Business Support
Yulia Kim: FSI is the Ambassador of Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
We caught up with Yulia Kim to find out how our Mentorship Program helped her grow her sustainable floral business and herself.
April 2, 2025
Community Business Support
Supporting Hong Kong’s social and underrepresented entrepreneurs to grow and scale
Community business support is core to the work we do at FSI. In fact, it is what led to the founding of FSI – to facilitate broad cross-sector collaboration and free sharing of knowledge, resources, and information to help social entrepreneurs who share a vision of a better tomorrow reach their full potential.
Through our Community Business Support Program, we work with Hong Kong entrepreneurs, particularly those from disadvantaged ethnic minorities, to build their capacity and scope not just as businesses but as community leaders.
Our Initiatives
GuideFong
Find and support Hong Kong's grassroots businesses founded and owned by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs
Deriving its name from the Cantonese word gaai1fong1, which means “a neighbor” or “a friend in the community”, Project GuideFong serves as a bridge between the small businesses and the local community, allowing the public to explore and engage with not just the businesses but also the entrepreneurs behind the scene.
In addition to Hong Kong’s first-ever online directory dedicated to ethnically diverse businesses, our Project GuideFong also organizes regular GuideFong Tours to connect youth and other members of the public with ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, and we conduct regular outreach activities to gauge the business bottlenecks facing these entrepreneurs and offer bespoke direct business support accordingly.
Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
Nurturing successful entrepreneurs through capacity building and cross-sector collaboration
A six-month program designed and implemented by FSI to nurture aspiring and budding entrepreneurs by matching them with mentors and ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coaches for professional and personal development. The Mentorship Program trains mentee and mentor entrepreneurs through a series of workshops, seminars, and tailored business support.
Direct Business Support
Fostering long-term development and growth for under-resourced entrepreneurs through bespoke support
We help our partners reach their full potential and scale social impact by utilizing affordable but scalable technology solutions. Our direct business support services include:
- Consulting and Capacity Building
- Incorporation and Company Structuring
- Impact Assessment and Reporting
- Automation and Digital Solutions
- Website Building
- Communications and Media Outreach
- Marketing and Branding
Entrepreneur's Toolkit
Helping Hong Kong’s entrepreneurs navigate everyday business matters
A rich library of guides and templates curated by the FSI team, our Impact Lab Course interns, and our network of subject matter experts to help any entrepreneurs, especially those in Hong Kong, navigate everyday business matters. Topics covered include law, incorporation, accounting, marketing, team management, and more.
Community Building
Building a reciprocal, compassionate community to support Hong Kong’s under-resourced entrepreneurs
We build, manage, and organize a thriving community where members can find the support they need while cheering on others, share learning from successes and failures, bounce ideas off each other in a safe environment, and collectively create greater shared impact to build a more resilient and sustainable society.
"Coming from an ethnic minority community, you'd want to give up. It's very overwhelming, and everybody's like, 'You shouldn't be doing this, you're never going to make it. So having someone say, 'Come on, you've got this. Just try your best.' That's what this program is. Vivian and Dani constantly supported us (mentors) with tools. Their support is unparalleled to anything I've experienced."
Jhanvi Panjabi
Mentor of FSI’s 2023-24 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
"Any startup that really wants to make a mark should definitely consider joining FSI and the CBS community. We are a product-based company, and having a place where you could come and take product shots and have the right branding, is what I feel I can always rely on FSI for. With the continuous support from FSI, we’re able to make a name for ourselves in the startup community, one being getting to the top 30 Alibaba Jumpstarter Competition."
Lamia Sreya Rahman
Co-founder and COO of Seekr, mentee entrepreneur of FSI’s 2022-23 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
"Connecting mentors with mentees is the best favor you can do to an aspiring entrepreneur. In the early stages of entrepreneurship, all an aspiring entrepreneur requires is a helping hand, and FSI is able to provide that. So congratulations to FSI on being an enabler of entrepreneurship in many ways!"
Naman Tekriwal
Co-founder of Breer, mentor of FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs since 2022
“I entered FSI’s first Mentorship Program with nothing but hope for my own business and a vague idea of what I wanted to pursue. FSI provided me with knowledge, confidence, and a community to fuel my passion project. It allowed me to learn from fellow entrepreneurs at various stages, shaping my own business in the process. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a unique program.”
Mahum Shaikh
Mentee entrepreneur of FSI’s 2022-23 and 2023-24 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, partner of FSI’s Project GuideFong and Mentorship Program
“Working with the team at FSI has been an incredibly positive experience. I would absolutely recommend their services to other small- and medium-sized business owners. They are truly caring and have good intentions when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs like myself.”
Tess Karl Buah
Founder and Owner of Ghana Locals
“The team at FSI has been very helpful in supporting my business. I’m grateful to have the FSI team as a resource to turn to for any other questions or challenges. Their help has been invaluable in allowing me to focus on what I do best – providing excellent hair services to my clients.”
Nissar Abbas
Manager at Chakwal International Hair Salon
“If we didn’t join the Mentorship Program in 2022, the way we mature as business owners now would have been completely different. That’s why I usually introduce FSI to people as a way of giving back. The Mentorship Program doesn’t just benefit me and Aaron but also the whole team.”
Jerwine Que
Founder of The Blomstre, mentee entrepreneur of FSI’s 2022-23 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, mentor of FSI’s 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
participants of the Mentorship Program
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hours of direct business support provided
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early-stage entrepreneurs and businesses supported
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shared resources published in Entrepreneur’s Toolkit
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Our Partners
See our impact
Business Support
Senchu Chemjong: FSI is for Everyone Who Embraces Authenticity, Humanity, Community
Read our interview with Senchu Chemjong to find out how FSI helped this solo entrepreneur grow her business and herself personally.
April 1, 2025
Business Support
FSI Engaging HKIS to Build Tomorrow’s Leaders for an Inclusive Hong Kong
Find out how we engaged HKIS students to support ethnically diverse entrepreneurs while exposing them to the diversity of Hong Kong.
April 3, 2025
