Deadline: September 14, 2025
Are you a young entrepreneur building climate-smart solutions or restoring degraded land? The Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme (YECO) 2025 is now open for applications! This flagship initiative by the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the G20 Global Land Initiative and other collaborators, provides a powerful platform for young ecopreneurs to scale their ideas, access funding, and gain global recognition.
YECO 2025 is more than a competition—it’s a year-long accelerator that nurtures youth-led businesses at the intersection of climate, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re addressing land degradation, promoting circular economies, or driving innovation in clean technology, this programme can help turn your vision into global impact.
What is the Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme (YECO) 2025?
The Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme (YECO) 2025 is a global initiative designed to support entrepreneurs aged 34 or younger who are leading youth-driven enterprises with a clear focus on:
- Land Restoration – e.g., reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, agroforestry, or soil recovery.
- Green Business Solutions – e.g., clean tech, sustainable agriculture, circular economy models, waste-to-energy, etc.
The programme aims to identify, elevate, and invest in youth-led climate solutions—especially those with measurable ecological and social outcomes.
Application Deadline
- Deadline: 14 September 2025
- Eligible Entrepreneurs: Founders, co-founders, or CEOs of youth-led registered businesses
- Geographic Scope: Global (some benefits are region-specific)
What You’ll Get if Selected
1. Global Virtual Bootcamp
Open to all successful applicants, the Bootcamp offers:
- Masterclasses by global experts
- Peer-to-peer exchanges
- Tools for refining your business model and impact metrics
2. Accelerator Phase (for eligible countries)
Select participants will benefit from:
- Personalised coaching
- Investor matchmaking
- Equity-free seed funding of up to $100,000 (especially for land-restoration ventures)
- Connection to the Google Startups for Sustainable Development network
3. Legal and IP Support
- Free legal advisory from Sidley Austin
- IP mentorship through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
4. Global Recognition through the Youth Ecopreneur Awards
Finalists will receive:
- An all-expenses-paid trip to an international climate conference
- Pitch training and tailored support
- A chance to win a $10,000 cash prize in each category
Why Apply for YECO 2025?
The YECO platform has a proven track record. In 2024, the programme received over 850 applications from 100+ countries, and many participants have since gone on to raise significant funding, form strategic partnerships, and participate in global forums like COP16.
YECO 2025 offers:
- Visibility – through the Ye! Community and international platforms
- Support – from investors, experts, and a strong alumni network
- Funding – non-dilutive capital for scaling land and climate-based ventures
- Belonging – access to a like-minded global network of changemakers
Are You Eligible?
You can apply if:
- You are aged 18–34 as of 14 September 2025
- You are the founder/co-founder/CEO of a legally registered business
- Your enterprise is youth-led
- Your solution contributes to land restoration or broader green business solutions
Ready to Take the Leap?
This is your chance to join a global movement of young leaders rethinking business as a force for ecological regeneration. Whether you’re planting trees or designing sustainable packaging, the Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme (YECO) 2025 could be the accelerator that launches your business to the next level.
Useful Links
📩 For help with proposal drafting, refining, or review, contact grantsdatabase.org.
