Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition

Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) invited  17 teams to participate in the fast-pitched GSEC Week, where they pitched to over 500 professionals and competed for $34,000 in prizes.

GSEC 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. 

From innovative sanitation solutions in Kenya, to solar-powered modular power generators in Papua New Guinea, to prick-less anemia scanners in India, GSEC business plans demonstrate the power of business to create sustainable, positive change to some of the world’s most challenging social problems.

Each year, GSEC brings the world to UW: 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. 

WHY APPLY?

Learning & Networking: GSEC is the place for students to learn about harnessing the power of commercial strategies to reduce poverty and affect positive social change in developing economies. 15-20 semi-finalist student teams worldwide will be selected, paired with mentors, and invited to participate in GSEC Week. See the GSEC Schedule for details.

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)
Prizes subject to change

GSEC Rules & Guidelines
All GSEC applicants and teams members must review and understand the GSEC Rules and Eligibility and GSEC Prizes & Confidentiality Guidelines*


HOW TO APPLY
1. REVIEW & UNDERSTAND: GSEC rules and eligibility
2. PREPARE: Review the GSEC Application Requirements
3. SUBMIT APPLICATION: Apply now! The deadline to apply is November 8, 2012. 

Questions? Contact gsec@uw.edu.