East Ventures launches “My First $1000” to enable Singapore Youths to Experience Real Entrepreneurship

Give your teens a head start in the real world with this unique eight-week programme that provides actual seed capital for students to launch a business.

If you have an older child who is always dreaming up "the next big thing," it might be time to move beyond textbooks. East Ventures has officially launched "My First $1000," an intensive eight-week entrepreneurship programme specifically designed for Singapore students aged 14 to 18.

*East Ventures is a venture capital firm in Southeast Asia and an early backer of prominent tech companies in the region, such as Tokopedia, Traveloka, ShopBack, Tech in Asia (acquired by SPH), and more.

Beyond the Classroom: A First Step into Capital Markets

Unlike typical school projects or business competitions that stay on paper, this initiative puts real money into the hands of youths. It is designed to teach the "older kids" (Secondary 3 to ITE/Polytechnic level) about the weight of accountability, the reality of capital costs, and the grit required to turn a profit in the real market.

Real Money and Real Execution

This isn't a grant; it’s a lesson in how the financial world actually works. The programme is structured to mirror the journey of a real startup, ensuring participants understand that capital is a tool that must be managed with integrity.

Here's how it will work:

• Seed Capital: Each team is handed $250 in starting capital from East Ventures to get their idea off the ground.

• The Execution Phase: Over eight weeks, teams will operate in real market conditions to generate revenue.

• Repayment & Accountability: To teach the concept of "cost of capital," teams are required to return the initial $250 plus a $50 cost of capital (total $300) at the end of the programme.

• Bank-Statement Verification: To reinforce ethical business practices, teams must use bank statements to verify their fund usage and reporting.

Incentives and Mentorship

To keep the momentum high, the programme offers a "Matching Incentive" that rewards hard work. For every $1 in revenue the students generate, the programme provides a dollar-for-dollar match, capped at $1,000.

Throughout the journey, students aren't left to fend for themselves. The experience includes:

• Kick-off Workshops: In-person sessions to sharpen business ideas.
• Expert Mentorship: Access to mentors who provide guidance on navigating market challenges.
• Showcase Day: A final event where selected teams present their results and lessons learned to a panel of experts.

BYKidO Pro-Tip: The Reality of Raising Capital

Having been through the journey of raising funds from accelerators and private investors ourselves, we feel that this is such a great way to introduce our youths to the concept of raising funds. Plus the access to mentors will be such a great learning opportunity too. 

Programme Deadline

Applications will open from 11 to 28 Feb 2026. There will be info and sessions to help teams in the process. Selected teams will be announced on 7 Mar and the programme will kick off for 8 weeks from 15 Mar 2026. 

For more details and detailed timeline, please visit my1st1000.sg