GO NEGOSYO successfully hosts YES 2019

Last March 8, 2019, over 15,000 participated in the biggest digital summit, the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City and simulcast in 10 different universities across the country. Among the multitude of attendees were micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), business leaders, digital players, and technopreneurs, aspiring and existing young entrepreneurs, and academe.

The summit was made possible through the collaboration of Go Negosyo and the US Embassy which aimed to properly equip MSMEs and the youth, and 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 platforms that have democratized marketplaces for services and products thereby enabling Filipinos to become self-earning entrepreneurs.

With all the digital breakthroughs, Go Negosyo brought the spotlight on the digital endeavors happening across the region through YES 2019. More than 30 prime international and local speakers presented five fora which highlighted innovation through collaboration, major players in the digital industry, platforms’ improvised innovative ways to solve problems in the society, proper harnessing  of the industry and encourage creativity amongst the youth and the advocacies which will strengthen the battle to achieve inclusive growth and prosperity for all.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion shared insights on having positive attitude towards digitalization and entrepreneurship during the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City last March 8, 2019.

 Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion highlighted, 

“The attitude which we call YES, is a positive attitude that must be possessed by anyone, whether you are a student, or aspire to be part of the working group, or one day become an entrepreneur, a positive attitude in life is what propels many people to become successful. People like Anthony Tan and many of the speakers here who started their own digital business are here today because they have that attitude -- right mindset, especially many of you sometimes are challenged with so many problems but we must remember that problems are part of life and it is how you look at these problems and turn it into opportunities. Many entrepreneurs look for the problems because it is where business models will emanate from. Hopefully today, you will learn and be inspired from many of them and one of these days, be in the same stage as where they are.”

 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.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez imparted inspirational message to the youth and entrepreneurs highlighting the importance of the summit in the development of a successful entrepreneurs during the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 last March 8, 2019 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Sec. Lopez shared the beauty of technology and its capacity to solve problems in the country, saying, "YES Attitude, kaya natin, winning attitude na sikreto po talaga ito ng maraming nagtagumpay sa buhay. And that secret, that mindset revolution, is what we're trying to bring in through Go Negosyo at DTI. Yan po ang susi, sa tagumpay. Because with that right mindset at dadagdagan pa ng mga kaalaman, matutunanan po ninyo like in this summit, the seminars that we give out, the mentoring that we give out, sasabayan pa yan ng kung gusto niyo pa ng pautang, nabanggit po yun ng mga partners natin dito na it will be digitalized already... Kaya to us, we want to develop young entrepreneurs who are creative and innovative ... and putting in also  of course now technology that's needed." He also enlightened the participants on the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte in uplifting the lives of all the many Filipinos.

USA Ambassador Sung Kim encouraged young Filipinos to become change-makers in the country during the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit last March 8, 2019 at World Trade Center, Pasay City.

“It's exciting to see many aspiring entrepreneurs in the Philippines. I encourage you all to take full advantage of the opportunities given." Amb. Kim shared during his speech and encouraged young Filipinos to become change-makers in the country.

In his fireside talk with Issa Litton, Anthony Tan emphasized on how Grab created economic wealth and social impact quoting “Grab wants to empower hundred thousands of microentrepreneurs.” He also talked about how he created the Grab App to ensure safety for women who commute. Over the years, Grab, which first introduced in the Philippines, has committed to giving excellent service from all its customers across the region.

Grab CEO and Co-founder Anthony Tan, emphasized how Grab created economic wealth and social impact during his fireside talk with Issa Litton at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019. He reiterated Grab's mission to empower hundred thousands of microentrepreneurs through his platform.

“And the two main criteria; one is, we wanna see startups that can truly make lives better. So a lot of them is creating whether its much more convenient, it's creating a social impact, its creating in our case if we can find you know and help faster another Grab or baby Grab that will empower our goal, our mission today.” From Grab Car, to Grab Pay and Grab Food, the company is expanding its platform to reach more customers and give millions of microentrepreneurs a chance to be in the industry through its incubation program. Beyond mentoring, putting them in Grab platform where they can actually be fostered.

Moreover, the line up of speakers were as follows: Robbie Antonio, CEO of Revolution Precrafted; 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; 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; Mario Jordan "Magellan" Fetalino III, 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 DibzTech Inc.; Dennis Layug, Founder and Chairperson of Apptitude; Ellard Capiral, CEO of AdMov; and Keb Cuevas, CEO of Tagani.ph.

Completing the roster of speakers were Gian Javelona, CEO of Oxygen Ventures; Dan Matutina, Graphic Designer & 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.

The forum "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; DOST Secretary Boy Dela Peña; Chairperson of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Prospero de Vera III; CEO of Angkas Angeline Tham; and Girls Will Code Founder Isabel Sieh.

In her speech, Sen. Poe highlighted, “Whatever your passion is, pursue it. Because what interests you will actually drive you to do better. Sabi nga ni Albert Einstein, everyone is a genius, but if we judge a fish by how it climbs a tree then it will think it’s a failure. So find what you want to do, for sure you will do well.” She also presented laws, which she authored, that is for the benefit of the young ones and will equip them on the emerging digital era.

Following the live simulcast, the list of schools were 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 the University of Southeastern Philippines.