Step forward entrepreneurs, our everyday heroes

He started his business three years ago with the aim of empowering as many people as possible to step into the mobile era by making app creation as simple as possible. He now has two employees, works with three outside contractors and has reduced app development time from weeks to hours.

The reality is that we need more entrepreneurs like Sebastian with his innovation, passion and creativity.

I have so much respect for the innovators like him, who started his business believing that he could build a product that would fundamentally change the dynamics of a market.

This is a fantastic mindset to have and one that I hope to see more of in the coming weeks and months. These are trying times and it is apparent that we need to take matters into our own hands to ensure that we can get back on our feet, not only in this country but all over the world.

And the way forward? Back the entrepreneurs who change things by creating new ideas, new jobs and wealth to help us overcome this financial crisis.

This week, Sebastian’s business journey was played out and dissected on screen to entrepreneurs around the world at the launch of Small Giants, a live streamed global business advice show.

The show aimed to provide budding business owners worldwide with the skills and support required to launch a successful enterprise.

Thanks to the support of leading welfare-to-work specialists A4e, Sebastian’s story was explored along with that of Mike Barrow, founder of Costaflores winery in Argentina, and Kelly Currie, founder of Be-Envied Bridal studio, a bespoke clothing design studio that creates one-of-a-kind wedding gowns in Doncaster.  

But this was not a show of distant observation. We coached the three businesses to achieve fast growth live on stage and in doing so hoped to provide those watching around the world with inspiration and practical advice.

The fact that the programme was first beamed around the globe from the One Young World summit is no coincidence.

This powerful global youth platform for future leaders will this week bring together 1,200 delegates primarily aged under 25, from over 170 countries worldwide - the all-important next generation that holds the power to change the world.

The summit is supported by an outstanding roster of counsellors including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof and Muhammad Yunus, and is the brainchild of David Jones, Global CEO of Havas, and Kate Robertson, UK Group Chairman of Euro RSCG.

With Small Giants, I wanted to help empower delegates at the summit and all over the world to become the next generation of entrepreneurs. It’s an ambitious feat but I’m hoping that we went some way to accomplishing it.

See for yourself: Watch how the show unfolded at www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/smallgiants

Doug Richard is the founder of School for Startups.