8,000 Young Entrepreneurs Gather at Inaugural ASEAN Summit in Manila

More than 8,000 young entrepreneurs, students, business leaders and policymakers filled the SM Mall of Asia Arena for the inaugural ASEAN Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2026, an event built to shape Southeast Asia's next generation of business owners. The summit, held in Manila, launched the ASEAN Youth Entrepreneurship Action Agenda, a plan outlining eight recommendations to strengthen support for youth-led businesses across the region.

SM Cares, the Global Peace Foundation Philippines and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines organized the gathering. The event aligns with SM's advocacy of turning its commercial spaces into venues that equip and educate young people for nation-building, the organizers said.

What did SM's leadership say?

Royston Cabuñag, program director for SM Cares and youth lead for SM for MSMEs, framed the company's role in concrete terms. "Young entrepreneurs have so much potential, and part of empowering them is making sure they have opportunities to turn their ideas into something tangible. Through SM for MSME's programs, we aim to provide entrepreneurs with spaces to showcase their products, connect with real customers and learn what it takes to grow," Cabuñag said.

He added that the experience delivers more than revenue. "These experiences give them more than sales, they offer valuable insights, practical experience and the confidence to keep improving," Cabuñag said.

Why does experience come first?

ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chairman Joey Concepcion told aspiring entrepreneurs to work before they launch. "Take a job first, get experience, make the mistakes in the company you're working for," he said. He also reminded the audience that employment can lead to leadership positions and company ownership.

Hanna Carinna Sy, senior assistant vice president for marketing and leasing at SM Supermalls, pushed a similar line on starting small: entrepreneurship doesn't need a groundbreaking idea, only the courage to fix something that could work better. With the right support, even small ideas can create opportunities for businesses and communities, she said.

How should young founders find mentors?

Speakers repeatedly returned to mentorship. Anna Magalona-Go, founder and CEO of But First Coffee, told attendees to find a mentor from day one. Andrew Chan, founder of Singapore's LoomWorks Studio, advised seeking mentors who are cycles ahead and learning how they scaled through people, processes and technology.

Tran Thai Binh, co-founder of Vietnam's Green Beli Farm, offered a lesson in patience: "Trees don't grow overnight." Growth takes consistent effort and backers who believe in the venture, he said.

Cabuñag connected mentorship to networks. "Entrepreneurs don't grow in isolation," he said. "By building connections with malls and marketplaces, government agencies, business groups, mentors, established companies, fellow entrepreneurs and ASEAN networks, young business owners can learn from others, discover new opportunities and find the support they need to take their businesses to the next level."

Does youth participation go beyond a voice?

Nora Terrado, senior adviser for women at ASEAN-BAC Philippines, challenged business and government leaders to give young people real decision-making roles rather than simply asking their opinion. "Cooperation means being an active participant of that conversation," she said. She also stressed teaching accountability, pairing any seat at the table with ownership of the responsibilities that come with it.

Why look beyond the Philippines?

Southeast Asia counts nearly 700 million people, and digital tools have made regional expansion far more accessible for micro, small and medium enterprises, speakers noted. Ernesto Tanmantiong, global president and CEO of Jollibee Group, shared lessons from building a global Filipino brand and distilled them into one message: "Dream big, dream global, start local."

Sy echoed the regional ambition. "The challenges we face today go beyond borders. Our ideas and solutions can too," she said. The eight recommendations in the Action Agenda were developed from young entrepreneurs' own perspectives, according to the organizers.

What did participants take away?

Attendees focused on resilience. One participant, @EiansOptimist, wrote: "Along the way, failure is inevitable, but every failure is also a chance to learn, grow, and become better." Another, @kerusen, called practical optimism "the foundation of sustainable progress," pairing a hardworking mindset with the patience to build foundational experience first.

For SM Cares, the goal of AYES 2026 is straightforward: a next generation that doesn't just chase ambition but creates opportunities and contributes meaningfully to its communities.