Southeast Asian youths pitch impact start-up ideas to investors at YSI SEA Demo Day 2019

SINGAPORE – Last weekend, Young Sustainable Impact Southeast Asia (YSI SEA) completed the second run of its Innovation Programme which culminated in a Demo-Day, where Southeast Asian youth shared their impact start-up ideas with prospective investors for potential incubation and funding. Eight teams, comprised of 24 youth from the ASEAN region, had the opportunity to pitch their impact start-up ideas to a crowd of over 50 venture capitalists, impact and angel investors, academics and other stakeholders. This included organisations like Temasek Foundation, Facebook and Sembcorp. The solutions proposed by the teams tackled various issues in key ASEAN markets, addressing one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set out by the United Nations (UN). The start-up ideas this year addressed topics such as mental
health in youths, educational skills gap in Southeast Asia, and upcycling resources for sustainable packaging. One of the teams, Farmability, clinched the ‘Most Dynamic Start-Up Award’ along with a SGD1000 cash prize, sponsored by Utoocentral. Their start-up hopes to tackle poverty in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, by upcycling Agri-wastes such as coconut husks into sustainable eco-products. Another start-up team, eBenta, also won the ‘Audience Choice Award’. At the end of the event, the audiences virtually invested and were asked to split their imaginary ‘investment’ to the groups that impressed them the most. With the aim of reducing economic hardships faced by vulnerable sectors in society, eBenta creates alternative income-generating opportunities through eCommerce and livelihood training.

Sai Surya, CEO of YSI SEA said, “What YSI SEA does is important because we empower youth in Southeast Asia who are passionate about sustainability to come up with innovative solutions for pressing issues in the world, and we bring these impact ideas to stakeholders in the ecosystem for potential funding and mentorship, bringing their ideas to fruition.” “One thing that drives the YSI SEA team is that we lie safe in the knowledge no one truly understands what sustainability means. Here at YSI SEA, we’re trying to collectively find an answer for that as well,” said Irsyad Ramthan, COO of YSI SEA. “What we need is a generation that cares and works towards sustainability by collaborating and learning from one another. Only then can we develop our capacity, knowledge and skills to come up with feasible solutions for measurable impact.” The Demo-Day, which took place at Marina Bay Sands on 27th July 2019, is a culmination of a fully funded 5-month long Innovation Programme, with Temasek Foundation as the Principal Partner. 

The Innovation Programme is a hallmark of YSI SEA, where youths from across Southeast Asia are brought together to create potential impact start-ups. Heng Li Lang, Senior Director of Temasek Foundation and Guest-of-Honour for Demo Day said, “Temasek Foundation sees YSI SEA as a conduit for gathering youths from different universities, not only in Singapore, but also from around Southeast Asia. Besides just being aware, young people need to take action and be an advocate to their peers, families and friends. But more than that, we need solutions – and this brings us to YSI SEA.” The 8 impact start-ups teams also showcased their ideas to the public during the YSI SEA Showcase – Sustainabiltiy: Hype or Hope? – which took place later that afternoon. Over 500 public visitors turned up at the showcase, which was graced by Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. The event also saw speakers from IKEA, S&P Global, The Fashion Pulpit and Edible Garden City. Moving forward, these eight teams will continue to receive support from YSI SEA in the form of mentorship, grants for solution-testing and networks to ensure their continuity and success. Koh Ghee Kian, a team member of Lega S.E.A., said, “The most important thing is to not be afraid of trying. We are very lucky to have found YSI SEA and this programme to groom our impact start-up. Searching for any opportunity and going after them is the most important thing to do. Any idea can be a good idea, but you have to believe in it first.” Allen Glen Gil and Huyen Cam Le from Farmability said, “The greatest takeaway from this programme has been meeting people from all over Southeast Asia with the same passion, interest and drive. To the youth who want to be part of the impact space: Observe everything you are interested in, and spot opportunities.” Please refer to Annex A for more details on the eight impact start-up teams. For more information, please visit https://www. ysisea.com/