A nonprofit idea to tap into a hidden talent pool

Dear Readers,

I’m sure there are people in life that you’re grateful for because they helped you become the person you are now. Some may even be pivotal to your career or personal growth: their actions and words empowered you to get through tough times.

Significant moments like these usually happen by chance, particularly when you’re young and have a very small network. I was lucky to have a teacher who empathized with my situation and explained things to me – lessons that I remember up to this day. Of course, as I grew up, I met more people who have shown me kindness and shaped my future.

I often wonder how I can pay it forward and scale this experience so that more kids who grew up in a broken environment can get a better shot at life.

That’s why for some time now, I’ve been thinking about building a nonprofit accelerator program for young people aged 10 to 19. Think of it as a nonprofit Y Combinator (YC), where teams receive a small sum of money and build products together.

Through entrepreneurship, they can discover a lot more about themselves, their passion, and life. I envision that it would have a structured program focusing on areas like how to achieve product-market fit, and it would culminate with a demo day. We won’t take equity and optimize for valuation. Instead, we’d just focus on learning, building, and shipping.

The goal isn’t to fundraise or build the next Google or Alibaba – most founders’ first startups usually fail, anyway. The program doesn’t even need to be technology-related, though we should aim to solve some of the more critical problems in the world. After the program, the participants can decide whether to take it forward. We’ll continue to support them when they need it, just like how YC has a helpful alumni community.

Finding problem solvers

Recruiters often look to top schools to find talent, and that’s accurate to a certain extent. But because demand for those candidates is so high, not everyone gets the supply.

My hypothesis is that those who come from underprivileged family backgrounds have naturally built grit and tenacity over time. They’re used to chaos and constant changes. They also have limited resources and often have to find creative ways to get things done. And guess what? Entrepreneurs go through these circumstances every day.

It would be a pity if this potential “talent pool” is ignored or overlooked. I believe they could potentially be future leaders, founders, and problem solvers who can work towards the greater good.

Speaking of vision, I’m passionate about building Tech in Asia, so I’m finding ways to test out this idea in small but efficient ways. If you know kids who fit the bill (preferably located in Singapore), let me know. I’d be happy to talk to them to see if we can make magic happen together.

See you next week!

You can find my last commentary via this link: “Startups prioritize speed 🏃, not perfection”. You can also read all my commentaries here.

P.S. Somewhat related: A friend told me about PROMYS India, a math program that helps aspiring students discover more about the world of math. All students who join this year will receive a full scholarship that covers all costs of participation. No, this isn’t a paid ad, and yes, math is just awesome.