U.S. College Student Named Global Champion in Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

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Columbia University’s Vienna Sparks earned the top spot and grand prize in EO’s annual competition, which included more than 1,400 students from around the world.

Alexandria, VA, USA / Osaka, Japan (11 July 2025) – Vienna Sparks of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been named Global Champion of this year’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), hosted by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). The annual mentorship and competition program, shepherded by EO since 2006, recognizes exceptional student entrepreneurs who have successfully built and managed their own businesses while enrolled in university studies. Vienna earned a US$50,000 prize, funded by the nonprofit EO.

Vienna was revealed as the winner on 10 July, during the fourth-season finale of “Start It Up,” EO’s YouTube series showcasing student entrepreneurs’ journeys as they compete in GSEA.

Vienna, a 20-year-old Columbia University student majoring in biochemistry and quantitative economics, is the co-founder and CEO of MabLab. The company has produced the first self-administered test to detect the five deadliest lacing agents in drugs and drinks, which has the potential to save more than 100,000 lives and prevent an additional five million hospitalizations every year. She entered the GSEA competition via the EO Connecticut chapter.

“Being part of a global competition has given me the wonderful opportunity to learn from so many individuals worldwide and make many incredible friends,” Vienna said. “(GSEA) gives us founders the unique opportunity to share more about the ‘why’ behind our companies, which was incredibly inspiring.”

“Start It Up” is an annual six-part docuseries produced by EO that traverses the globe to spotlight some of the world’s most promising student entrepreneurs. This unique series highlights their experiences during the GSEA semifinals and finals, and shares the stories behind their often-inspiring start-up businesses. In total, “Start It Up” garnered more than 8 million views this season. The competition is mammoth in scope: 1,474 students from 37 countries applied through their local EO chapters, marking a 9 percent increase in applications from last year.

“Judging ‘Start It Up’ was a front-row seat to the future,” said Miranda Naiman, a Global Finals judge and a nine-year member of EO through its chapter in Tanzania. “These studentpreneurs pitched with purpose, grit, and boldness. I left energized and deeply hopeful ... GSEA is not just a competition; it is a launchpad for what’s possible when we intentionally invest in the next generation.”

The first runner-up in the 2025 competition is Kai Seymon, an 18-year-old student from Tarneit, Australia. He entered GSEA through the EO Melbourne chapter. Kai, a neurodivergent entrepreneur currently enrolled in the Hester Hornbrook Academy, is the co-founder of Kaiko Fidgets. His company creates high-quality sensory and fidget tools designed to support the mental health, emotional regulation, focus, and sensory needs of the neurodivergent community. What started as a personal solution for Kai has grown into a trusted brand used by thousands of families, schools, and clinicians worldwide. Kai earned a US$25,000 prize from EO.

The second runner-up was Júlia Giovanaz Nunes, a 24-year-old economics and science major at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Júlia, from Santa Cruz do Sul, entered the competition through the EO Porto Alegre chapter, in the southern part of the country. Her company, Protege Química, specializes in occupational safety solutions, focusing on protecting agricultural workers. Its flagship product, Nicotine Protection Cream, is designed to help tobacco farmers avoid absorbing nicotine through the skin, which helps prevent nicotine poisoning commonly known as green tobacco sickness. Júlia was awarded a US$15,000 prize.

“We are grateful not only to the students for their dedication and for sharing their brilliant ideas throughout the competition, but to the EO member judges and mentors,” said Tamarin Morrell, EO’s Director of GSEA. “They traveled from around the world and devoted considerable time and invaluable expertise to our student entrepreneurs.”

While much of the final phases in the competition took place in Cape Town, South Africa, the announcement of results shifted to Osaka, Japan in front of a large crowd at the 2025 World Expo. There, six GSEA student finalists delivered their pitches on 21 June in front of more than 2,500 people, who included close to 800 EO members and spouses and life partners, as well as 1,800 students from across the region. Member leaders and corporate partners from EO chapters in Japan made the high-profile event possible by connecting it with the Expo’s theme, “designing future society for our lives.” 

"This in-person gathering was a great opportunity to once again showcase the value of GSEA and EO’s contributions to society,” said Jun Tarikino, Japan regional chair and member of EO Kyoto, who welcomed the student finalists in Osaka.

Each student entrepreneur competing in the competition’s semi-finals and finals was evaluated across EO’s four core values —Trust and Respect, Thirst for Learning, Think Big, Be Bold, and Together We Grow — plus a fifth criterion based on business fundamentals. The GSEA program supports student entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, recognition, and connections that will help their young businesses and personal resilience thrive.

“As an experienced entrepreneur myself, I thought, ‘If I were one of them, could I present to those judges as confidently as they are?’” said Nobi Fujita, a GSEA Global Finals judge and EO Setouchi member. “Those students reminded me to be bold and to challenge and trust in myself ... If they can do it, why not me?”

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 competition. More information can be found on the GSEA website.

EO Member Judges for the GSEA Finals:

• Canada/United States: Parveen Dhupar (EO Toronto)
• Europe: Taunya Renson-Martin (EO Belgium)
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Severo Perez (EO Guadalajara)
• Middle East, Pakistan, Africa: Miranda Naiman (EO Tanzania)
• North Asia: Nobi Fujita (EO Setouchi)
• South Asia: Nikhil Hirdaramani (EO Sri Lanka)

GSEA 2025 By the Numbers: 

1,474 total student applications were received across EO chapters and the Friends of GSEA program worldwide: 

Notes to editors:

About Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is a global, not-for-profit membership community of 20,000 leading business founders and owners representing nearly 100 countries and 220 chapters worldwide. Founded in 1987, EO helps entrepreneurs move the world forward by unlocking their full potential through the power of trusted connections, leadership development, and premier learning opportunities that support the whole person. For more information or to get involved, follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook, and visit our website: www.eonetwork.org 

About GSEA: The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is the premier global competition for university students. Each year, more than 1,000 student entrepreneurs from 35+ countries compete for the title of Global Champion and the chance to build their business and gain recognition for their innovation. GSEA is designed to inspire students to stretch themselves as the future’s leading entrepreneurs and bring their businesses greater global visibility. GSEA was founded at the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University in 1998. Since that time, GSEA strives to honor those students who achieve so much as both students simultaneously attending university full-time and running their own businesses. To maximize student experiences and give them access to a global network of mentors, resources and business connections, EO took on leadership of the GSEA in 2006. For more information visit: https://www.gsea.org/