Campus CEOs Find Much Needed Support
from World's Leading Entrepreneurs
Regional competitions for the 2007 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) are launching in Dallas on April 16. The GSEA is the "Heisman Trophy" for undergraduate students running their own businesses. 2006 GSEA winner Michael Brown, the 21-year-old CEO of ModBargains, a company he began as a student at Chapman University that now yields more than $1 million in annual revenue, says, "GSEA provides a valuable support network for student entrepreneurs." According to Brown, "It's lonely when you're running your own business and there's only a small support network of other entrepreneurs on campus."
Since winning the 2006 award, Brown has been introduced to mentors from the Entrepreneurs' Organization, a global community of more than 6,400 entrepreneurs running companies with average annual revenues of $13.3 million. Brown says, "Since winning the GSEA and being recognized as the world's top student entrepreneur, I have been able to connect with powerful mentors in my local community, such as Michael Caito of Restaurants on the Run and Matt Stewart, CEO of Orange County-based National Services Group. In addition, I have been able to get access to top learning programs like Accelerator, which provides training for first-stage entrepreneurs."
Caito, a leading entrepreneur from Southern California who runs Restaurants on the Run, a company with more than $20 million in revenue, says, "These kids at college who start businesses are pioneers and in the minority. They often feel alone with no one to talk to about things like cash flow and marketing. EO members have been there and know what they are going through in starting a company. I remember being a startup entrepreneur, and it's great to provide experience and support to these campus CEOs and help them get to the next level."
The 2007 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards competition will be held in Chicago November 1-3 with financial support from Mercedes-Benz Financial. This year's competition includes more than 400 nominees from eight countries, including China, Malaysia, the UK, Canada, the U.S., Sweden, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Some of the 2007 nominees include: Dan Negari, a 22-year-old USC student who runs Beverly Hills Mint; Tian Wu, a student from Wuhan University in China, who runs a technology company; Sarah Johnson of York University in the United Kingdom, who runs Crafters Companions; and Tim Mertes, who runs Altenergy Corporation, ANDSM Search Engine Optimization and attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The winner of the 2007 GSEA will receive a prize package worth more than $100,000, including cash, donated services, mentors, access to learning programs and more.
For more information on the GSEA program or to nominate a person, visit gsea.org.
