Entrepreneurship Exchange Series : Session 4

Overcoming Policy Barriers: How Young Entrepreneurs Are Shaping the Future of Startups

In recent years, young entrepreneurs have emerged as a driving force in the global economy, bringing fresh ideas and innovative solutions to traditional markets. However, they often face many policy barriers that hamper their ability to launch and sustain successful ventures. These barriers can include stringent regulatory frameworks, limited access to funding, inadequate support systems, and bureaucratic hurdles that disproportionately affect new start-ups and young entrepreneurs.Moreover, traditional policies often fail to recognize the unique challenges younger generations face, such as higher levels of student debt, the rise of the gig economy, and changing work expectations. 

Despite these challenges, young people are increasingly advocating for policy reforms that promote better access to resources, foster innovation, and build more inclusive environments for young entrepreneurs and their startups. Young entrepreneurs are not passive participants in the system; they use their agency and voice to challenge and reshape these policies through advocacy, community-building, and entrepreneurial innovation. 

Entrepreneurship Exchange Session 4

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This session aims to meet objectives:

  • Participants will identify and analyze major policy barriers that young entrepreneurs face, including regulatory, financial, and systemic challenges.
  • Attendees will engage with real-life case studies of young entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated or challenged existing policy frameworks, highlighting innovative strategies and approaches.
  • The session will outline young entrepreneurs’ effective advocacy strategies to influence policy reform and create supportive ecosystems for start-ups.
  • Participants will collaborate to brainstorm actionable policy recommendations and solutions to better support young entrepreneurs locally, nationally, and internationally.

Session Objectives 

  • Identify three significant global policy barriers impacting young entrepreneurs through participant discussions and breakout room sessions.
  • Develop actionable recommendations for improving policy frameworks and public-private partnerships, with at least five concrete suggestions to enhance young entrepreneurs’ access to funding, mentorship, and resources.
  • Facilitate collaborative discussions between at least 60 youth entrepreneurs, public and private sector representatives, and policymakers during the session to create a roadmap for ongoing advocacy efforts

Expected Outcomes

  • Insights from this session will be captured and analyzed, and a summary brief will be developed. This will inform the policy paper and video spotlight at the end of the series.  
  • The policy paper will be shared with private enterprises and governments to support youth entrepreneurs better. 

Moderator of the session:

Daniel Orogo

Daniel Orogo is the Africa Regional Coordinator for Democracy Moves, a leading political inclusion and governance advocate. In Kenya, he leads Civic Voices, a civic tech organisation promoting digital public participation. He also serves as Youth Coordinator for the 2022 “Africa, My Home, My Future” campaign under the All Africa Conference of Churches, inspiring unity among African youth. Since founding the Langata Youth Network in 2012 in Kibera, Daniel has championed community development and democratic governance across Africa.

Speakers of the session

Charmaine Co Leong

Charmaine Co Leong is a seasoned entrepreneur who aims to help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. She represents the Philippines both as the Country Chair in the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) and as an Executive Committee Member of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia Pacific (YEGAP), a subcommittee of the Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).

Hailemelekot Asfaw

Hailemelekot Asfaw, an expert in capacity building, business advocacy, and public-private dialogue, leads CIPE’s East Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa. With 19+ years of experience across public, private, and NGO sectors, he has dedicated 15 years to improving Ethiopia’s business climate. His work has involved consulting on projects backed by renowned organizations like the World Bank, EU-CSF, and GTZ. Holding advanced degrees in Social Work, Law, and Sociology from Addis Ababa University, Hailemelekot’s expertise extends to association leadership, renewable energy, and project evaluation.

Niraj Khanal

Niraj Khanal is an experienced entrepreneurship ecosystem enabler with over 15 years of experience supporting startups and innovation in Nepal. He is a founder, mentor, and angel investor who facilitates funding for startups and supports them in securing national and international investments. Additionally, he is involved in startup policy development with the Government of Nepal, private sector bodies, and universities, and also teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tribhuvan University and other institutions, while serving as PUM Netherlands’ representative to connect Nepali companies with Dutch senior experts.