Calling all Student Entrepreneurs

COMPETITION FOR AUSTRALIA’S TOP STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization, the world’s most influential community of entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce the launch of the 2009 Australian regional competition of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, supported by Mercedes-Benz Financial.
The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards recognize the world’s top undergraduate student entrepreneur who is juggling the demands of a full course load with running a business.
Similar to American icon Dell Computer founder Michael Dell, a former member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization who started his company in his dorm room at school, these students have a passion for entrepreneurship — which is a leading driver of economies worldwide.
This year’s Australia competition will recognize Australia’s best university entrepreneurs, with the top two national Australian winners going on to represent Australia in Chicago on the 21st and 22nd of October at the 2009 GSEA Global Finals competition.
Each student entrepreneur qualifies to compete by having a company which has been in existence for at least six months as a for-profit company, the student entrepreneur is principally responsible for its operation, and they are attending a recognized college or university as an undergraduate during time of nomination.

The successful applicants will present in front of a panel of members of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the local business community.

The winners are announced and prizes are awarded the evening of the competition.
The 2008 GSEA Global Champion award winner, Dominic Coryell of the Northeastern University in Boston, USA, and CEO of Garment Valet Inc., had this to say about last year’s contest: “Its justification for all of the hard work that you constantly forget about day to day and to have this many vetted individuals stand out there and award you and clap for you means a whole lot and beyond that, all of the fellow entrepreneurs, its amazing!”
Melbourne Entrepreneurs’ Organization member Carlo Santoro, Managing Director of RetailCare.com and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Board of Directors, was a judge at the Melbourne competition last year, “These student entrepreneurs represent the future of Australian business. It was motivating to see them present their businesses and understand how they juggle running their companies with attending school full time,” Santoro said.
Australia’s finalists last year were Natasha Wood from The Kitchen Guys, a student from Macquarie University, Trent Kirk from South Brisbane Grass Cutters, a student from Griffith University, and Damian Panozza from Balance Psychology, a student from Swinburne University.

Know a Student Entrepreneur? Nominate them now for the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards and you could win $1,000. Check www.gsea.org!

Other finalists in last year’s Global competition included:
– Joseph Pascaretta from the University of Michigan, who created Alps International, an American $6+ million dollar landscaping company
—Marcus Anzengruber from Stockholm School of Economics, who created Constant, which provides internet advertising and optimization services to client internationally
Nomination and Application Deadlines:
Global – Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Regional Competition Dates:
Sydney – Thursday, 20 August 2009

Go to www.gsea.org to register and get yourself IN THE COMPETITION!
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About GSEA
For 20 years, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) program has recognized students who are successfully building businesses while pursuing academic degrees. The program, which is currently active in five countries, encourages students to pursue their passions while building the foundation for a solid economic future through regional and global cash awards competitions. The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is the facilitator of the GSEA program, in part through the support of Mercedes-Benz Financial. This connection allows student entrepreneurs to tap into the collective knowledge and experience of EO members, gaining access to global networks and to a community that understands passion, struggle, drive and success. GSEA was founded at St. Louis University in the USA in 1988.

Carlo Santoro

Global Board Member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization