The Global Student Startup Competition (GSSC) is an in-person, international undergraduate entrepreneurship program held annually in Seoul alongside the Asian Leadership Conference (ALC).

GSSC convenes top undergraduate founders from leading universities and emerging innovation regions to collaborate in person, build human-centered ventures, and engage directly with global leaders from industry, government, academia, and civil society. The program emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration, ethical leadership, and real-world problem solving through a fully in-person global experience.

Each year, approximately 100 undergraduate students (up to 20 teams) are selected through university invitations and competitive regional qualifiers to participate in GSSC Worlds, the global convening in Seoul. All teams compete on the same stage under identical standards, ensuring parity of access regardless of how participation is funded.

GSSC was born out of the Asian Leadership Conference, Korea’s premier international leadership forum, through a founding collaboration connecting ALC with undergraduate entrepreneurship leaders in the United States and Asia. The competition is operated by the Global Student Startup Foundation (GSSF), a U.S.-based nonprofit public benefit organization dedicated to expanding equitable access to in-person global opportunities for undergraduate students.

Beyond the competition, GSSC is supported by a growing multigenerational community of students, mentors, organizers, and partners—often referred to as GSSC Friends & Family—who remain engaged across years to support the next generation of student founders.

By connecting regional student ecosystems through an annual global convening, GSSC serves as a leadership pipeline that helps students build lasting relationships, broaden perspective, and carry global insight back to their local communities.

Global Student Startup Competition

Org chart

Teams

Offices

Global Student Startup Competition

Org chart

Teams

Offices

Related companies