About the opportunity
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), led by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Ye! Community in collaboration with G20 initiatives, is an accelerator and competition designed to scale youth-led environmental ventures. The initiative is structured into a Global Bootcamp offering training in investment readiness and legal/IP strategy, followed by an intensive Accelerator track providing bespoke 360-degree business assessments and corporate coaching. Participating ecopreneurs compete across two distinct thematic categories: Land Restoration and Green Business Solutions. Selected finalists receive pitch coaching and participate in international showcase events, with category winners securing cash prizes and seed capital.
Funding and benefits
- Participation in the Global Bootcamp featuring masterclasses on investment readiness, legal strategy, and IP guidance
- Bespoke 360-degree business assessment and personalized accelerator coaching
- One-on-one coaching sessions with industry experts from Ernst & Young (EY)
- Preferential access to the Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
- Preferential access to pro-bono legal support from Sidley Austin (subject to due diligence)
- Access to a $100,000 USD equity-free seed funding pool allocated for the land-restoration cohort
- Youth Ecopreneur Award prize money of $10,000 USD per winning category
- All-expenses-paid trip to an international conference for selected award finalists, including in-person pitch training
- Integration into the global Ye! Community alumni network, trade fair access, and investor exposure
Who can apply?
- Applicant must be under 35 years old by the application deadline
- Applicant must be a Founder, Co-Founder, or CEO of the venture
- The enterprise must be majority-run by young people
- The business must be legally registered
- The venture must address environmental sustainability, circularity, the green economy, or land restoration
- The Global Bootcamp accepts businesses worldwide; the Accelerator component is limited to eligible countries
Required documents
- Completed online application form via the Ye! Community platform
- Proof of legal business registration
- Venture pitch and business profile details addressing environmental impact and scalability
When to apply
- Application deadline: March 22, 2024
How to apply
- Review eligibility requirements and verify that your enterprise fits either the Land Restoration or Green Business Solutions track
- Create an account or log in on the Ye! Community social platform
- Complete and submit the official application form through the Ye! portal prior to the deadline
Additional information
- The Land Restoration category offers 200 spots and encompasses projects in reforestation, soil conservation, erosion control, agroforestry, river restoration, and related technologies
- The Green Business Solutions category offers 25 spots and includes circular economy models, renewable energy, sustainable materials, and waste reduction solutions
- Legal support services provided by Sidley Austin are subject to standard firm due diligence requirements
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Founders under 35 leading registered green ventures that have moved beyond ideation and seek corporate mentoring and investor readiness
- Early-stage ecopreneurs focused on land restoration who can directly benefit from dedicated equity-free seed funding
- Startups seeking top-tier corporate mentorship from organizations like Ernst & Young, Google, and Sidley Austin
What should you think carefully about?
- While the Global Bootcamp accepts participants internationally, the Accelerator phase is restricted to businesses registered in specific eligible countries
- The Green Business Solutions track is highly selective, offering only 25 spots across the entire global applicant pool
- Finalist travel is restricted to shortlisted award contenders rather than the broader accelerator cohort
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This program is well aligned with green founders seeking to validate their business models, sharpen their investor pitches, and gain direct access to international development agencies, legal advisors, and corporate mentors. It serves both early-stage teams needing structured bootcamp training and scaling ventures aiming for grant capital and international conference visibility.
Our take
Founders under 35 with registered environmental enterprises—particularly those in land rehabilitation or circular economy solutions—should strongly consider applying. It is less suitable for unregistered concepts or founders who cannot commit to an intensive virtual acceleration curriculum.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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