Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) organized by the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business provides support for business plans that demonstrate the power of business to create sustainable, positive change to some of the world’s most challenging social problems. It is a leading-edge international social venture plan competition, where interdisciplinary student teams from around the world propose creative, commercially viable businesses aimed at reducing poverty in the developing world.
Each year, GSEC brings the world to University of Washington: semi-finalist student teams from around the globe are invited to Seattle for GSEC Week. GSEC Week provides teams a world-class practical learning opportunity that includes visits to leading Seattle organizations, coaching and refinement of the business plan and pitch, valuable exposure to an extensive network of professionals, and dynamic cross-cultural interactions.
Scholarships: Travel scholarships will be available for qualifying international teams, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prizes: GSEC teams compete for monetary and in-kind prizes. In 2012, awarded $34,000 in prizes to semi-finalist teams, including:
- GSEC Grand Prize: $12,500
- Global Health Prize: $5,000 (prize sponsor: UW Department of Global Health)
- Information & Communications Technology Prize: $10,000 (prize sponsor: Microsoft)
- Rotary Prize of $1,500 (prize sponsor: Seattle Rotary)
- NCIIA venture lab workshop scholarship (in-kind awards, sponsor: NCIIA)
The deadline to submit applications is 8 November 2012. For more information, visit this link.
