Paragon 100 profile

The profile of the Paragon 100 fellows includes young entrepreneurs and social changemakers of up to 30 years of age who are an inspiration to other young people.

Paragon 100 members are young people who dared to stride out by setting up their own business, social enterprise, NGO or sustainable project. They have overcome challenges by realizing their vision and believing in themselves.

The Paragon 100 is a regional nomination process. Nominations are invited from: Mongolia, China, Japan, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Application

Applications for the 2009/10 fellowship are now closed. Applications for 2010/11 will open in May 2010.

Selection process

We are looking for young people who dared to stride out, to realize their own vision by setting up a business, social enterprise or NGO. We are looking for young people who have a story to tell, who can inspire other young people to follow suit, therefore applicants from all industries and business scales are invited to apply.

The Nomination committee will forward applications for the Paragon 100 program to the Jury to make the final selection for the fellowship. Our auditor will finally confirm the results before we will announce the selected Paragon 100 in October 2009.

Selection Criteria:
The following selection criteria apply to all nominees:

• Leadership potential of the Founder
• Growth potential of project/business;
• Social impact
• Financial sustainability
• The originality of the business/ project concept

The panel also considers:

• The entrepreneur's age when the business was started; and
• Any special challenges that had to be overcome.

The Jury 2009

The jury of the Paragon 100 will select the 100 fellows out of our application pool.

• Ms. Vivian Gee (Switzerland): Head South East and East Asia; Schwab Foundation
• Mr. Julian Webb (Australia): Asia Region Facilitator, World Bank infoDev Incubator Initiative
• Dr. Meena Galliara (India): Professor Social Entrepreneurship, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Mumbai
• Ms. Yvonne Yeung (Hong Kong): Founding Director and Vice-Chairperson Hong Kong Social Entrepreneurship Forum
• Mr. Ali Khan (Pakistan): Founder, Youth Engagement Network Pakistan
• Mr. Ajay Dixi (India): Senior Faculty, The Development Institute for Entrepreneurs India
• Mr. Nandan Kamath (India): Co-founder, GoSports India

Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

Paragon 100 fellows have access to a platform of opportunities while at the same time committing their part to further foster youth entrepreneurship in Asia Pacific.

Rights:

Access to a network of outstanding young entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific
1The fellowship enables selected individuals to access an unique network of outstanding likeminded entrepreneurs from all over the region. The diversity of background including social entrepreneurs and commercial entrepreneurs enables fellows to broaden their business horizon, to initiate business partnerships and to enlarge their personal network.

Mentorship for integrated development
2Mentors provided during the one- year fellowship will support fellows in their personal development as entrepreneur, as well as in their business development.

Capacity and leadership building
3Fellows will gain unqiue opportunities incl. workshops, participation in the Change Catalyst conference and online trainings to further develop their knowledge and skills.

Profiling
4Fellows will gain various promotion opportunities for themselves and their business incl. the Paragon 100 website, profiling on partner websites, advertisements with our partner media and press coverage.

Responsibilities

Paragon 100 winners commit to actively engage in FYSE's activities to further promote youth entrepreneurship. Aim is to highlight the potential and success of young entrepreneurs to high school and university students to inspire them to follow suit on an entrepreneurial venture.

Paragon 100 speaking engagements

The crucial part of the Paragon 100 program consists of fellows visiting universities, high schools and youth conferences to share their entrepreneurial experience and to provide a platform for young people to meet successful young entrepreneurs. The speaking engagements provides a platform for young people to learn about entrepreneurship, be engaged in entrepreneurship activities and to raise their questions and concerns to real entrepreneurs.

Brochure