Prospectus: The Sydney Young Social Entrepreneur Sprint

1. Executive Vision: Fostering the Next Generation of Change-Makers

In an increasingly volatile global landscape, social entrepreneurship has emerged as a vital mechanism for driving systemic change. Social enterprises—businesses designed specifically to address social, cultural, or environmental challenges—serve as the foundational architecture for a more equitable and sustainable world. By prioritizing purpose alongside commercial viability, these ventures offer innovative, market-driven solutions to deep-seated community issues. The Sydney Young Social Entrepreneur Sprint represents a strategic intervention in this space, providing a high-octane platform where social passion is refined by commercial rigor.

The partnership between the City of Sydney and The ASE Group establishes a high-value ecosystem designed to fast-track youth-led ventures. By merging the City’s commitment to community-led economic development with The ASE Group’s proven entrepreneurial methodology, we have created a robust pipeline for the next generation of innovators. The “Sprint” is delivered as a 6-part intensive series, meticulously engineered to equip young people with the essential technical skills, specialized knowledge, and professional networks required to launch and scale impactful enterprises. This initiative is designed to transition participants from passive concern to active leadership, harnessing the power of business to drive positive global change.

2. Strategic Program Framework and Logistics

The “Sprint” model is specifically utilized for its efficacy in engaging the 16–24 age demographic. By condensing high-level entrepreneurial training into an intensive, time-bound format, the program mirrors the rapid pace and iterative nature of the modern startup environment. This structure maintains momentum, encourages rapid prototyping, and ensures high levels of participant engagement, moving emerging founders from theory to execution within a matter of months.

The operational details of the program are summarized in the following framework:

Component	Detail	Strategic Value
Location	Canva Space, 110 Kippax St, Surry Hills NSW 2010	Provides access to a world-class, tech-forward environment that inspires professional excellence.
Cost	Free (Supported by City of Sydney)	Eliminates financial barriers to entry, ensuring participation is based on merit and potential impact.
Capacity	Limited spots allocated via application	Maintains a high-quality, focused cohort and allows for personalized instructional delivery.
Support	10 x 60-min Group Coaching; 15 x 60-min Private Mentoring	A dual-layered infrastructure addressing both collective knowledge gaps and individual venture bottlenecks.

The choice of the Canva Space in Surry Hills is a deliberate strategic move. By placing emerging social entrepreneurs within one of Australia’s most successful technological hubs, we lower the psychological barriers to entry into the innovation sector. Furthermore, by providing this elite-tier training at no cost, the City of Sydney and The ASE Group ensure that the most promising social solutions—not just those with the most capital—are given the platform they need to flourish.

3. Thematic Curriculum: The 6-Part Workshop Series

The curriculum follows a logical pedagogical progression, transitioning participants through the full entrepreneurial lifecycle, from initial problem identification to investment readiness. Each session is structured to build cumulative expertise, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of social enterprise management.

1. Developing and Refining your Social Enterprise Idea (Thursday, 26 March 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) The series commences with a focus on identifying specific community or global challenges that can be addressed through business. Participants utilize methodology to refine their initial concepts, learning how to distinguish between a “good idea” and a sustainable, scalable solution.

• Skills Gained: Problem Identification, Solution Design, Strategic Thinking.

2. Financial Literacy for Sustainable Growth (Thursday, 9 April 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) Sustainability is the prerequisite for impact. This workshop provides the financial literacy necessary to manage a social enterprise, emphasizing that financial health and social impact are mutually reinforcing rather than contradictory.

• Skills Gained: Financial Literacy, Scaling Strategies, Budget Management.

3. Theme: Personal Branding + Visualisation Boards (Thursday, 23 April 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) Participants explore the intersection of their personal values and their enterprise’s mission. The core activity involves the creation of physical Visualisation Boards, a strategic tool used to align branding, vision, and long-term goal setting.

• Skills Gained: Personal Branding, Strategic Visualisation, Mission Alignment.

4. Social Impact Measurement Essentials (Thursday, 7 May 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) For any social enterprise, impact data is the primary currency of credibility. This session teaches participants how to track, measure, and report on their enterprise’s outcomes to ensure accountability to stakeholders and investors.

• Skills Gained: Impact Measurement, Data Tracking, Accountability Standards.

5. Theme: Public Speaking + Soft Skills (Friday, 22 May 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) Focusing on the “human” side of innovation, this session covers emotional intelligence and communication. Participants engage in public speaking exercises to improve their ability to connect with teams, communities, and potential partners.

• Skills Gained: Public Speaking, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership.

6. Theme: Shark Tank-style Pitching + Presenting your business ideas to potential investors (Thursday, 4 June 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM) The program culminates in a high-stakes presentation. Participants pitch their refined ventures to a panel of investors and mentors, receiving the critical feedback and exposure necessary to secure future support.

• Skills Gained: Pitching Skills, Investor Relations, Critical Response.

This rigorous curriculum ensures that participants depart the Sprint with the practical tools and the resilience required for long-term entrepreneurial success.

4. Participant Profile and Eligibility Standards

To ensure the program delivers a significant localized impact, recruitment is specifically targeted toward individuals who contribute to the vibrancy of the City of Sydney.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: 16 to 24 years old.
• Location: Must live, work, or study within the City of Sydney.
• Psychographics: A demonstrated passion for social impact and an entrepreneurial mindset.

We enforce an 80% Attendance Mandate as a tool for ensuring program ROI and participant accountability. This requirement ensures that the investment made by the City of Sydney is utilized by individuals who are fully committed to the entrepreneurial journey.

Significantly, the program is designed for extreme accessibility; no prior business idea is required to apply. The Sprint is engineered to support the entire journey, identifying and nurturing raw talent that might otherwise be missed by traditional, idea-contingent accelerators.

5. Advanced Support: Coaching and Mentorship Infrastructure

The Sydney Young Social Entrepreneur Sprint extends beyond the workshop format, providing a robust infrastructure for personalized professional development. The program is facilitated by a team of experts who operate under strict institutional trust and risk mitigation standards, including verified Working With Children’s Checks and Blue Cards.

To further enhance the value proposition, the Sprint brings in special guest speakers—industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs—to provide nuanced insights on specific topics. This is complemented by a dual-layered coaching model:

• Group Coaching (10 sessions): These 60-minute sessions facilitate peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem-solving, building a durable network of social innovators.
• Private Mentoring (15 sessions): These 60-minute one-on-one sessions provide bespoke guidance, allowing facilitators to address specific venture bottlenecks and individual professional hurdles.

This comprehensive support system ensures that participants are equipped to navigate the complexities of starting a business with both collective and individual expert backing.

6. Conclusion: A Call to Social Innovation

The Sydney Young Social Entrepreneur Sprint offers a unique opportunity to transform raw passion into sustainable, scalable social impact. By providing young leaders with a world-class curriculum, high-level mentorship, and access to a premier innovation space, we are securing the future of our local and global communities.

The partnership between the City of Sydney and The ASE Group represents the gold standard of community-led economic development. It is a strategic investment in the intellectual and social capital of our youth.

Next Steps for Stakeholders: Interested participants are invited to submit their applications through the official ASE Group portal. Following the submission, the ASE team will reach out to candidates to conduct a brief interview/chat to ensure their aspirations align with the program’s rigorous objectives. Due to high demand and the exclusive nature of the Canva Space venue, spots are strictly limited.

Youth-led business is the most powerful engine we have for global progress. Through the Sydney Young Social Entrepreneur Sprint, we are ready to empower the next generation of changemakers to build the world they want to see.

 

References:

https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/the-sydney-young-social-entrepreneur-sprint

 

https://www.ase.edu.au/sydneysocialentrepreneursprint