The social entrepreneurs from Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan encouraged the entrepreneurs to be flexible in their business models during the time of the crisis for the sustainability of their businesses. In the first online session of “Impact Venture” dialogue organized by UNDP on 3 September, they discussed  how they turned COVID challenges into business opportunities and how they adjust their business models.

Addressing the event, UN Resident Coordinator of Thailand, Gita Sabharwal said, "Social Entrepreneurs are critical to our response and recovery from the COVID crisis as they help solve market gaps by serving excluded and vulnerable populations which are most at risk to impacts of the pandemic."

Daichi Konuma, Co-Founder and CEO of Cross Fields from Japan, shared that his enterprise's model of working together with social, private and public sectors helped to solve problems during the crisis and also emphasized on this kind of partnership.

Sanon Wangsrangboon, Founder of Satarana from Thailand talked about his enterprise “Locall” a marketplace and delivery platform for local products, and requested all entrepreneurs to be positive and focused on the need of the people during the crisis.

Stephanie Dickson, Founder and CEO of Green Is The New Black from Singapore talked about how she applied digital technology to expand her customer base and audience for her media and event platform.

Though, Amuse Travel has been harshly hit by COVID 19, Director of Management and Planning Team, Gilbok Lee, shared how he continued hiring employees during the pandemic and shifts the enterprise's focus to engage more with the government and Korea Tourism Organization to operate tours for the underserved population.

Stay tuned for our second session which will be cross sectoral collaboration to support social entrepreneurs to scale up their business and impact.

Check out facebook live of the event: