Kenya’s young innovators are gearing up to represent the nation at the prestigious Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) qualifying competition to be held on 20th January at Nairobi Street Kitchen.
The nominees are set to compete against their peers from around the world in a series of local and national competitions in the hope of qualifying for the Global Finals.
Whoever wins the competition will then advance to the regional quarterfinals that will take place in Oman next month.
The winner stands a chance to compete at the Global Finals to be held in Singapore in April 2024, for a total prize package of Ksh 16,000,000.
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.
Last year, over 1,100 student entrepreneurs applied, with 40 country champions competing in the Global Finals.
GSEA, Celebrates Kenyan Entrepreneur
GSEA in a statement seen by The Kenya Times expressed hope in Kenya’s young entrepreneurs giving an example of Stanley Somba who reached the global finals in 2023.
“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,” the statement reads in part.
Also Read: Three Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs Making a Difference in Kenya
Speaking about the importance and impact of GSEA, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) President Amar Shah, said GSEA is a testament to EO Kenya’s long-standing commitment to support young entrepreneurs.
Amar added that, “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.
Also Read: National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Launches Product to Empower Women Entrepreneurs
About GSEA
GSEA is the premier global competition for students who own and operate a business while attending college or university.
It was founded in 1998 by Saint Louis University.
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.
