In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank chats to tech entrepreneur and education reformer, Billy Naveed. He reflects on his journey from growing up in the North of England, to moving to Asia and setting up Young Founders School.

They discuss the opportunity gap affecting young people today, the transformative potential of AI in learning, and what parents, schools and businesses can do to prepare the next generation for the future of work.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Billy Naveed, Founder & Chairman, Young Founders School

1. Billy says that millions of young people across Asia start life far behind their peers, despite having equal or greater potential.
2. He discusses how the education system is optimised for exams, not employability, and that by their mid-teens, many students have had their creativity, risk-taking, and entrepreneurial spirit stifled.
3. Billy believes that AI isn’t a threat and when used correctly, it could help level the playing field for underprivileged youth.
4. For him, hunger, curiosity, resilience, and creative thinking matter more than degrees or grades.
5. Billy argues that preparing children for the future of work requires collective action from parents, schools, and corporates.

01:30

Growing Up in Post-Industrial Britain

Billy reflects on his childhood in Burnley, where there was high unemployment and crime rates due to the decline of the manufacturing sector in the North of England.

03:00

The Accidental Beginning of a Coding Career

A gift from his father introduced Billy to coding and inspired a lifelong passion for technology.

He talks about how he began to sell his gaming creations to his classmates.

04:57

Becoming a 14-Year-Old Tech Entrepreneur

By building one of the world’s most visited visual basic forums, Billy says he unknowingly launched his first remote business.

06:35

Being Judged by Skills, Not Age

Billy explains how working on a major engineering project in his early teens taught him the value of merit-based work and influenced his approach to education and hiring.

08:34

Betting on Asia’s Rise

Billy talks about his move from the UK to Hong Kong, and how he was drawn by Asia’s economic momentum and energy.

09:50

The Spark Behind Young Founders School

He shares that by visiting underprivileged Hong Kong schools he was exposed to the gap between creativity and exam-driven education.

15:08

What Young Founders School Actually Does

Billy outlines YFS’s model and how its courses, mentorship, and virtual internships are designed to close this opportunity gap.

17:15

AI as a Copilot, Not a Crutch

He says YFS uses AI to scale impact, teach critical thinking and empower students, rather than to replace human creativity.

21:30

A Call to Action for Corporates and Educators

Billy believes that companies, governments, and parents must rethink how young people are being prepared for an AI-driven future of work.

25:35

Fire in the Belly

He wraps up by sharing YFS’s mission to reach one-million students by the 2030s and gifts a symbolic pin badge to Tank Talks Asia.

Useful links

https://www.youngfoundersschool.com/

https://riseconf.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnley

https://warwick.ac.uk/

Don’t miss out

We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a great guest or want to contact the team, please email:

[email protected]

And don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss the next episode of Tank Talks Asia.

Tank Talks Asia is an AsiaWorks production.