ITC Ye! Youth Ecopreneur Programme 2025

The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) is a global accelerator aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs to drive sustainable development, environmental justice, and climate action advocacy. This initiative focuses on enhancing the competitiveness and scalability of youth-led green businesses, with a special emphasis on land restoration.

📝 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 25, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 14, 2025
• Category:
  • Training
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Women
  • Fully Funded
  • Grants
  • Persons with Disabilities

🌟 About Ye! Youth Ecopreneur

The programme is powered by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD, in partnership with WIPO, Sidley Austin LLP, and Google Startup for Sustainable Development.

This five-year, multi-stakeholder initiative provides:

• A Global Bootcamp
• An Accelerator
• The Youth Ecopreneur Awards

Participants receive comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, and financial assistance. The programme onboards new participants every year, allowing for scalability and collaboration with ITC projects and partners.

🎁 Benefits of Ye! Youth Ecopreneur

Participants in the programme will receive:

• Capacity-building for scaling their ventures
• Seed Funding: $100,000 USD for the land-restoration cohort (equity-free)
• Access to a Global Network & Exposure
• Mentorship & Coaching
• Legal and IP Guidance
• Preferential access to:
  • Pro-Bono Legal Services from Sidley Austin
  • Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
• All-Expenses-Paid Trip to an International Conference for Award Finalists
• Youth Ecopreneur Award: $10,000 USD prize money (1 award per category)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Business Requirements:

• Must be founded and led by youth under 35 (Founder, Co-Founder, or CEO)
• Must be legally registered and fall under one of the following tracks:
  • Land Restoration (e.g., reforestation, soil rehabilitation)
  • Green & Circular Economy (e.g., renewable energy, waste innovation)

Strongly Encouraged to Apply:

• Female entrepreneurs
• Founders from LDCs, SIDS, and landlocked countries
• Persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: September 14, 2025
• Interested applicants can apply through the official Ye! Youth Ecopreneur application portal.

🌐 Sponsor Organisation

This programme is sponsored by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

For more details, visit the Ye! Youth Ecopreneur page.

Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to scale your green business and make a lasting impact on sustainable development! 🌱

• Capacity-building for scaling your venture
• Seed Funding ($100,000 USD for the land-restoration cohort, equity free)
• Access to a Global Network & Exposure
• Mentorship & Coaching
• Legal and IP Guidance
• Preferential access to Pro-Bono Legal Services from Sidley Austin
• Preferential access to the Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
• All-Expenses-Paid Trip to International Conference for Award Finalists
• Win the Youth Ecopreneur Award and get 10,000 USD prize money (1 Award per category)