Apply for the Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/2027 - UN-backed global accelerator with $100,000 seed funding pool & $10,000 awards.
Applications are officially open for the flagship Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/2027. Co-convened by the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its global Ye! Community and the G20 Global Land Initiative under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), this premier global acceleration program invests in young ecopreneurs spearheading the green and just transition worldwide.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and delivered in high-level partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Google for Startups (Startups for Sustainable Development), Sidley Austin LLP, and Ernst & Young (EY), YECO supports early-stage green ventures across two vital impact tracks: Land Restoration and Green Business Solutions.
Selected founders progress through a rigorous multi-stage acceleration journey: a 10-week Global Bootcamp for 225 ecopreneurs, a bespoke Global Accelerator for 25 high-potential ventures, and the culminating Youth Ecopreneur Awards. Participants gain access to a dedicated $100,000 USD equity-free seed funding pool for land restoration enterprises, $10,000 USD cash prizes for category winners, 1-on-1 business coaching from EY, pro bono legal counsel from Sidley Austin, IP strategy guidance from WIPO, Google Cloud credits, and all-expenses-paid international conference travel for shortlisted award finalists. Applications close on November 22, 2026.
Quick Facts - Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Convening Organizations | International Trade Centre (ITC / Ye! Community) & G20 Global Land Initiative (UNCCD) |
| Global Strategic Partners | WIPO, Google for Startups, Sidley Austin LLP, Ernst & Young (EY) |
| Host Location & Landmark | Geneva, Switzerland 🇨🇭 (Iconic Jet d'Eau, Lake Geneva & Snow-Capped Mont Blanc Alps) |
| Program Format | Global Virtual Bootcamp (225 founders) → Global Accelerator (25 businesses) → Awards Finals |
| Seed Funding Pool | $100,000 USD Equity-Free Seed Funding Pool for Land Restoration accelerator cohort |
| Award Prizes | $10,000 USD Cash Prize per winner at the global Youth Ecopreneur Awards |
| Finalist Travel Support | All-Expenses-Paid International Travel to pitch at a global sustainability conference |
| Target Candidates | Founders, co-founders, or CEOs under 35 years old running registered green businesses |
| Program Tracks | 1. Land Restoration · 2. Green Business Solutions |
| Key In-Kind Benefits | 1-on-1 coaching (EY), pro bono legal counsel (Sidley Austin), IP strategy (WIPO), Google credits |
| Application Fee | $0 (Completely Free to Apply) |
| Application Deadline | November 22, 2026 (23:59 CET) |
| Bootcamp Commencement | Week of December 14, 2026 |
| Official Gateway | Ye! Community Official YECO Application Portal |
About the International Trade Centre (ITC) & G20 Global Land Initiative
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint development agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations. Through its Ye! Community, ITC connects over 30,000 youth entrepreneurs worldwide with market access, trade technical assistance, and impact investors. The G20 Global Land Initiative, hosted by the UNCCD Executive Secretariat in Bonn and Geneva, works to reduce degraded land by 50% by 2040 by mobilizing youth-driven nature-based solutions and climate-resilient enterprise models.
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) bridges the critical "last-mile" finance and governance gap for green startups in developing economies, converting environmental passion into scalable, bankable, and legally resilient commercial enterprises.
Two Core Thematic Focus Tracks
Applicants must apply under one of the two specialized green innovation categories:
1. Land Restoration Track
Dedicated to ventures actively halting land degradation, rehabilitating natural ecosystems, and building climate resilience:
- Agroforestry & Regenerative Farming: Sustainable soil enhancement, crop diversification, organic bio-inputs, and regenerative agriculture systems.
- Reforestation & Afforestation: Native tree planting, mangrove conservation, drone-assisted seed dispersion, and community-led nursery development.
- Erosion Control & Watershed Management: Riparian buffer restoration, desertification barriers, terracing, and sustainable water catchment protection.
- Soil Rehabilitation & Mine Reclamation: Bioremediation, biochar production, organic composting, and post-extractive land restoration.
- Eligible for the dedicated $100,000 USD equity-free seed funding pool during the accelerator stage.
2. Green Business Solutions Track
Focused on scalable commercial technologies and circular business models driving the broader green transition:
- Renewable Energy & Clean Mobility: Decentralized solar microgrids, clean cooking solutions, electric light transport, and battery storage innovations.
- Circular Economy & Waste Upcycling: Plastic alternative materials, textile waste valorization, e-waste recovery, and organic biomass transformation.
- Eco-Friendly Packaging & Supply Chains: Biodegradable containers, green logistics optimization, and sustainable cold-chain technologies.
- Clean Water & Pollution Reduction: Industrial effluent treatment, rainwater harvesting hardware, and IoT-enabled ecological monitoring.
Comprehensive Program Benefits & Funding
- $100,000 USD Seed Funding Pool: Dedicated non-dilutive capital disbursed to selected land restoration startups in the Global Accelerator to scale operational pilots.
- $10,000 USD Cash Prizes: Awarded to top ecopreneurs at the global Youth Ecopreneur Awards pitching finale.
- All-Expenses-Paid International Travel: Finalists receive fully covered international round-trip airfare, hotel lodging, and per diems to pitch in-person at a major global sustainability forum.
- 10-Week Global Bootcamp: Comprehensive training covering investment readiness, export readiness, pitch deck refinement, and impact measurement for 225 selected founders.
- Global Accelerator (25 Ventures): Bespoke 360-degree business assessment, dedicated 1-on-1 executive coaching from EY, and direct introductions to global impact investors.
- Pro Bono Legal Counsel (Sidley Austin LLP): Specialized legal advisory on international contracts, term sheets, joint ventures, and corporate governance.
- Intellectual Property Strategy (WIPO): Direct consultation with the World Intellectual Property Organization to protect patents, green trademarks, and trade secrets.
- Google for Startups Privileges: Direct enrollment in Google's Startups for Sustainable Development, including Google Cloud credits, technical workshops, and mentorship.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the 2026/2027 Youth Ecopreneur Programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Age Requirement: The applicant must be under 35 years of age at the time of application submission.
- Leadership Role: You must be a founder, co-founder, or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the enterprise.
- Youth-Led Enterprise: The business must be majority-owned or fundamentally led by young people.
- Legal Registration: The enterprise must be formally registered with relevant national business registration authorities. (Unregistered conceptual ideas are not eligible).
- Environmental Focus: The enterprise’s primary core product, technology, or service must directly address environmental sustainability within Land Restoration or Green Business Solutions.
- Geographic Eligibility:
- Global Bootcamp: Open to eligible green founders from all countries globally (developed and developing nations).
- Global Accelerator & Awards: Primarily prioritized for startups registered and operating in developing countries, least-developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS).
- Inclusion Focus: Women entrepreneurs, indigenous innovators, and founders with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Required Application Documents
Founders should prepare the following materials before initiating the online application:
- Valid International Passport or National ID: Confirming age eligibility (under 35).
- Official Certificate of Business Registration: Proving legal incorporation.
- Comprehensive Business Pitch Deck (PDF): Outlining problem, green solution, business model, addressable market, verified traction, revenue metrics, and environmental KPIs.
- Short Motivational Video (For Fast-Track applicants): A concise video explaining your green mission and why your venture deserves selection.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Visit the official ITC Youth Ecopreneur Program Page and examine the program guidelines.
- Verify your eligibility under the Land Restoration or Green Business Solutions category.
- Access the official submission portal at Ye! Community YECO Application Portal.
- Fill out the founder profile, company metrics, environmental impact assessment, and growth strategy.
- Upload your Certificate of Incorporation, Pitch Deck, and founder verification documents.
- Submit your completed application ahead of the deadline on November 22, 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants will participate in virtual assessment interviews in early December 2026 prior to the Bootcamp launch on December 14, 2026.
Official Links & Application Gateway
Apply Now - Official Ye! Community YECO Application Portal
Official International Trade Centre (ITC) Program Portal
For questions regarding program guidelines or technical portal assistance, contact the Ye! Community team at ye@intracen.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - YECO 2026/2027
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on November 22, 2026 at 23:59 CET. Selected Bootcamp participants will be onboarded starting the week of December 14, 2026.
Is the $100,000 seed funding an individual grant?
No. The $100,000 USD is a collective equity-free seed funding pool allocated among selected top-performing land restoration enterprises within the Accelerator stage to fund strategic pilot deployments.
How much do Youth Ecopreneur Award winners receive?
Finalists pitch live before an international jury, with winning ecopreneurs in each category receiving a $10,000 USD cash prize, plus all-expenses-paid international conference travel.
Can early-stage ideas without legal registration apply?
No. YECO requires all participating enterprises to have formal, legal business registration in their respective countries at the time of application.
Do I have to give up equity in my company?
No. All financial awards and accelerator seed disbursements are 100% equity-free and non-dilutive. Founders retain complete ownership and intellectual property rights.
