22 year-old, University College Cork student Nick Cotter stands out as top entrepreneur among more than 1,000 applications from 40 countries on six continents.
Irish business founder Nick Cotter from Cotter Agritech emerged as the top entrepreneur at the 20220 Global Student Awards.
Following a year-long nomination, application and pitch process, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) revealed Cotter as the grand champion of its annual competition.
“It’s much more than I ever thought was possible, becoming global champion”
Cotter emerged victorious during the finale of a four-part YouTube series that posted on 30 June and has earned more than 1m views.
Serial entrepreneur
Cotter is the CEO and co-founder of Cotter Agritech, which specialises in targeted, selective treatment systems for sheep.
From Abbeyfeale, Ireland. Cotter learned of his victory during the final episode of a four-part mini-series called ‘Start it Up’, which was produced by the awards programme.
Cotter has been an entrepreneur from a young age, setting up his first business, Cotter Bros Firewood at age 13. In 2019, he set up a second business, Cotter Organic Lamb, which directly sells the award-winning, 100% grass-fed, organic lamb raised on his home farm in Abbeyfeale, to homeowners and local restaurants.
Today, he is enrolled in University College Cork in his fourth year of law and business studies. For his successful efforts in the GSEA competition, Cotter was awarded US$40,000 from EO to invest in his business.
The global finals were held in Cape Town, South Africa, where the mini-series was recorded in May. Finalists presented their businesses to two rounds of judges. The final round of judges included: Michael Ross, EO Los Angeles chapter member and Global External Engagement Committee Chair; Roberta Elizondo, GSEA 2021’s grand champion; DJ Tira, record Label Afrotainment founder and platinum-selling DJ commented.
Tira described Cotter’s business as: “A beautiful business idea that is growing from strength to strength.” Elizondo added: “We know that you have what it takes to actually make this world a better one.”
Upon finding out he had won, an elated and surprised Cotter told the judges: “It’s much more than I ever thought was possible, becoming global champion. Thank you, GSEA. For my mentor, Tyler Olson, this is for you as well. It’s for all those who know who they are. Each stage of the competition is quite intense, and you hope. It’s an incredible achievement and pure joy for me.”
