30 Undergraduate students from 9 states will converge at PSG College of Technology Coimbatore on 1^st September 2011 to showcase their businesses created while studying in school / University to a roster of elite business professional judges. The finalists are vying for the top spot to represent India at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) at the New York Stock Exchange, New York City, USA for the World Finals.

The India Finals of the GSEA is organized by Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Coimbatore Chapter to recognize and select India’s inspirational student entrepreneur juggling the demands of a full load academic course while running a business. Three awards will be declared at the competition of which the first place winner will represent India as one of the 30 finalists at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

The report card of, generating new business, running revenue & enterprise governance in a turbulent economy, and dealing with clients and customer issues –all while attending school / University full time by these student entrepreneurs involved in industries such as Science, Technology /IT, Engineering, Media/Advertising, Sports Manufacturing, Finance and in Education/Consulting businesses is motivational as they have actively run business for over 6 months and earning revenues.

The 30 finalists include students from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. This showcases the diversity of student entrepreneurs in the competition.

“I am extremely happy to be facilitating the competition for these young achievers” said Annush Ramasamy, EO - GSEA Program Director, South Asia, “I know that every business owner going through this competition faces immense challenges in juggling a student and business life. The GSEA program offers student entrepreneurs a great opportunity to meet with fellow entrepreneurs, peers and reach out to mentors and investors to share their successes, failures, listen and learn to go to the next level. We received an overwhelming number of applicants from across India to win the top Indian Student Entrepreneur spot who will then move on to compete with 29 other finalists in New York city for the Globe’s best student entrepreneur award. These dorm room entrepreneurs truly demonstrate courage and intellect embarking on this journey at an undergraduate level.”

The eligibility of the contestants is that their business is in operation for more than six months and generating revenues. It also must be an Innovative/new business idea with a good game plan that includes business strategies, future growth of the business and their market understanding.

“This is Inspirational” says Vikram Mohan, Chapter President, EO Coimbatore Chapter. We are awed by these young competitors and their entrepreneurial pursuit in diverse sectors at such a young age, spotting business opportunity, ready to plunge into the marketplace, enterprising and help propel national economic growth.

“The EO is one such body where the learning experience and knowledge sharing is so immense leading to greater business success. Considering Coimbatore and neighboring districts are home to some entrepreneurial talent the EO provides a platform for great success” added Vikram Mohan

The winner of the India Finals will get a fully sponsored trip to New York where he/ she will represent India at the GSEA World Finals. The India winner will get an opportunity to engage with world class student entrepreneurs, receive media exposure, and win over $1, 50,000 in cash and other shared donated business services. On November 17^th the top 30 of these student entrepreneurs chosen from around the world will descend on the New York Stock Exchange in New York City to compete for the title of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year.

The host city Coimbatore is rated among the top ten places to do business in India. Coimbatore has the largest number of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in India. Coimbatore has also been the cradle of Entrepreneurship sustainably over the last 50 yrs. The city boasts a great number of successful industrialists and inventions. Coimbatore is also known as Manchester of India and is a leading producer of Textile Yarn and Machinery's.

About Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

For over a decade the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards has brought together top student entrepreneurs in competition and friendship, to learn and grow as business leaders. Produced by the Entrepreneurs (EO), the program fits into a larger global picture of promoting and increasing participation in entrepreneurship around the globe. This is achieved by supporting business owners at all levels of the entrepreneurial continuum, from ideation, to development and growth, and eventually to mentoring younger entrepreneurs.

Successful students in GSEA can progress into EO Accelerator (for businesses between quarter and one million USD) and then to EO (for businesses over USD $1million) It is this mentorship and connections between seasoned entrepreneurs and young start-ups that are crucial for the progression of the entrepreneurial continuum.

Started at St. Louis University as a mid-west collegiate entrepreneur competition, the Entrepreneurs' Organization has expanded the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards program through its vast network of local chapters and has helped to develop the program globally.  For more information on the awards, including a list of past winners and instructions for nominating a student, visit the GSEA website at http://www.gsea.org

About the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (www.eonetwork.org) is a dynamic, global network of more than 8,000 business owners in 40 countries, with a combined total sales (of all members companies) of over USD 140 Billion Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. Membership in one of EO’s 120 chapters is by invitation only; the average member is 41 years old with annual revenues of US$17.3 million.