Standard Chartered has concluded the second edition of its Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP), aimed at the next generation of high-net-worth clients in its Priority Private segment. The event brought together 50 participants representing 12 nationalities from eight markets, including seven Asian countries and the United Arab Emirates. The four-day programme was held in Singapore, beginning with a welcome event at the INSEAD Asia Campus.
The YEP is organised in partnership with international business school INSEAD and SC Ventures by Standard Chartered. The initiative is designed to build early entrepreneurial skills among young people, drawing on INSEAD’s academic expertise and SC Ventures’ experience in venture creation.
Ong Lay Choo, Global Head, Affluent Client Segments & Distribution at Standard Chartered, stated: “We see our clients’ wealth needs and their family’s aspirations becoming increasingly inter-connected. Besides fulfilling their investment and wealth planning objectives, it is important that clients and their families are supported early in their wealth and succession journey. As a leading international wealth manager, we are committed to partnering with our clients in investing in the development of their next generation and building purpose-driven legacies. Through our flagship Young Entrepreneur Programme, we aim to offer early and meaningful engagement to support the next generation in their entrepreneurial journey.”
This year’s programme focused on artificial intelligence and wellbeing. Participants were introduced to core elements of venture building such as challenging assumptions, capturing value, and communication skills. The event concluded with Venture Pitches presented before a panel of industry experts.
Participants shared positive feedback about their experiences during the programme. Samuel Latimer from Malaysia, currently studying at Cambridge University in the UK and part of the team that won the “Best Pitch” award said: “You need good team synergy and a thorough business model to not only conceive and execute, but present a persuasive startup idea to investors. Being able to collaborate as a unit, identify customers’ pain points, and figure out how we can best deliver our unique solution whilst generating profit was a fantastic experience for me.”
Wu Yun Yang from Mainland China, studying at University College London in the UK who was part of the team that won “Best Team Synergy,” commented: “I would say this programme is intense yet rewarding. It’s both practical and technical, and I was truly amazed by how much I learned in just a few days. I’m also grateful for the friendships I built along this tough journey. It was an awesome experience and I highly recommend it.”
Standard Chartered describes YEP as part of its broader Global Experiences suite for Priority Private clients—a relationship-based offering intended to provide unique opportunities for both current clients and future generations.