The inaugural Singapore Young Entrepreneurs Award (SYEA) was launched by Member of Parliament (MP) for MacPherson SMC, Tin Pei Ling on Saturday 26th of September. The launch features an official MOU signing ceremony with key Ecosystem Partners, followed by two dialogue sessions featuring the six award categories of SYEA.
SYEA is a not-for-profit initiative founded by JCI (Marina) Singapore and co-organised with People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) to empower local youth entrepreneurship. Key Ecosystem Partners include *SCAPE, NTUC USME, and OSG Youth Alliance. Run biennially, The Award aims to honour and empower local youth entrepreneurs who have achieved both commercially outstanding results and socially impactful initiatives through their business in the new norm. Thirty (30) award winners will be our future ambassadors of change. They will go on to champion sustainable business solutions and best practices in their respective industries in 2021; while also identified to be mentors for the next batch of SYEA nominees in 2022 and beyond.
More than just an award, the raison d’etre of SYEA is to create an ongoing, sustainable business ecosystem for successful and budding entrepreneurs to network, learn from one another’s experiences, and to give back to society. The key concept of its business programs is to create a sustainable network (both locally and internationally) to provide mentorship and to enhance financial accessibility for the participating youth entrepreneurs and SMEs. All award nominees and partners will thus have the opportunity to participate in exclusive business programs and networking sessions, mentorships, VC match-making sessions as well as various Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proved a challenge for Singapore’s economy; and digital transformation of businesses will be crucial for businesses to thrive forward from the pandemic. “In addition to the opportunity to be mentored and endorsed by reputable leaders and judges from various industries, nominees should also tap onto the strength and expertise from SYEA’s network of ecosystem partners and series of business programs to future-proof their business and prepare for the post COVID-19 economy.” Says the Founder and Co-Chairperson of SYEA, Christine Yap. “On behalf of the organising committee which is fully formed by youth volunteers, we are excited and grateful to our esteemed partners and sponsors for believing in our vision, and for lending their relentless support to this audacious yet meaningful initiative.”
With the government balancing strict but necessary guidelines along with business support measures to help existing local businesses during the pandemic. PAYM’s direction for SYEA is part of the ongoing effort, with their sights set on paving the way for the new normal. “We are excited to have the opportunity to support local youth entrepreneurs and their companies to learn and grow during this difficult period in time.” Says PAYM Central Youth Council Chairman Goh Jia Hao, PBM. “We hope that through SYEA, this would allow for the establishment of strong networks among the entrepreneurs, to both learn from one another, and give back to the community.”
The six (6) awards categories of SYEA are the following: health and wellbeing, quality education, women empowerment, jobs creation and economic growth, innovative industrialisation, and responsible supply chain. They are aligned with six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and JCI (Marina) Singapore believes that these categories will lead the drive for business sustainability in the future. “The MOU signing will affirm the commitment of all parties in fostering and supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable, and responsible businesses in Singapore,” says SYEA Advisor and JCI Senator Lim Hui Jie.
SYEA is officially open for nominations from 26th September 2020 to 2nd November 2020. Businesses or individuals who wish to nominate or be nominated for SYEA can do so by registering here or reach out to the SYEA nominations team via email at nominations@syea.cc.
