EO Bangladesh launches gsea 2025-26

The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Bangladesh has officially launched the 10th Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) 2025-26, the world's premier competition for student entrepreneurs, at a press meet held on August 24 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Titled Meet the Press – GSEA Bangladesh Launch 2025-26, the event brought together media representatives, EO Bangladesh members, academia, and key stakeholders to highlight the journey of student entrepreneurship and the opportunities offered by the GSEA platform. The ceremony was inaugurated by Mostafa Quamrus Sobhan, Chairman of GSEA Bangladesh and Managing Director of Dragon Group.

Since its inception in Bangladesh in 2016, the GSEA — an annual initiative of EO — has supported and recognised university and college students who own and operate businesses while pursuing academic studies. The competition provides a platform for these young changemakers to showcase their ventures, gain mentorship, and connect with a global network of established business leaders.

The national champion of GSEA Bangladesh will represent the country at the GSEA Global Finals 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, competing for a total prize package of $100,000, including $50,000 for the global first-place winner. The Bangladesh national winner will also receive Tk10 lakh as seed support.

Applications are open at gsea.org/apply until 15 November 2025. The screening process will begin in mid-October, followed by the semi-finals in December and the grand finale in January 2026. Before the global finals in July 2026, the South Asia Regional Finals/Global Quarter Finals will be held in India, where participants from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal will compete.

Speaking at the launch, EO Bangladesh leaders emphasised the importance of empowering youth through entrepreneurship, describing GSEA as a transformative platform that not only celebrates innovation but also fosters resilience, leadership, and global connectivity among the next generation.

The launch event was attended by distinguished EO Bangladesh members, including Tanazzul Ayman, founder of Spark Infrastructure Ltd and co-chair of GSEA Bangladesh; Amer Salim, director of Knit Asia Ltd; and Kazi Inam Ahmed, director of Gemcon Group. From academia, Dr. Salina, Deputy Director of RISE at BUET, and Dr. Nazmul Hasan, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at BRAC University, also expressed their support for the initiative.

The launch of GSEA Bangladesh 2025-26 marks the beginning of a new chapter for young entrepreneurs in the country, creating a gateway for them to connect, compete, and contribute to the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.