Hakeem Muhammad with Aaron Lee
The South Florida chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO SOFLO) is calling for local entries in the first round of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), a competition in which college students from more 50 countries vie for a top prize worth more than $50,000 in cash and services to help launch and build their business.
Entries are due on October 25 for the South Florida qualifying competition to be held at Miami-Dade College’s Idea Center, on November 14.
The local winner will then move on to regional and national competitions, with the grand prize awarded at the global final and celebration in the resort and trade hub of Macau, “the Las Vegas of Asia,” along China’s southern coast in April 2019.
“GSEA is a fabulous business, learning and life experience for young entrepreneurs,” said Eloise Gonzalez of Commercial Interior Contractors and EO chairperson for the GSEA competition. “Our judges are looking forward to learning about their exciting entrepreneurial ideas, and then helping them find great success through this program.”
EO SOFLO President Jerry Katz with 2018 EO GSEA Chairperson Eloise Gonzalez
After an initial review of entries, local finalists will be chosen to pitch their business plans at the Idea Center to the panel of judges and top South Florida business owners, including Gonzalez; Dave Kustin and Wendy Lieber of ContentBacon; Aaron Lee of Iluma Agency; Tim Vogel of Scenthound; Mark Sanna of Breakthrough Coaching; and Aryan Rashed of Jet Set Pilates.
To be eligible for GSEA, entrants must be: an undergraduate student currently enrolled at a recognized university or college; the owner/controlling shareholder of the business and principally responsible for its operation. The company must be structured 'for-profit' and have generated $500 or received $1,000 in investments by the time of application, and have been in business for at least six consecutive months.
Additional eligibility requirements, entry forms and other details can be found at www.gsea.org.
“GSEA is one of our organization’s favorite initiatives to foster the dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem here in South Florida,” said Jerry Katz, president of EO-SOFLO and founder of Premier Protection Insurance in Fort Lauderdale. “It’s very exciting to connect and nurture these young businesses that someday will be powerhouses for the local, national and global economy.”
EO SOFLO has sponsored GSEA for nine years as well as many other student and start-up programs in conjunction with area colleges and partner organizations.
South Florida is one of the world’s largest EO chapters, with approximately 190 members whose businesses account for more than $2 billion in annual revenues and 10,000 jobs in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. To learn more, visit www.eosoflo.com.
