Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs to Build Sustainable Green Businesses
Overview
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme is an international initiative created to support young entrepreneurs who are building innovative businesses focused on environmental sustainability, climate action, and a greener global economy. Implemented by the International Trade Centre through its Ye! Community in partnership with the G20 Global Land Initiative and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the programme helps turn innovative concepts into commercially viable enterprises that deliver both economic opportunities and positive environmental impact.
The initiative has grown from an awards scheme into a comprehensive development programme offering training, acceleration, mentorship, funding access, and international exposure. It operates through three main intervention areas: empowering youth-led green business solutions with a focus on land restoration and climate resilience, strengthening the business support ecosystem for young ecopreneurs, and advocating for an inclusive transition at international environmental forums.
Who can apply
Applicants must be under the age of 35 by the application deadline and must serve as the founder, co-founder, or Chief Executive Officer of their enterprise. The business must be legally registered and majority-run by a young person who demonstrates a clear understanding of the environmental challenges being tackled. Candidates are required to present an innovative and scalable business solution centered on land restoration or green business development.
While participation in the global bootcamp is open globally, eligibility for the accelerator phase is restricted to businesses originating from specific countries outlined in the official eligibility list.
What you get
Participants gain capacity-building support, personalized coaching, mentorship, and legal guidance to strengthen their operations. The initiative includes intellectual property coaching through the World Intellectual Property Organization, preferential access to pro bono legal services from Sidley Austin, preferential access to Google's Startups for Sustainable Development Programme, and individual coaching sessions with experts from Ernst & Young.
The programme also provides access to a shared seed funding pool of USD 100,000 for the land-restoration cohort without equity requirements, an opportunity to win USD 10,000 in prize money per category, and all-expenses-paid participation in an international conference for award finalists.
How to apply
Eligible entrepreneurs can submit applications for the 2026/27 cycle to join the international network of sustainability-driven business leaders. The application process initiates participation in a structured pathway that begins with a global bootcamp featuring interactive training sessions and e-learning, followed by specialized accelerator opportunities for selected eligible enterprises.