7 |
| 11 | Nepal | 7 |
| 12 | Australia | 5 |
| 13 | Costa Rica | 5 |
| 14 | Sri Lanka | 2 |
| 15 | Ghana | 1 |
| 16 | Hong Kong | 1 |
| 17 | Pakistan | 1 |
| 18 | South Africa | 1 |
| 19 | UK | 1 |
| 20 | Zambia | 1 |
| 21 | Malaysia | 1 |
| 22 | Cote D’Ivoire | nominations |
| 23 | Ireland | nominations |
| 24 | Kenya | nominations |
| 25 | Netherlands | nominations |
| 26 | Poland | nominations |
| 27 | Singapore | nominations |
| 28 | Tanzania | nominations |
| 29 | Uganda | nominations |
| 30 | Zimbabwe | nominations |
The economic downturn has left job prospects for recent graduates the lowest in 60 years. Despite this, finalists of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s GSEA are defying the odds and living the American dream. Each of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s GSEA top student finalists has gone through a rigorous selection process to reach the Global Finals. They were first selected after submitting detailed written applications to participate in local competitions. If chosen they then presented in regional competitions. Those who have bested their regional competitors to make it to the Global Finals, will compete this week among the roster of top 30 international student entrepreneurs.
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Global Finals will take place November 14 – 16, at the New York Stock Exchange. To learn more or to enter the competition, visit www.gsea.org or follow @GSEACompetition.
