Social Entrepreneurship to alleviate poverty Competition

Is this the area that you are focused on in your community? Do you have an idea or project which can make an impact?

The Foster School of Business at the University of Washington is hosting the 2012-2013 Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC), where students develop innovative business models that achieve poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. 15-20 semi-finalist student teams worldwide will be selected, paired with mentors, and invited to participate in GSEC Week, where they compete for numerous rewards, including a $12,500 grand prize. The competition is open to currently enrolled students, at any level of study, at any academic institution of higher education worldwide. For more information on the competition and the application process, you may visit

Rules & Application
GSEC 2013 application deadline: November 8, 2012. Applications will open in the summer 2012. Join the GSEC Facebook page to stay updated.

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. APPLY ONLINE: by November 8, 2012.

Online application will open summer 2012. No late submissions will be accepted

Questions? Contact gsec@uw.edu