Elliot Costello – Entrepreneurs, Volunteering and Existentialism

Welcome to Episode 6 of Good Will Hunters! On the show this week we have Elliot Costello, the Co-Founder and Former CEO of YGAP. In this episode, Elliot and I chat about investing in entrepreneurs, why more not-for-profits should consider merging, the value of volunteering and where YGAP might be by 2028.

Since its inception, YGAP has invested in 397 impact entrepreneurs, on the basis that investing in local people is the most effective way to create impactful change in a community. The entrepreneurs receive ongoing guidance, and YGAP is there as a beacon of support, through success or failure. YGAP’s success throughout African and Asian countries has earned them a reputation of being true innovators and game-changers in the Australian development landscape. As always, we’d love to hear your feedback on this episode!

Also, check out this article for the Lowy Interpreter on the topic of entrepreneurship and the informal economy: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/aid-and-new-face-entrepreneurship

4:05 – Identifying the ‘Impact Entrepreneur’
6:18 – YGAP’s ten year journey
11:23 – Brand, Board and Ego
15:34 – Asking the existential questions
17:30 – Development ideologies
24:49 – The value of volunteering
27:56 – Working in the Pacific
31:04 – Entrepreneurship and the Informal Economy
34:34 – Successes in the sector
38:30 – YGAP by 2028?

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