Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019

Go Negosyo in partnership with the US Embassy hosted this year's biggest digital summit, the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit. To properly equip micro, small and medium enterprises ( MSMEs ) and the youth, the summit focused on the theme, " YES! Angat Lahat sa Digital: Para sa Kabataan at Maliliit na Negosyante ", which highlighted the digital transformation that has been a game changer through the emergence of digital service platform that have democratized marketplaces for services and products thereby enanbling Filipinos to become self earning entrepreneurs.

YES 2019 aimed to enlighten the participants' knowledge of innovative and disruptive business models, which would allow their understanding of entrrpreneurship to reach a higher level. More than 6,000 attendees participated, including MSMEs, business leaders, digital players and technopreneurs, aspiring and existing young entrepreneurs, and academe.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion highlighted, " Digitalization is pro poor where people from low income communities can benefit and achieve prosperity. It creates great impact in the lives of many Filipinos today. The digital transformation that we are experiencing helps achieve the goal of the government on inclusive growth and development. These breakthroughs are actually turning Filipinos into self earning entrepreneurs by providing marketplaces for services and products. As for the youth, I believe that our future lies with the youth of today so we must all invest in them and mentor them well."

Adding, " All of you have the greatest chance today to succeed. Maximize technology for the advancement of your businesses."

The summit was also graced by USA Ambassador in the Philippines H.E. Sung Kim, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Grab CEO and Co founder Anthony Tan.

With all the digital breakthroughs, Go Negosyo brought the spotlight on the digital endeavors happening across the region through YES 2019. A roster of international and local speakers took part in the five fora presented.

In the first forum, Philippines' first unicorn startup founder Robbie Antonio, CEO of Revolution Precrafted joined the forum focused on highlighting innovation through collaboration. With him were Ricky kapur, Regional Manager of Asia Pacific Microsoft; Jeffri Cheong, Managing Director of Gawin.PH; Patrick Ngan, CEO and Co-founder of QFPay International; and Albert Go, Regional Director of Lalamove SEA and was moderated by Perry Lam, Founder and CEO of Perry Institute.

Forum two presented today's major players in the digital industry that are both gaining momentum nationwide and on international landdcape such as Henry Motte - Munoz, CEO and Co-Founder of Edukasyon.ph; Kenneth Lingan, Country head for Philippines of Google; Lito Villanueva, Managing Director of FintQ; Anthony Thomas, CEO of Mynt; Ray Alimurung, CEO of Lazada Philippines; Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines; Brian Cu, President of Grab Philippines; Dennis Ng, Founder and CEO of Mober; and Crystal Lee Gonzalez, Managing Director of Honestbee. The forum was moderated by Issa Liton.

Mario Jordan " Magellan " Fetalino lll, CEO of Acudeen; Andrew Cua, CEO of Tralulu; Paolo Bugayong, Co-founder and CEO of Aide; David Foote, Founder and CEO, Zennya; Audrey Tanco Uy, CEO and Founder of ServeHappy Jobs; Leeroy Levias Shoko, CEO of DibzTechInc.; Dennis Layug, Founder and Chairperson of Apptitude; Ellard Capiral, CEO of AdMov; and Keb Cuevas, CEO of Tagani.ph, discussed how different platforms have improvised innovative ways to solve problems in the society. The forum was moderated by Gretchen Ho.

Moreover, Gian Javelona, CEO of Oxygen Ventures; Dan Matutina, Graphic Designer and Illustrator and Founding Partner of Plus63 Design Co.; Erwan Heussaff, Founder of The Fat Kid Inside, Inc; Shaira Luna, Photographer; Pepe Diokno, Film Director, Producer, and Writer; Brian Tenorio, Chairman of Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce; and Niel Dagondon, President and Co-founder of Edusuite Inc. discussed how it us important to harness the industry and encourage creativity amongst the youth. The forum was moderated by Sam YG.

Forum five entitled, " YES! Angat Lahat sa Digital! Para sa Kabataan at Maliliit na Negosyante was presented by Senator Grace Poe; Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship, ASEAN Business Advisory Council PH Chair and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion; Center Director of Singapore Polytechnic Innovation Office Neelesh Bhatia; Chairperson of Commission on Higher Education ( CHED ) Prospero de Vera lll; CEO of Angkas Angeline Tham; and Girls Will Code Founder Isabel Sieh.

The summit was simultaneously telecast in ten schools: Bulacan State University, National College of Science and Technology, Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas, University of San Agustin, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Foundation University, Universidad De Zamboanga, Western Mindanao State University, University of the Philippines-Mindanao and University of Southeastern Philippines.