Young Founders Summit

A key component of Young Founders Summit is the 1-on-1 mentorship that our young founders get for 6 months. Leveraging their personal experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as leadership and management, the mentors guided our young founders as they embarked on this new journey. We would like to thank the YFS '23 mentors Amarit C., Andrew Tan, Antara Sara Mathai, Audrey Ong, Carrie Liauw, Craig Kemp, David Yeng, Devin Graber, Esther W., Jae W. L., Jared Chan, Jaspreet Singh Dua, Jochen Lorenz, Gregory Keehwan Kwon, Riz Aslam, Samuel B. Harris, Sebastian Mueller, Simone Macario, Thibaut Briere, Thomas Jeng, for all the effort they put into this, working side by side with the young founders.

Grateful for the inspiring insights shared at our recent Demo Day by our guest speaker Hoh Loyi, founder of Champion Bolo Bun and Dickson Nasi Lemak. 3 Key takeaways from our chat with Loyi 1.⁠ ⁠Have check-ins with yourself to ensure what you're doing still aligns with your ❤️ 2.⁠ ⁠Do something that impacts others - it could unite, empower, give accessibility 3.⁠ ⁠TikTok is fun, but books enrich Thank you Loyi for coming out and supporting these young entrepreneurs on their new journey! Being as career-driven as you are, you have changed our perspective and broadened our minds in entrepreneurship. Truly inspiring, not only to the youth but to everyone in your audience!

After 6 months of toiling on their startups, our young founders from YFS ‘23 Cohort are back! At our Demo Day over the weekend, our young entrepreneurs not only pitched their startups, they also had the chance to sit down one-on-one with angel investors, venture capitalists, and ecosystem stakeholders to get feedback. Reflecting on a day filled with growth, empowerment, and limitless potential, we would like to thank @zong xi sia @Gabrielle Tan @Eugene Teo @Lanna Roche @Madura Moulik @Ysabel Chua @Sherry Wang @Priyanka Nath @khairul mohd khair @Sheila Manokaran @Meredith Low for coming down to support the next generation as they embark on this entrepreneurship journey. We are also grateful for the opportunity to empower our next gen changemakers not just in Singapore, but across Greater Asia, with the support of @national youth council. Thank you Deputy Chief Executive of NYC, @Tan Lin Teck for attending our Demo Day and supporting our founders! Finally, massive congrats to our YFS’23 Cohort!

After 6 months of toiling on their startups, our young founders from YFS ‘23 Cohort are back! At our Demo Day over the weekend, our young entrepreneurs not only pitched their startups, they also had the chance to sit down one-on-one with angel investors, venture capitalists, and ecosystem stakeholders to get feedback. Reflecting on a day filled with growth, empowerment, and limitless potential, we would like to thank Zong Xi SIA, Gabrielle Tan Lay Khim, Eugene Teo, Lanna Roche, Madhura Moulik, Ysabel Chua, Sherry, Xueying WANG (Ph.D., M.B.A.), Priyanka Nath, Khairul (Khai) Mohd Khair, Sheila Manokaran, Meredith Low for coming down to support the next generation as they embark on this entrepreneurship journey. We are also grateful for the opportunity to empower our next-gen change makers not just in Singapore, but across Greater Asia, with the support of the National Youth Council Singapore council. Thank you, Deputy Chief Executive of NYC, Tan Lin Teck for attending our Demo Day and supporting our founders! Finally, massive congrats to our YFS’23 Cohort! - From the co-founders, Ee Ling Lim and Yit Ming Liaw

I had the privilege of mentoring some incredibly talented young minds from across SEA participating in the Young Founders Summit in the last 6 months. This past weekend, I attended their demo day and was blown away by the innovative solutions and products they pitched. Seeing their determination and drive, it was a humbling and inspiring experience. Each of these young entrepreneurs showed immense potential, and their passion was infectious. Despite the challenges that they faced - being in different location from their team members, juggling with their studies, collaborating with others from diverse language & cultures and some had to coordinate different timezones, I am immensely proud of what they have accomplished in such a short time. One of my mentees was truly inspiring. Even though she was left solo, her determination to continue on her journey was evident. She put everything together and flew in to make her pitch on her own. This demonstrated her tenacity and commitment to making her voice heard. I told myself, that I had to show up for her and be her cheerleader. At the end of the event, she shared that she was feeling alone when she arrived but my presence motivated her when she pitched. This makes me realised that mentoring is not just about what you say, it’s also how you are showing up. This journey was also not just about imparting knowledge. Someone once shared to me, that when you share knowledge to others, you are learning more because you rethink, reflect on the ways you have been doing things. I had the chance to learn so much from these young people. Their fresh perspectives and relentless ambition challenged me to think differently and reminded me of why I love what I do. I am excited to see where their entrepreneurial spirit takes them in the future. Here's to the next generation of innovators and leaders! Great job Ee Ling Lim, Yit Ming Liaw and team for putting this together and thank you for giving me the chance to be part of this vision.

🙌 We had JD Chang come and run a #B2B Sales workshop for our young founders today, and here are some key takeaways + tips on Business Development that our founders gained: 1️⃣ ⁠ ⁠Align on the framework first, then negotiate 2️⃣ ⁠ ⁠Accountability: Do what you say, expect others to do what they say. Your accountability may be the only reason you can win the deal 3️⃣ There are ⁠⁠3 types of sales person - The Domain Expert, The Networker/Buddy, The Accountable One. Which one are you? 4️⃣ ⁠⁠⁠You need to be writing their (your customer’s) victory speech for them Follow JD at https://lnkd.in/gbv7KXBx for more #B2Bsales tips! Thanks JD Chang for sharing your tips with our YFS '23 cohort 🙏

To our young founders, great resource to read!

💎Congrats Team NurtureGlow!💎 NurtureGlow, a team from YFS ‘23 (Lucas Lee , Aniqa, Chloe, Nicole) recently went to University of Delaware to compete in the Diamond Challenge, pitching NurtureGlow, a bright light therapy lamp for mothers facing postpartum depression. They were amongst 70 teams shortlisted from 900+ applications, and they received the Horn Entrepreneurship Topical Award for Best International Team! 🎉 At the Diamond Challenge, they not only got to hear more feedback from judges, but also expand their network of young high school changemakers to the US, and gain more confidence 💪 Thank you Felicia Harrington and Maggie Nelson for creating an enriching experience for the students! It has been heartening seeing their commitment and progress since the YFS Bootcamp in Dec’23, when they first came together as co-founders. Thanks Devin Graber for mentoring them throughout this journey!

Team Nurtureglow (YFS’23) at Diamond Challenge this past week!

As a young kid, I loved painting and aspired to be an art teacher. But only after I retire, I thought back then, since teaching isn't your typical vision of a "successful" career. So imagine my reaction when I realised I’ve come full circle - At 500 Global, we train founders through our startup programs, and at Smarter Me and Young Founders Summit I’m also teaching teenagers and youth founders on launching impact startups. “Look at you, now you’re teaching!” 😏 - My mother (who's a retired teacher, and had always held a grudge that I snubbed her career). This #InternationalWomensDay, Aspire invited 10 female leaders across Asia to share their childhood aspirations. Our Childhood dreams are the ones that hold the power to change the world. Proud to stand alongside women who #AspiretoInspire others through the work they do every day. Read our stories here https://lnkd.in/dFmmzBUH Aspire asked me for one piece of advice for women, or anyone, looking to venture into any career, and this is what I said - It is important to understand our ‘Why’. Why do we want to enter this profession? What is within it that calls out to us? I also say - say yes to opportunities, when it aligns with your values and your 'why'. As a mother, I aspire to create a future where my children and future generations can live in meaning and purpose. A world that allows them to know their 'why', have the courage and inspiration to take action, at the same time, creating impact that the world requires. Big thanks to Aspire and Thomas Jeng for their unwavering support of women and for letting me be a part of this awesome mission to inspire and uplift women in everything we do every day! #foundersxchange #iwd #InspireInclusion #investinwomen