Online degree candidates can start businesses while they study

Online degree candidates can start businesses while they study

Undergraduate students who pursue degrees at online universities may be able to begin their entrepreneurial endeavors simultaneously and enter small business competitions, such as the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) recently hosted this year's contest for small business owners around the world who are pursuing associates or bachelors degrees.

Student-run businesses were divided into four categories - including entrepreneur, business fundamentals, lessons learned as well as growth and future plans – to make the evaluation by a panel of judges easier.

Those judges, who are devoted to helping the next generation of small business owners, saw presentations from 30 student entrepreneurs hailing from 18 countries across the globe.

In the end, they selected one student to receive a $150,000 prize as well as mentoring services, office supplies, legal counsel and access to the EO's global network.

Kevin Langley, chairman of EO Global, said the competition aims to provide budding entrepreneurs with "the platform to execute on their already visible natural abilities."

Individuals who wish to start their own businesses may enroll in online courses that can help them gain the skills they will need to run successful companies.