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From a room in Manchester to global impact.
In 2016, in a small room in Hong Kong, something unexpected happened.
Thirty teenagers walked into the boardroom of a major investment bank to learn entrepreneurship, many entering a space like that for the first time. The person teaching them, Billy Naveed, was not a typical entrepreneur.
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Billy grew up near Manchester. When he was 13, his parents bought him a BBC computer to keep him out of trouble. He taught himself to code, and by 14 he was running a small software business from his bedroom. His parents, however, had traditional expectations: doctor, banker, lawyer. He chose banking and spent the next 25 years building a global career.
Hong Kong changed everything.
Billy was asked to recruit students from backgrounds like his own, the ones who were often overlooked. He found determined, capable young people with ideas but no access to mentors, networks, or meaningful opportunities. Their potential was real, yet largely unseen.
Around that time he met Crispian, one of Hong Kong’s leading educators. Both understood what it felt like to stand in rooms they had never expected to enter. That shared experience became the foundation for something new.
They realised that young people starting 200 metres behind do not need charity; they need a fair starting line. So they created one.
They called it Young Founders School.
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Microsoft
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Building a Movement
What started as a weekend bootcamp for 20 students in Hong Kong quickly grew into a global platform, a school without walls, where young people learn to think like founders long before they ever start a business.
Over the years, Young Founders School (YFS) has expanded from Hong Kong to Singapore, India, Africa, Indonesia and beyond, reaching over 35,000 students through free entrepreneurship programs, mentorship, and virtual internships with leading global companies.
At its heart, YFS believes that entrepreneurship is not about starting companies, it’s about starting possibilities.
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
Scaling Through Re-Invention
The first six years were hard. Crispian and Billy spent weekends lugging signs and books to cities across Asia. The impact was deep, but numbers stayed small.
Then came 2021. They partnered with Chris Geary, who became CEO. Together, they moved to a teacher training model and launched virtual internships. Suddenly, YFS could enable others to teach.
"The movement didn’t scale because it got easier. It scaled because they joined hands with the community to help them scale."
Building a Movement
What started as a weekend bootcamp for 20 students in Hong Kong quickly grew into a global platform, a school without walls, where young people learn to think like founders long before they ever start a business.
Over the years, Young Founders School (YFS) has expanded from Hong Kong to Singapore, India, Africa, Indonesia and beyond, reaching over 35,000 students through free entrepreneurship programs, mentorship, and virtual internships with leading global companies.
At its heart, YFS believes that entrepreneurship is not about starting companies, it’s about starting possibilities.
Scaling Through Re-Invention
The first six years were hard. Crispian and Billy spent weekends lugging signs and books to cities across Asia. The impact was deep, but numbers stayed small.
Then came 2021. They partnered with Chris Geary, who became CEO. Together, they moved to a teacher training model and launched virtual internships. Suddenly, YFS could enable others to teach.
"The movement didn’t scale because it got easier. It scaled because they joined hands with the community to help them scale."
Our Vision
A world where every young person, regardless of background, can become an architect of their own future through AI-powered entrepreneurship education and internship experiences.
Our Mission
To prepare the next generation for an AI-driven future by making entrepreneurship education and real-world internships accessible to students globally.
Why Today’s Students Are Being Left Behind
Students are being trained for yesterday’s world - not tomorrow’s opportunities.
Memorizing, Not Creating
Students are taught to repeat, not to build. Traditional systems reward memorization instead of imagination and problem-solving.
Unprepared for AI Jobs
Students do not learn the skills to meet the demands of the AI era. They lack digital literacy and applied innovation abilities.
Shut Out of Real-World
Most students lack access to mentors, networks, and internships that bridge the gap between school and the world of work.
How We Do It
Bootcamps & Workshops
We teach applied AI and entrepreneurship through hands-on, project-based programs that nurture creativity, confidence, and collaboration.
Mentorship
Students learn directly from founders, innovators, and industry professionals who provide real-world guidance and career insight.
Internships
Through YFS and our education partners, students gain exclusive work experience, build a strong professional network, and develop job-ready skills.
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
Delivering Impact at Scale
Schools & Youth Organizations
We collaborate directly with schools and youth organizations to deliver programs that make entrepreneurial education accessible to all.
Teacher Training Programs
We empower educators with frameworks, resources, and practical tools to integrate applied AI and entrepreneurship into everyday teaching.
YFS-Facilitated Internships
We partner with global and local companies to create structured internship experiences, giving students exposure to real teams, tools, and challenges.
Leadership Perspectives
Message from CEO
Chris Geary
Young Founders School exists to level the starting line for young people who start 200 meters behind it. Traditional graduate jobs are disappearing, but for AI-enabled graduates there is unlimited demand and that's exactly what we're making accessible.
Across Asia and Africa, over 40 million young people leave school each year with no job to step into. We equip them with AI skills through entrepreneurship so that learning leads to employability, and employability leads to opportunity.
Our goal: One million young people equipped with AI-native skills, the mindset, skillset, and a professional network behind them to pursue and achieve their future aspirations.
Message from Founder
Billy Naveed
Every day, I'm inspired by our students who have fire in their bellies but were dealt an unfortunate hand in the card game of life.
I'm inspired by our mentors and partners who see a little bit of themselves in each of these kids. They remember someone who went out of their way to give them a start, who spent time with them when they didn't have to. Giving back isn't an obligation for them – it's a duty.
Building Young Founders School continues to be the true honour of my life. I'm grateful to everyone who has been, and continues to be, part of this journey.
Powered by a Global Team of Visionaries
A world-class group of educators, technologists, and leaders shaping our mission.
Together, they bring deep expertise and global perspective to every step of our journey.
Centralize all employee data in a secure, Salesforce-native system for effortless management.
Billy Naveed
Founder & Chairman
Centralize all employee data in a secure, Salesforce-native system for effortless management.
Chris Geary
Director & CEO
Centralize all employee data in a secure, Salesforce-native system for effortless management.
Crispian Farrow
Director & Co-Founder
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