Elliot Costello is a social entrepreneur who, in 2008, co-founded YGAP.
To date, YGAP has significantly and measurably improved the lives of over 580,000 people living in poverty.
YGAP finds and supports impact entrepreneurs in some of the world’s toughest communities with a belief that local leaders have the solutions to local problems. To date, YGAP has backed 398 early-stage impact ventures.
YGAP raises funds through an entrepreneurial approach; owning and running profitable social venture and running innovative global fundraising campaigns.
In 2014, Elliot launched the Polished Man Campaign. The campaign asks men and women to paint one fingernail during the month of October to represent the one child that dies every five minutes as a result of violence. The Campaign has seen the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Kelly Slater and even the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull paint their finger nails. To date, an incredible $3.2 million has been raised.
Elliot has been invited to speak at the United Nations (UN) in New York and at several UN and leading social enterprise conferences across Europe, Middle East and Asia. He is a leading voice on youth issues, social entrepreneurship and innovative fundraising in Australia.