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wo winners of Youth Co:Lab's SDGs business contest "Social Innovation Challenge" in Japan and Bangladesh were featured in Drive, a web magazine published by ETIC., a Japanese non-profit organization that has supported entrepreneurs for more than 20 years.
Ms. Shiropa Tawhida, Moner Bondhu Founder and CEO, and Mr. Seiya Ashikari, ECOLOGGIE Inc. CEO were interviewed online. Shiropa is the winner of the 2019 Social Innovation Challenge in Bangladesh and a female entrepreneur who started a mental health care business based on her own experience.
Seiya is the winner of the Excellence Award at the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2020. Through ECOLOGGIE Inc.: a food business which uses cricket protein, Seiya aims at creating a sustainable diet and supporting farmers in developing countries.
In this interview, the two globally active social entrepreneurs discussed their businesses and passion as well as their learning experiences at Youth Co:Lab.
Please check out the interview on Drive in English and Japanese.
What is Youth Co:Lab?
Co-created in 2017 by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to empower and invest in youth, to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. Youth Co:Lab projects have been implemented in 25 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region and the initiative has benefitted over 75,000 young social entrepreneurs and helped launch or accelerate more than 1,000 social enterprises.
What is Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2021?
Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2021 is a business idea contest where selected teams will pitch and showcase their SDG-focused business models and ideas to a panel of esteemed judges. The individuals and teams who passed the screening process will pitch their solutions at the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2021.” Winners from the Japan contest will have the opportunity to join the Springboard Programme and the top teams who participated in the Springboard programme will be able to showcase their businesses during the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit which will take place in Spring 2022.
