2013 Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition

APPLY TO THE 9TH ANNUAL Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) February 25 – March 1, 2013 Seattle, WA, USA APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 8, 2012 Applications will open summer 2012

Submit your best social business idea Qualify as a semifinalist Get a travel scholarship to attend GSEC Week 2013 in Seattle, WA* Why Participate? 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.  Each year, 15-20 semi-finalist student teams worldwide are selected from the applicant pool, paired with mentors and are invited to participate in GSEC Week, February 25 – March 1, 2013, in Seattle, Washington, USA. Throughout the process – from application to GSEC Week – students receive expert guidance, refine their business skills, develop their networks, and gain access to new resources.  GSEC Week teams present to 500+ professionals and compete for monetary prizes, awarded to teams that develop businesses with the most innovative solutions to problems of poverty and the best integration of financial and social returns on investment. GSEC 2013 expects to award at least $30,000 in prizes. How To Apply Application instructions & eligibility: GSEC Rules & Prizes.  Apply by November 8, 2012! GSEC is open to currently enrolled students at any academic institution of higher education worldwide. GSEC business plans may focus on any subject area.   Multi-disciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Need a team or team member? Post an announcement on the GSEC Facebook discussion board www.facebook.com/GSECUW Questions? Contact gsec@uw.edu

Organizers & Sponsors GSEC Week provides exclusive opportunities for semi-finalist teams to benefit from invaluable resources and expertise in the Seattle region: every year over 200 professionals volunteer as mentors, judges, and sponsors, providing critical expertise and resources. Individuals volunteer from organizations such as: Costco, Gray Ghost Ventures, Microsoft, PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Smith Barney, Seattle International Foundation, the Grameen Foundation, the Washington Global Health Alliance, and UW Department of Global Health. GSEC is organized by the University of Washington’s Global Business Center at the Michael G. Foster School of Business, with the support of Microsoft Corporation and UW Department of Global Health (prize sponsors), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (travel scholarship supporter).  View all GSEC program sponsors **Travel scholarships available for qualifying 2013 international GSEC teams, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. See the GSEC Rules & Prizes page for more information