EO's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Names Syracuse University Student as US National Champion

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Nov 21, 2014) - Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) today announced that Daniel Goldberg, COO & co-founder of Diamond MMA, is the winner of their first-ever U.S. National Competition. Goldberg, as well as the two runner-ups -- Khalid Al-Dhubaib, founder of Triple Analytics and Austin White-Pentony, co-founder and owner of Tech Bank, LLC -- will go on to compete against student entrepreneurs from across the global for a chance to win $20,000 and the title of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015.

Goldberg, a junior from Syracuse University, founded Diamond MMA with a group of athletes and designers to provide protection to competitors in high-impact sports. After viewing "one too many" groin shot time-outs in professional mixed martial arts, the team focused its efforts to develop the best protective gear for MMA and high-impact sports. 

Goldberg and 21 other regional finalists from across the country presented to local Chicago judges, including Donna Bozzo, on air contributor for the Today Show and several Chicago-based TV shows, and Jill Salzman, Chicago NBC small business blogger and famous TED Talk speaker and area judges from the Entrepreneurs' Organization. FOX 32 News Chicago anchor, Tisha Lewis, announced the finalists after their first round of judging, during a special lunch presentation yesterday at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.

The Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) GSEA is the premier global competition that honors the top high school, college and graduate students who have founded and are running revenue-generating businesses. EO will host the Global Finals competition in Washington D.C. from April 15-17, 2015, where the U.S. finalist and finalists from around the world will go head-to-head for a shot at the title and $20,000.

"At Diamond MMA, we don't look at our business model as anything revolutionary. We just saw a desperate need in the industry and we knew we were the best people to do something about it," said Daniel Goldberg, COO & co-founder of Diamond MMA. "While I'm excited to be named the National Champ, I'm really looking forward to Global Finals and my chance to compete against some of the top student entrepreneurs from around the world. Wish me luck!"

"This was our first U.S. National competition and we're thrilled with the turnout. It was inspiring to see the best students entrepreneurs from across the country in one room," said Jason Jacobs GSEA U.S. East Director and GSEA U.S. Nationals Chair. "Everyone who competed left a lasting impression, but Daniel really won over the judges with his passion and dedication to their mission."

About the Entrepreneurs' Organization's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
As the premier global competition for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) represents more than 1,700 of the prominent student entrepreneurs from more than 32 countries. Built on a mission to inspire students to start and grow entrepreneurial ventures, GSEA brings global visibility to pioneering student business owners. Since 1998, the GSEA, a program founded at the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University, has honored outstanding students who simultaneously attend university full-time while running their own businesses. The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) took on leadership of the GSEA in 2006 to offer student entrepreneurs access to a global network of mentors, resources and connections from the most influential community of entrepreneurs in the world. To nominate a student entrepreneur or to get involved, go to GSEA. Then join the conversation on Facebook and follow GSEA on Twitter at @EO_GSEA.

About the Entrepreneurs' Organization
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is a global, peer-to-peer network of more than 10,000 influential business owners with 142 chapters in 46 countries. Founded in 1987, EO is the catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.