7 August 2025, Singapore – Standard Chartered (“the Bank”) has successfully concluded the second edition of its flagship Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) for the next generation of its high-net-worth (HNW) clients under the Priority Private segment. This year’s programme brought together 50 participants of 12 nationalities, a reflection of the Bank’s international network and diversity. Participants gathered in Singapore for the exclusive four-day event, kicking off with a welcome event at the INSEAD Asia Campus.
The YEP is a specially curated programme in collaboration with leading international business school INSEAD and SC Ventures by Standard Chartered, which builds and invests in breakthrough ventures in and beyond banking. It focuses on building early entrepreneurial skills for the next generation, leveraging the expertise of INSEAD’s senior faculty and venture-creation experience of SC Ventures to take participants through a compelling journey of innovation and discovery.
Ong Lay Choo, Global Head, Affluent Client Segments & Distribution, Standard Chartered said, “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.”
The YEP provide a safe yet stimulating environment for our young participants to experiment, explore new ideas and learn to navigate real-world challenges. This year’s edition explored the frontiers of artificial intelligence and importance of wellbeing, inviting participants to explore how innovation can be used to improve the way we live and learn. It saw participants being taken through the core pillars of venture building, from challenging assumptions and capturing value, to mastering the art of communication. The programme culminated in Venture Pitches on the final day, with participants presenting their entrepreneurial ideas to an esteemed panel of industry experts with standout pitches being awarded.
Beyond cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, the programme hopes to instil a global mindset and sense of purpose to help the next generation build on their parents’ legacy, while boldly charting their own course. These objectives are echoed by our participants:
Samuel Latimer, a participant from Malaysia, currently studying at Cambridge University, 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, a participant from Mainland China, currently studying at University College London, UK, and part of team that won the “Best Team Synergy” award, 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.”
The YEP reflects the Bank’s commitment to supporting its Priority Private clients in leaving a lasting legacy beyond wealth. This programme is also part of Standard Chartered’s integrated suite of Global Experiences, a relationship-based programme which offers Priority Private clients access to differentiating experiences that help meet their aspirations, as well as that of their next generation.
