KATHMANDU,Dec 21: EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), an entrepreneurs’ organization global competition was held at Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, Lainchaur on Wednesday. The event organized in collaboration with EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) Nepal and NYEF (Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum) aimed at empowering student entrepreneurs to become the world’s more influential change makers.

EO GSEA is the premier global competition for young entrepreneurs who own and operate a business while simultaneously attending university for their Bachelor’s or Master’s programs. Altogether 18 participants, who were divided into three groups, designed power point presentations in three different halls. The presentation comprised of their motivational journey as an entrepreneur, visions and challenges as well as the details of the businesses that they have owned. A panel of three judges in each hall was present to evaluate the participants on the basis of their personal and entrepreneurial skills. Every participant was given 30 minutes’ time to run their presentation. 

The event provided a platform for student entrepreneurs to pitch ideas and take their innovative projects to greater heights. It also gave an exposure to student entrepreneurs and connected them with required mentorship, recognition and networking.

“This is my first participation in EO GSEA, and I find it very fruitful as I got to showcase my skills as well as abilities among an experienced number of judges. I believe such kind of competition is necessary to widen our understanding and perspective on entrepreneurship,” said 21-year-old participant and director of National Vision Multi-Purpose Agro and Bio Farm, Amir Khadka.

Students with the idea of social entrepreneurship also participated in the competition. “Since it is my first time competing at EO GSEA, I had an amazing experience of introducing my social approach under which my team have successfully provided funds to run eye cataract surgery on about 300 patients,” said Mahesh Dahal, a 27-year-old participant and one of the founding members of a social cause ‘Make me see’.

Rohit Kumar Marwadi won the competition along with a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and paid trip to compete in GSEA Finals in Canada. Similarly, Arjun Bhandari secured the second place and received a cash prize of Rs 25,000, while Santosh Kandel came third and received a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

Marwadi will next compete in the GSEA Grand Finale at the EO GLC in Toronto, in April 2018.