Social Entrepreneurship: Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship

Details about the Phase 2 Launch of YSEI (Youth Social Entrepreneurship Fund) and the associated forum on social entrepreneurship.

Title: GKP forum on Social Entrepreneurship: Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship

Date: 22 April 2008

Description: Attend the GKP FORUM on Social Entrepreneurship to learn how Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is championing social innovation and entrepreneurship as powerful means to achieve equitable and sustainable socio-economic development through its Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI).

YSEI, a GKP Global Partnership Programme, helps combat youth unemployment and poverty by inspiring them to realise their entrepreneurial initiatives while simultaneously benefiting their communities.

This GKP Forum features The Tiger’s Lair which will see some of these young go-getters pitch to seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals for funding to support their business ideas, and the specially designed Talk Show: “Social Entrepreneurs Spearheading a Better Future!” offering great tips on the nurturing of a successful social enterprise.

The Forum is held in conjunction with the World Congress on Information Technologies 2008 (WCIT 2008) in Kuala Lumpur, 18-22 May 2008.

Don’t forget to meet the latest batch of YSEI Finalists during the Launch of the YSEI Fellowships 2008 at the GKP Pavilion in the KL Convention Centre, immediately after the Forum!

Contact Anthony David for more information or invitations.

Role Players

• Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director, Global Knowledge Partnership
• Mike Perreau*, Managing Director, Pi Management Ltd
• Kim Tan*, Founder Chairman of SpringHill Management Ltd
• Husni Salleh*, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP)
• Kwee Bee Chok*, Managing Director, Walden International, Malaysia
• Stephen Chia*, President, Technopreneurs Association of Malaysia / CEO, BizSurf Sdn Bhd
• Penny Low*, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Singapore
• Scott L. Raymond*, Co-Author, Barefoot MBA, Standford Graduate School of Business, USA
• Vikram K. Akula*, CEO & Founder, SKS Microfinance Pvt. Ltd., India

“Enter the Tiger’s Lair: Social Entrepreneurs Pitch for Scale-up Funding”

9:00am, Mandarin Oriental

The Tiger’s Lair pits 4 entrepreneurs in a high-profiled contest to bid for funding to expand their social enterprises. The contestants are young social entrepreneurs based in developing countries, who believe in the viability of their enterprises, offering high potential for returns. Each will have a one-time opportunity to pitch their business plans to the ‘Tigers’ – a panel of 5 successful entrepreneurs and funders. The winner must pass the Tigers’ probe in order to be considered for funding, business advice, mentorship, and global networking opportunities.

Talk-Show: “Social Entrepreneurs Spearheading a Better Future!”

10:30am, Mandarin Oriental

This talk show will unravel the key to nurturing social entrepreneurs and enterprises: what is needed to be a social entrepreneur, what do social entrepreneurs need, where and how they can access funding and other types of support. An esteemed panel of experts, innovators and thought leaders, will share their wisdom, experience and creative insights - valuable advice to ‘young guns wanting to make it in life’. It will also explore how agile and innovative social entrepreneurs can benefit from such relationships, looking at opportunities and challenges from all sides and exploring issues such as innovation, finance, scale-up and mutual benefit. Don’t miss out on free advice!

YSEI Fellowships 2008 Launch

12:30pm, GKP Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

This Forum will culminate with the Launch of the YSEI Fellowships 2008 at the GKP Pavilion at the WCIT 2008 Exhibition Area in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) at 12:30pm. The YSEI Fellowships (www.ysei.org) recognises the potential of young social entrepreneurs in contributing to socio-economic growth. The Fellowships provide start-up support for young social entrepreneurs from developing countries to hone and nurture their innovative ideas. YSEI Fellowships 2008 will provide support for 20 Fellows with a seed funding totalling USD 100,000, on-site mentorship, essential development knowledge and tools on social entrepreneurship as well as access to diverse networks. Twenty candidates have been selected through an online competition for the Fellowships this year. Visit the GKP Pavilion to vote for your favourite YSEI Fellow and witness the official launch of YSEI Fellowship 2008!

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