The Kenyan Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), the world’s leading peer-to-peer network of successful business leaders, will host its qualifying competition of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) on Saturday 20th January 2024 at Nairobi Street Kitchen. This year’s GSEA sponsors include Jubilee Asset Management, Moringa School and Craydel.
GSEA is EO’s premier awards program for students who own or operate a business while attending college or university. The winner of the competition will advance to the regional quarter-finals taking place in Oman next month and stand a chance to compete at the Global Finals to be held in Singapore in April 2024, for a total prize package of $100,000. EO Kenya will also be offering finalists training, mentorship, and support from EO’s members as they develop their entrepreneurial careers.
Unlike other pitch competitions, GSEA focuses on identifying students who exhibit the tenacious spirit of the entrepreneur. GSEA’s unique scoring rubric rewards a competitor’s resilience, adaptability and passion as they manage the hurdles of entrepreneurialism over the financial success of their company.
Kenya’s student entrepreneurs have demonstrated a stellar performance in the competition, many having reached the Global Finals, such as Stanley Somba, a student from Strathmore University and founder of Ngeli Foods, who last year only competed in the Global Finals held in South Africa.
Speaking about the importance and impact of GSEA, Amar Shah, EO Kenya’s President, said “GSEA is a testament to EO Kenya’s long-standing commitment to support young entrepreneurs, Kenya’s future leaders and change-makers. Entrepreneurship forms the backbone of our nation’s economic development, drives innovation and job creation. By unlocking the youth’s entrepreneurship potential, we are sowing the seeds of a better future.”
While commenting about the sponsorship, Jubilee Asset Management CEO Dominic Kiarie noted that nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among young talents will not only cultivate a culture of creativity and innovation, but also ensure a resilient and dynamic future financial landscape.
“At Jubilee Asset Management, we believe that fostering entrepreneurship is crucial for the future development of our economy and nation. Our sponsorship of GSEA is based on our shared vision to empower the next generation of business leaders. We are confident this partnership will go a long way in supporting the growth of innovative thinking and solutions that will drive economic progress”, said Dominic.
“The collaboration between Jubilee Asset Management and GSEA reflects our commitment to creating a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs. We aim to foster collaboration, mentorship, and networking opportunities that can propel these students toward success,” added Dominic.
Local competitions are currently underway across the world. Last year, over 1,100 student entrepreneurs applied, with 40 country champions competing in the Global Finals. In addition to cash prizes, the global finalists benefit from extensive networking and mentorship opportunities as well as media and international exposure. The competition also recognizes special efforts towards Social Impact, Innovation, and Lessons from the Edge.