27-30 June, 2019
Highlights:
- Professor Muhammad Yunus—a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and Nobel laureate—was the keynote speaker for the bootcamp.
- In order to inspire the participants, a special session 'GEBx' was introduced in the fifth edition of GEB.
- 'iMed'— a medicine reminder and health tracker application—designed by a team of five youths became the winning idea of the bootcamp.
Fifth Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (GEB) was held from 27th to 30th June in Bangkok, Thailand. More than 160 participants from 40 different countries had participated in the bootcamp where they competed by pitching their business models in front of speakers who are renowned investors, successful entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship experts from across the globe.
Known for its contribution in flourishing the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, GEB gave special priority to the new dimension in the entrepreneurial ethos called 'social entrepreneurship' in this edition. Professor Muhammad Yunus—a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and Nobel laureate—was the keynote speaker for the bootcamp.
Yunus highlighted on the importance and feasibility of social businesses in order to address growing social problems. He also stressed that such businesses can play a great role in empowering the youths socially. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize (2006) for introducing the concept of social business.
Other speakers of the four-day event included Professor Rajesh Nair—Director at Asia School of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Julie Ciancio—dean for the College of Education at Westcliff University in Irvine, California, Subeed Ahmed—senior director at Capgemini, Daniel Alejandro Concha Zegarra—product operations manager at Tencent, Nguyen Quang Huy—founder of Vietnam Social Innovation Challenge, NICOLE NGUYEN—head of Asia-Pacific for Infinity Blockchain Ventures, Anurag Singh-co-founder and CEO of Crumblyy, Aung Ye Kyaw—founder and CEO of White Merak Comics Studio, Buna Dahal—founder of Dynamic Buna, Dr. Mir Dost—director at the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), Rahuel Stone, partner at Polynation Ventures, and Shantanu Kumar—head of AI products at inFEEDO. In individual sessions with the bootcamp participants, the speakers shared their experience of involvement in respective fields in relation to the entrepreneurial journey.
15 different teams were formed as soon as the bootcamp kicked off on 27th June. The teams worked in order to design business ideas on their own and then pitched those ideas in front of the organizers, speakers and fellow participants on the third day. 'iMed'— a medicine reminder and health tracker application—designed by a team of five youths became the winning idea of the bootcamp. Alisse I.A. Nasser, Siham Fuad Ahmed Emam, and Sandra N.S. Muallem from Palestine, Dao Thi Phuoc Hao from Vietnam, and Amenan Couboura Sidiki from Ivory Coast were the team members for 'iMed'. GEB also awards a team the title of 'Best Team' every year. In the 5th GEB, a team that pitched the idea for 'K20'—a platform to support Micro Finances in optimizing their activities—was awarded the 'Best Team' title. The 'K20' team included Ekote Nelson Nnoko from Cameroon, Sadia Kabir Dina from Bangladesh, Robih Hilman Ardiatama from Indonesia and Jean Dalmeida, Guenoukpati Ayawovi, and Sitti Kafui Akoko from Togo.
Apart from the competition for designing business models, GEB has incorporated interaction sessions, expert guidance, and network formation among young minds, entrepreneurs, and investors ever since its inception. The bootcamp also featured cultural exchange. The participants and the speakers collaborated in the cultural night on the third day to share their culture, personal beliefs and views.
The sessions by speakers and team works were carried out alternately throughout the bootcamp. Participants of the GEB also observed the Social Business Day organized by Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 29th June.
Success is a challenge in entrepreneurship. Only one out of ten startups sees a success in the market, according to the Fortune Magazine. In order to inspire the participants, a special session 'GEBx' was introduced in the fifth edition of GEB. 'GEBx' featured seven successful entrepreneurs who shared their journey to success in entrepreneurship. The new session intended to inform the participants about the role of failure and success in the startup journey.
Solve Business School (SBS) was the co-organizer of the bootcamp whereas Yunus Center, AIT was the strategic partner. Likewise, Asia School of Business and Porous City Network were the knowledge partners and LEADSAS was the logistics partner for the event.