Announcement

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Youth Break the Boundaries (YBB Foundation) officially concluded the World Youth Festival 2025 on October 9, marking a significant milestone in its mission to empower young leaders from around the world. The festival created a dynamic space where hundreds of international delegates gathered to learn, collaborate, and build meaningful networks.

Held from October 6–9, 2025, the festival carried the theme “Unlock Your Full Potential”. It reflected the organizers’ commitment to motivating youth to step forward, embrace challenges, and maximize their abilities.

The festival served as a platform for delegates to present business ideas, engage in meaningful discussions about global issues, and connect directly with experts who are shaping the future of leadership and entrepreneurship. Every moment of the program was designed to encourage real, lasting impact among the participants.

One of the most anticipated parts of the World Youth Festival 2025 was the lineup of international speakers who delivered strategic insights and valuable experiences. Each speaker contributed perspectives that aligned with the challenges and opportunities faced by youth today.

Redza Shahid, Assistant Director at ASBhive (Asia School of Business)

Redza Shahid brought an analytical yet practical perspective on Malaysia’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem. He mapped out the journey of early-stage entrepreneurs, beginning from ideation to incubation, and highlighted the support structures available in Malaysia, including ASBhive’s innovation labs.

Former President of CSED (Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development) also explained the behavioral traits that differentiate successful founders, such as consistent experimentation, the willingness to pivot, and the discipline to validate ideas. His presentation was filled with examples from startups in Malaysia, like Group Cycle, giving a clear picture of how youth-led innovation is transforming Southeast Asia.

Redza also encouraged young leaders to take small and consistent steps, noting that sustainable innovation grows from ecosystems that value collaboration and long-term vision.

Aidiel Mat Isa, Head of Partnerships at Pandai, a YC-backed EdTech startup valued at USD 15 million

Aidiel delivered one of the most technical and insightful sessions of the festival. As part of an EdTech platform backed by Y Combinator, he explained how Pandai scaled from a local initiative into a global-ready digital education startup valued at USD 15 million.

Alumni of Universiti Sains Malaysia broke down the process of raising capital, from preparing pitch decks to understanding investor behavior. Aidiel shared his first-hand experience working with international venture capital networks and how startups can survive early financial challenges.

Aidiel also highlighted the power of data-driven decision-making. He encouraged all young leaders to adopt analytical thinking when building products or designing solutions. According to him, youth-led projects succeed when they balance creativity, measurable strategy, and strong collaboration.

Nurfarini Daing, Co-founder and CEO of Youth Trust Foundation (myHarapan)

Nurfarini provided a deeply human and socially driven perspective. She introduced myHarapan’s mission to empower Malaysian youth through sustainable community programs and social entrepreneurship training.

Her session explored how social enterprises operate, the challenges they face, and why community impact is essential in today’s leadership landscape. She shared case studies of young founders supported by myHarapan who managed to build projects that solve real societal issues.

Nurfarini emphasized empathy, inclusivity, and community-centered innovation. She has encouraged youth leaders to design solutions that focus not only on profit but also on long-term social transformation.

Fachru Nurul Umam, PhD candidate at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Co-founder of Ayam Gepuk Top Global

Fachru delivered an inspiring narrative combining business experience, academic insight, and personal values. As a young entrepreneur who managed to grow a food business into a recognized brand, he explained the fundamentals of building a scalable franchise model.

The PHD candidate at IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IliBF) also shared how his research in Islamic finance influences his approach to ethical business management. He demonstrated how principles such as fairness, transparency, and social responsibility can coexist with commercial success.

Fachru encouraged the delegates to build a career that reflects their personal identity. He reminded participants that entrepreneurship is not only about profit but also about purpose, discipline, and the courage to evolve.

Amirul Haiqal, representative of Global Future Leaders Malaysia and Member of the Selangor Youth State Legislative Assembly

Amirul offered a governmental and policy-driven perspective. His session gave delegates an inside view of youth participation in public decision-making and the importance of representation at the state level.

The Selangor Youth Member of State Legislative Assembly explained how policies are developed, debated, and implemented, breaking down a process that often feels distant to young people. Amirul highlighted real examples of youth policies in Selangor that have created tangible community impact.

His session encouraged youth leaders to consider roles in public governance, showing that youth perspectives are critical for creating inclusive and future-ready societies.

Each speaker brought a unique perspective, but they all shared one common goal: to inspire youth delegates to keep learning, exploring, and taking bold steps. The combination of ideas, experiences, and discussions throughout the festival proved that young people hold significant roles in shaping the future.

The festival served as an intensive learning platform for hundreds of delegates in attendance.

They not only gained insights from international speakers but also connected directly with founders, policymakers, industry practitioners, and expert judges who provided objective evaluations throughout the business competition.

The combination of diverse perspectives, real-world case studies, hands-on mentoring, and competitive challenges demonstrated that young people hold a vital role in shaping a progressive and sustainable future.

Muhammad Aldi Subakti, Chairman of the World Youth Festival 2025, expressed his appreciation to all delegates and international partners. “The World Youth Festival 2025 is not just a competition—it is a transformative journey to shape young leaders who are courageous, innovative, and ready to take action. We believe the delegates will return home with new insights and renewed confidence to create meaningful change within their communities.”