Billy Naveed was 13 when an accidental purchase of a BBC Micro microcomputer sparked a passion for coding. The following year, he founded a software company, but like many Asian kids, he was steered towards a ‘serious’ career in banking, medicine, or law.
He then pursued a career in finance, and built a 20-year career with Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. While overseeing an internship programme at Credit Suisse, he encountered young minds from local high schools facing the same barriers he did as a child. “They did not have entrepreneurial education, mentors, or a community to nurture their ideas. It was then that the seed was planted in me. I knew I had to create something that would bridge that gap and give young people the support and opportunities I never had.”
So, he founded Young Founders School (YFS), a not-for-profit education tech company that offers entrepreneurship education and internship opportunities to students between the ages of 11 and 18. The courses are conducted virtually and equip students with valuable skills such as technical knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and resilience.
Its flagship bootcamp programme guides students from ideation to pitching in a condensed time frame. The most popular course, Billy notes, is the ideation programme. It helps students think creatively about solving pressing global challenges by using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) as a framework.
Students within the age range can also participate in the largest virtual internship programme in Asia and gain real-world experience working with companies, such as Uber, Morgan Stanley, KPMG, and Sidley. The YFS chairman is not just the face of the organisation; he also oversees strategy, vision, networking, fundraising, and mentors students. Even though he has other roles outside of work, he devotes a great deal of his time to entrepreneurship education for adolescents. His many hats, he says, give him an edge. “Being a present father and husband sharpens my empathy at work,” he explains.
The opportunities he has experienced at YFS cannot be quantified in monetary rewards, he says.
“It’s not about dividing focus, but enriching every part of life through intentional, mindful engagement. I don’t always get it right and sometimes that music clashes, but if we limit ourselves to one pursuit, we miss out on life’s concert.”
Billy Naveed on maximising opportunities
Through the hard work of dedicated individuals, YFS has achieved remarkable success. More than 10,000 students have graduated from the programme, and the organisation is working to reach even greater heights. Although YFS was started in Hong Kong, it has expanded its offerings across the region and has also introduced them in Africa, allowing it to empower students from diverse backgrounds.
Despite having to overcome misconceptions about nonprofits and the perceived limitations of teenagers, Naveed remains optimistic as he believes the next generation has the potential to address the world’s pressing issues and create a more sustainable future.
“I am incredibly hopeful for the next generation of leaders. They are more socially responsible, connected, and globally aware than any generation before them,” he says.
“Despite the challenges left behind, whether environmental concerns, global debt, or geopolitical tensions, these students are ready to rise to the occasion. They are leveraging technology, forming global networks, and are passionate about making a positive impact.”
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Hizuan Zailani
Hair: Eunice Wong W. Y. using Keune
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee using Shiseido
