GSEA 2026 competition: call open for students running an active business
The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) is an international competition for university students who run a business while studying. Taking part offers a chance to progress to the European and global rounds and, at the final stage, to compete for cash prizes (a US$100,000 global prize pool), as well as to receive feedback and connect with an entrepreneurial network, according to the organisers.
The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), organised by Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), are aimed at undergraduate and master’s students who own and operate a business alongside their studies. EO describes the programme as a pathway of local and national competitions that can lead to an international final, and notes it has been running since 1998.
In Barcelona, the GSEA 2026 – EO Barcelona Chapter call sets the application deadline at 30 January 2026 and schedules the Barcelona final for 5 February 2026 (at Bcombinator). Eligibility requirements include being a student aged 18 to 30, and having a business that has been operating for at least six months.
According to the call, the Barcelona round may lead to the European stage (quarter finals, 12–16 April 2026, Dublin) and then to the global finals (July/August 2026, Cape Town).
Monetary and service awards
Regarding prizes, EO indicates that awards vary by location and may combine cash and services, while the Global Finals offer a US$100,000 cash prize pool (with US$50,000 for first place, US$25,000 for second, and US$15,000 for third).
Applications are submitted through the GSEA portal. The call notes that applicants must select “Barcelona” as their local competition in the form.