The scheme runs over a fortnight, and 16-18 year olds in the UK are able to apply from 20 March. In addition to Shazam’s Andrew Fisher providing inspirational talks and acting as a mentor, other executives offering guidance will include:
- Eileen Burbidge, partner at Passion Capital
- Frank Meehan, board member of Summly/Siri/Spotify
- James Bromley, former MailOnline MD turned SwiftKey COO
- Matt Miller, founder of ustwo creator of Monument Valley
Additionally, with the skills gap a concern for businesses, youngsters on the course will receive information from KPMG & DN Capital on lean startup theory, IP, accounting,” prototyping and pitching.
The course will be free for attendees and transport bursaries will be offered to exceptional candidates in an extra attempt to attract as diverse a cohort as possible. This will be achievable as the likes of Shazam, which was valued at $1bn in January following a $30m investment, has backed Young Founders.
Andrew Fisher, chairman of Shazam, said We are delighted to support Young Founders which will not only encourage more young entrepreneurs to start their own companies but equip them with the knowledge and skills to build global businesses.
The aim of the programme is to encourage participants to view becoming an entrepreneur as a genuine career once they’ve secured the skills they need, while the workspace will make for a collaborative environment with likeminded peers.
Read more on the skills gap:
- SMEs need to do more to beat youth unemployment
- From roofing apprentice to British Chambers of Commerce president
- Richard Branson: Businesses will fall behind if students leave school without vital digital skills
Ed Hardy and Kit Logan, co-founders of the programme, added: Young Founders was born out of the problem of high tuition fees as it means students increasingly care about two metrics the percentage who are employed after six months and what they’re going to be earning.
Young Founders are advocates of studying for a university degree but not advocates of the careers that dont reflect the skills and potential of graduates. Students often choose traditional routes that represent little risk and, for the tech sector at least, represent a significant under utilisation of human capital.
