The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) an Entrepreneurs’ Organization program is the premiere award for undergraduate and graduate students that own and run businesses while attending a college or university. Selected applicants compete against their peers by presenting their businesses to a panel of judges. The judges then complete the student entrepreneur evaluations, provide feedback to the participating students and determine the regional winner(s).

GSEA would also like to thank the GSEA Prize Package sponsors, for without their generous contributions our prize packages would not reach as many students.

Title Partner 2009

Mercedes-Benz Financial

Mercedes-Benz Financial provides financing for Mercedes-Benz dealers’ inventories and their retail customers. Currently, 350,000 drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of leasing or financing their Mercedes-Benz vehicles through Mercedes-Benz Financial, which is part of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC. DCFSA’s group of companies operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America. DCFSA is part of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 39 countries and has an employee base close to 11,000 and a global portfolio of approximately $147 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group is one of the leading financial services enterprises worldwide. For more information visit www.MercedesBenzFinancial.com

Host Partner 2009

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people's eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. It also works to prepare students to be innovators, entrepreneurs and skilled workers in the 21st century economy through initiatives designed to improve learning in math, engineering, science and technology. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow @kauffmanfdn on Twitter. 



Gold Partner 2009

New York Stock Exchange Foundation

The NYSE Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established by the New York Stock Exchange in 1983. Within the limits of its available resources, the Foundation supports worthy non-profit organizations that are qualified grantees under applicable law. The Foundation seeks to address the needs of communities in all areas of the globe where NYSE Euronext maintains a business presence and funds both new and proven charitable endeavors that confer a broad public benefit. For more information please visit www.nysefoundation.org

GSEA Project Partner 2009

Acton Foundation

AFEE seeks to equip successful, principled entrepreneurs to effectively inspire, mentor and teach the next generation. Through the passing of wisdom, AFEE establishes a legacy of character-driven entrepreneurs who, in turn, have a positive influence on future generations. This chain reaction ultimately strengthens the foundation of the free market and a free society. Find out more at www.actonfoundation.org 



GSEA Supporters
 
Accelerator Program
The Accelerator Program is the catalyst that enables first-stage entrepreneurs to catapult their business to the next level. Accelerator provides participants with customized learning and networking through quarterly events as well as access to a vibrant community of mentors, business owners and leaders of commerce from around the world. To qualify for the Accelerator Program participants must apply before their 36th birthday and be the owner or founder of an operating business with gross annual revenues between US$250,000 and US$1 million. Find out more at www.accelerator.eonetwork.org

 
Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
The mission of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization is “to inform, support and inspire college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation”. For more information on CEO visit http://www.c-e-o.org/.

 
Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour
The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour brings the country's top young entrepreneurs to college campuses to spread the entrepreneurial mindset during a half-day conference. Started in 2006, the tour has visited over 60 schools nation-wide. Find out more at http://www.extremetour.org