11 October 2023
BeChangeMaker is an online entrepreneurship training program created by WorldSkills International and the HP Foundation to offer people aged 18–35 a chance to develop their potential as social entrepreneurs.
At this year’s exciting live final, five BeChangeMaker teams pitched their social business ideas in front a panel of judges and more than 300 delegates at the WorldSkills General Assembly Dublin 2023, with a global audience watching online.
During the final, each team had five minutes to present their business plan and show their commitment to creating a more sustainable world. The judges evaluated each idea based on relevance and innovation, scalability and impact, and the team’s pitching and presentation.
Reyhan and Bahar Ramazanova—the sisters behind Altogether—made a strong impression on the judges and were awarded a well-deserved first place. The sisters from Azerbaijan are developing an accessible justice mobile application and service. Their long-term aim is to improve the lives of people with disabilities, as well as raise awareness about disability rights and improve inclusion within businesses and industries in their country and across the world.
“We are confident that BeChangeMaker 2023 is going to open many global opportunities for us, help us find new partners, and support us to scale more easily,”
Bahar Ramazanova
During the three-month program, Altogether and the other 29 participating teams had access to coaching, tools, and resources, including the HP Foundation’s free online IT and business skills training program, HP LIFE, to help them develop their business acumen and get their fledgling enterprises off the ground.
Sixty HP employees volunteered as mentors, providing invaluable real-word expertise to help the teams hone their business ideas and improve their pitches. Another 10 employees volunteered as judges.
HP employees Matteo and Marie-Francine mentored the Altogether team. “I decided to be part of the BeChangeMaker program because I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my skills and abilities with young entrepreneurs. I got a lot out of it.” said Matteo. Marie-Francine echoed Matteo’s sentiments adding, “It made me feel proud that, as an HP employee, I get the chance to dedicate time to helping young entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone.”
Altogether was one of five teams who took part in the BeChangeMaker final. Second place went to Medvax Health from Nigeria, a mobile application developed by two pharmacists to provide patients with swift access to safe medication at affordable prices. Third place was awarded to I Hear U from Mexico, a digital platform and online community designed to offer affordable mental healthcare across Latin America. Runners up were Bluecrops from Colombia with an idea to reduce the use of chemical agents in agriculture, and Ecojoy from Taiwan which is working to develop an online platform to exchange or share pre-loved children’s toys.
The top five teams will receive EUR 1,000 worth of post-program coaching, and the top three teams will receive an additional EUR 2,000 to develop their ideas further.
About BeChangeMaker
BeChangeMaker is an online social entrepreneurship training program created by WorldSkills International and the HP Foundation. It offers people ages 18–35 a chance to develop their potential as social entrepreneurs. The program has attracted more than 3,000 applications and supported 280 teams since 2017, giving them access to high-quality learning content on HP LIFE, dedicated coaching, mentoring, and customized support. In 2023, 572 teams applied from 87 countries.