SDSN Partners with Beast Philanthropy on Youth-led Innovations
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Beast Philanthropy announced a partnership that champions youth innovators and empowers the next generation of leaders working to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make the world a better place through social entrepreneurship.
For seven years, SDSN Youth has been running the Youth Investment Readiness Program (YIRP), an online accelerator to help young entrepreneurs, predominantly in emerging economies, build the skills they need to raise investments to scale their social enterprises. For the first time ever, through the generosity of Beast Philanthropy, SDSN Youth will be able to offer multiple seed grants to innovators.
Beast Philanthropy is convinced that the world will change for the better only when young people are inspired and enabled to use their voices, abilities, and knowledge to create solutions to global issues. “Having been founded by a young social entrepreneur, we understand the value of empowering youth-led innovations and for that reason are honored to be sponsoring the UN SDSN Youth Competition of 2023. Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering lasting change in the Global South by enabling their brilliant, passionate youth to improve circumstances for all. Each of the contestants, much like MrBeast, showcase the immense potential of determined young minds. Sponsoring the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes is a great honor for us as we know these winnings will go toward our mission of ‘Making the World a Better Place’”, shared a representative from Beast Philanthropy. They continued, “In the words of our Executive Director, Darren Margolias, ‘Every waterfall begins with a single drop of water’. Let us each be determined to be that drop of water that starts a lasting change bringing life, health, and opportunity to the world around us”.
"The partnership reflects the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders in the global ecosystem to support youth-led, impact-driven solutions. Both the organizations are inspiring and empowering youths globally to lead changes in their communities and the partnership further amplifies a ‘youths supporting youths’ culture", said Sanjana Chhantyal, who leads the Investment Readiness Program at SDSN Youth. She further added, "The IRP entrepreneurs, through their social enterprises, are addressing some of the biggest challenges the world is facing today. They are impacting thousands of individuals and creating employment opportunities for other youths. We are delighted to have Beast Philanthropy join us in celebrating our inspiring IRP change makers."
The Pitch Competition was held on December 16 virtually and judged by Dr. Faustin Gasheja and Ms. Sanjana Chhantyal. Additionally, the Beast Philanthropy team evaluated the innovators. PURA, an organization in Brazil that facilitates transition to regenerative agri-food models secured the first place in the ‘2023 Investment Readiness Program Pitch Competition powered by Beast Philanthropy’. The second and third places went to Equity Lab, which is empowering youths’ social mobility in Mongolia through SDG-driven growth opportunities, and Skill Up With Kahdsole, which empowers young individuals in marginalized communities across Nigeria with skills acquisition and access to a global marketplace. An additional prize, Bayer Agripreneur of the year, went to AgrowSure Products and Innovations that provides a complete farm mechanization solution by designing and manufacturing affordable and innovative farm machines to help small and marginal farmers in India.
About Beast Philanthropy:
Beast Philanthropy is founded by MrBeast, who is the most popular YouTuber in the world. At the core of Beast Philanthropy’s endeavors lies a steadfast commitment to addressing pressing global challenges in a unique and unprecedented way. In 2023 alone, Beast Philanthropy donated nearly 10 million pounds of food across the United States, helped amputees in Cambodia receive prosthetic limbs, rebuilt orphanages in South Africa and Zambia, powered a remote island in Costa Rica, dug wells in Cameroon to provide clean water, along with many more initiatives. Beast Philanthropy is deeply devoted to their mission of ‘Make the world a better place’ and encouraged by the opportunity to support individuals who have a passion to help others. https://www.beastphilanthropy.org/
About SDSN:
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. It mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. www.unsdsn.org
About Investment Readiness Program:
The Investment Readiness Program, run by SDSN-Youth, is an online entrepreneurship accelerator program that prepares young social entrepreneurs under the age of 35 from across the globe for investment readiness through curated training, one-on-one mentorship, connection to industry experts and networking opportunities. The Program is run in collaboration with Babele, an online innovation platform to manage mission-driven innovation programs and effectively engage stakeholders.