Applications open for 2024 national student entrepreneur awards

NEWS RELEASE
GLOBAL STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
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Canada’s best and boldest student entrepreneurs can now apply to the 2024 Canadian Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA). 

Winners will share in a total prize purse of $100,000 after facing off with exceptional student entrepreneurs from across the country.

The contest is open to Canadian entrepreneur operating a business while enroled in a Canadian college or university.

Applications close on April 1, 2024.

The VIRTUAL national qualifier will be held on May 16, 2024, with the finals happening in person in Calgary on July 2.

“There is simply no better competition in Canada for Canadian student entrepreneurs to make their name and their case to the business community,” said Peter H. Thomas, EO Chairman Emeritus, in a press release.

“Canada’s best of the best, then share a purse of $100,000 as finalists and move on to the Global GSEA competition where they will face off with the best and boldest student entrepreneurs from around the world.”

Each year, top finalists from EO Canada’s GSEA National Competition also advance to represent Canada at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Global Finals.

Five exceptional student entrepreneurs from Alberta (Calgary), Newfoundland (St John’s), Ontario (Hamilton) and British Columbia (Vancouver - x2) have secured their places as Canada’s representatives at the upcoming Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA).

The finalists below will compete with the most accomplished student entrepreneurs from over 50 countries around the globe.

Presenting Canada’s GSEA Global 2024 Finalists (in order of prize/win)
No. 1: Shania Bhopa - Hamilton, Ont. 
McMaster University
Company name: Tech Medic

No. 2:  Bronwyn Bridges - St. John’s, Nfld
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Company name: Pragmaclin

No. 3: Rigo Cely Cardenas – Vancouver, BC
Caplilano University
Company name: Square One by Enactus Capilano

No. 4: Aneesh Varshney – Vancouver, BC
UBC Sauder School of Business
Company name: Holdr 

No. 5: Erin Creegan-Dougherty – Calgary, AB
Mount Royal University
Company name: Maskwa Backcountry Food

2023 GSEA Global Award Winner:

Canada’s (Nova Scotia’s) David Hodgson won the 2023 GSEA Global Award for his MedTech company Hollo Medical.

David Hodgson – Halifax, NS
Dalhousie Medical School
Name of Company Hollo Medical

"As always, we are blown away by the range, passion and creativity of Canada’s best and brightest student entrepreneurs" added Peter H. Thomas, EO Chairman Emeritus. “Spanning from MedTech to financial literacy, food and recording artist-fan engagement, Canada’s 2024 finalists are offering a wide range of exceptional start-ups that will be hard to beat at the GSEA global competition."

Peter Thomas, a legacy Canadian entrepreneur, Founding EO Member & Chairman Emeritus, through the Thomas GSEA Foundation, has committed $1.5 Million to Canada's GSEA Program. Taking bold action to support the next generation of Canadian Entrepreneurs, in support of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Canada Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the Thomas GSEA Foundation has created a major, annual $100,000 national purse for Canadian students who own or operate a business while enrolled in post-secondary education.  In addition to the monetary prize is the invaluable exposure and access to mentors, student entrepreneur communities, investor groups, and much more that will help these students successfully grow their businesses.  

A call to join the cause
A committee of outstanding volunteers runs EO Canada's GSEA program, but they cannot do it alone. Support is needed by anyone who wishes to contribute time, services, or financial support to make the program and Canadian student entrepreneurs' lives richer.  Help us help the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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