Fast Track to Good Business

From 13-15 March 2014, 69 young aspiring social entrepreneurs across 12 nationalities participated in a three-day programme, during which they had the opportunity to learn from thought leaders, practitioners and peers in the social entrepreneurship field. The SIF’s YSE programme is designed to inspire, equip and enable young people to develop their social enterprise ideas and nurture them into sustainable businesses that bring about positive change.

Kicking off with a keynote address by SIF Governor and social entrepreneur Ms Elim Chew on the evolution of the local social enterprise landscape, the programme also comprised a panel featuring Mr Peter Yang, Founder of Empact, Dr Park Yuhyun, Ashoka Fellow and Co-Founder of InfollutionZERO, Ms Jacqui Hocking, Co-Founder of Gone Adventurin' and Mr Keith Tan, YSE Alumnus and Founder of Start Now.

Throughout the workshop, SIF’s growing network of friends, partners and YSE alumni shared advice and insights into the world of social entrepreneurship with the young aspiring changemakers.

Founding member of Asia Philanthropic Ventures, Mr Stephen Lim, stressed the need for sound financial projections in business pitching, while Chief Operating Officer of Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Mr Kevin Teo, shared how to communicate the social impact of businesses. Mr Benny Se Teo related how he turned his life around, paying it forward by training and employing former drug offenders, as founder of Eighteen Chefs. YSE alumni such as Mr Danial Muhammad Bin Hamdan of Inclusive Arts Movement also readily shared his experience with our participants.

On day three of the programme, YSE workshop participants presented their business proposals to a panel of judges for the opportunity to progress onto the next stages of the programme. After a long day of pitching and deliberation, the judges finally shortlisted 12 teams seeking to create positive social impact for communities in America, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

They are: Canteen Service for Garment Factories, Eden Greening, Hejo Green, Jugnuu, Little Marios, Local Alike, Million Dollar Scholar, Quartz Initiative, SDI Academy, Society Staples, Ubuntu and LearningCube. (Click here for their profiles.)

These teams will now embark on the YSE 2014 journey, and be mentored by leading business consultants, participate in an overseas study visit to India and re-group in Singapore to pitch for funding for their social enterprises.

Congratulations to the new YSE 2014 participants! Best of luck on your journey towards realising the “serious business of doing good.”