Youth Ecopreneur Programme 2026/2027: Global Opportunities for Young Green Entrepreneurs ( Capital Seed up $10,000)
Welcome to the Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) , implemented by ITC’s Ye! Community and the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD, where passionate young innovators drive the future of green business! What started as just an awards program has now grown into the Youth Ecopreneur Programme and in 2025, we received over 1500 applications from over 100 countries, showcasing incredible talent in Land Restoration and Green Business Solutions.
Join our vibrant community today, apply now, and be part of shaping a more sustainable future!
Youth is defined as individuals aged 15 to 35
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme
The YECO Programme is built for youth entrepreneurs under the age of 35 who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs.
We’re looking for passionate innovators with a clear understanding of the environmental challenges they tackle and scalable solutions ready for acceleration.
Who we are ?
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) is a global accelerator that powers the green and just transition by investing in young entrepreneurs as catalysts for sustainable development, environmental justice, and climate action advocacy. The project seeks to enhance the competitiveness and scale of youth-led green businesses, with a strong focus on land restoration.
Through a Global Bootcamp, Accelerator, and Youth Ecopreneur Awards, it provides comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, and financial support, to youth-led green businesses.
The programme is powered by the ITC and the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD in partnership with WIPO, Sidley Austin LLP, and Google Startup for Sustainable Development. The five-year programme is designed as a multi-stakeholder initiative that allows ITC projects and partners to opt-in, leveraging and scaling within the existing structure. The acceleration program onboards new participants every year.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant must be:
- Must be under the age of 35 (by the application deadline)
- Must be Founder, Co-Founder or CEO
Eligible businesses must be:
- Legally registered and majority-run by a young person
- The bootcamp is open globally, the accelerator is reserved for eligible countries – see the list here
- Focused on Land Restoration or Green Business solutions
The programme consists of a:
- Global Bootcamp to kickstart your journey with dynamic training and e-learning.
- Global Accelerator to get personalized coaching, mentorship, and masterclasses to take your sustainable solutions to the next level.
- Youth Ecopreneur Awards to showcase your solutions on a global stage.
- Scale and Impact Phase to help you grow your business and expand your impact.
Programme Benefits
- Capacity-building for scaling your venture
- Seed Funding (shared pool of $100,000 USD for the land-restoration cohort in total, 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)
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Interested and Qualified candidates should use link below to apply.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Youth Ecopreneur Timeline
Am I Eligible?
Businesses must be:
Founded and led by youth under 35 (Founder, Co-Founder, or CEO)
Legally registered and fall under one of two 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
Eligibility Criteria
YECO Application Tracks
Applicants can apply through one of two tracks: Regular Track or Fast Track.
Regular Track
The Regular Track is designed for early-stage businesses, typically from pre-seed to early revenue stage.
Selected applicants will first participate in the 10-week YECO Bootcamp, where they will develop key areas of their business, refine their model, and prepare for the next stage of the programme.
Fast-Track Option
Fast Track is designed for growth-stage businesses, typically at seed stage or beyond.
They already have:
- paying customers,
- recurring or growing revenue,
- a full-time team,
- demonstrated market demand,
- and a proven business model.
Businesses should be actively preparing to raise investment, expand into new markets, grow their customer base, or scale their operations.
Fast Track is not intended for early-stage businesses, businesses still validating their solution, or applicants without demonstrated traction.
- Selected Fast Track applicants will skip the 10-week Bootcamp and enter the YECO Accelerator directly.
Applicants will therefore be assessed against a higher standard and must provide additional information on their traction, financial readiness, expansion plans and partnerships, as well as submit a short pitch video.
Track Options
Selection Criteria
We will take the following criteria into account:
- Business Model: The viability, coherence, and potential for profit and growth of your business idea.
- Impact/Sustainability Assessment: The environmental and social impacts of your project, including its contribution to sustainability goals.
- Market Assessment: Understanding of the target market, customer needs, and potential for market penetration and expansion.
- Team: The skills, experience, and roles within your team that support the success of your business.
selection Criteria
Stages of Youth Ecopreneur Programme
Upon completion of each phase, the most promising ecopreneurs will progress to the next one.
Global Bootcamp
YECO initiates with a foundational phase aimed at bolstering the skills of 225 ecopreneurs (200 Land Restoration and 25 Green Business Solutions ). This stage offers extensive capacity-building through engaging training, masterclasses, and exchanges within a worldwide network of peers committed to sustainability. Participants will delve into a series of masterclasses covering vital topics such as enhancing Business Plans, Intellectual Property (IP) rights, Soft & Social Skills, understanding Standards & Voluntary Standards, Marketing & Social Media strategies, Legal considerations, Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Stress management and effective Pitching techniques. The program features rigorous online courses leading to certification and taps into the Ye! Community for mentorship, ensuring both global cohesion and local relevance.
Global Accelerator
25 ecopreneurs (20 Land Restoration and 5 Green Business Solutions) from the Bootcamp advance to the Accelerator stage, an intensive phase where they receive advanced support to scale their ventures. This phase offers specialized masterclasses, seed capital (for land restoration category), and personalized mentorship, along with access to a network of financiers and IP experts. Tailored to address unique startup needs, this stage includes an assessment of business maturity and readiness for international expansion, ensuring a targeted and impactful growth trajectory for each participant. Entrepreneurs benefit from global and regional collaborative exchanges, fostering deep connections across the Ye! Community and beyond, with the potential for in-person meetups to enhance the experience. Successful completion opens the door to competing for the Youth Ecopreneur Awards.
Awards
6 finalists showcase their innovative solutions at an International Conference, receiving bespoke training and pitch coaching tailored to their needs. This critical stage features a live pitch session before a panel of industry experts. 2 winners (1 Land Restoration and 1 Green Business Solutions) are rewarded with monetary prizes and special recognitions, earning the distinction as Youth Ecopreneur Awards Winners in their respective categories, spotlighting them as pioneers in the realm of sustainable entrepreneurship.
Scale and Impact
YECO participants transition into a vital phase of continued growth and networking. This period focuses on offering coaching and facilitating their participation in high-level events or relevant sustainable events and trade fairs, aiming to bolster their visibility and connect them with key stakeholders in the green entrepreneurship ecosystem. Additionally, they are integrated into the Alumni Community, providing a platform for peer learning, collaboration, and leveraging the collective experiences and successes of previous cohorts to inspire and guide their entrepreneurial journey.
