Impact Report 2025
As Youth Business International (YBI) celebrates its 25th anniversary, our 2025 Impact Report showcases the collective achievements of our global network and the young entrepreneurs we support. In 2025, we supported 277,879 young people to develop entrepreneurship skills, empowered 24,173 young people start a business, supported 58,320 entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses, and contributed to […]
Unlocking High-Growth Potential: The Case for Redirecting Capital to the Missing Middle
Unlocking High-Growth Potential: The Case for Redirecting Capital to the Missing Middle explores how millions of young entrepreneurs are being held back by a persistent gap in access to appropriate finance. This paper makes the case that investing in early-growth, “missing middle” businesses is one of the most effective ways to drive sustainable economic growth […]
Briefing paper: Empowering the future
This briefing paper calls on the UK government to harness the potential of young people by empowering them with the skills they need to start, grow and sustain a business. Highlighting in particular the current economic strains, Empowering the Future notes that by encouraging young people into entrepreneurship, we could boost the economy and reduce fiscal burdens […]
Policy Paper: Harnessing AI and Digital Solutions to Empower Young Entrepreneurs
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping entrepreneurship — but without urgent action, it risks deepening inequality and leaving millions of young entrepreneurs behind. This policy paper explores how AI can become a true force for inclusion, lowering barriers, driving innovation, and creating opportunity for young people everywhere. It calls for immediate, coordinated action from governments, civil […]
Young, Green and Unfunded: How Three Myths Block Climate Innovation
Co-produced by YBI and Bangladesh Youth Enterprise Advice and Helpcentre (BYEAH), this paper explores how myths are slowing innovation and blocking advancement of youth-led climate adaptation enterprises. This is stymieing business growth and forcing climate-effected communities to depend on handouts instead of bolstering their resilience and economic growth. By integrating ecosystem support, building alternative credit […]
Policy Paper: De-risking Youth Entrepreneurship and Unlocking the Missing Middle – Solutions to Drive Youth-led Economic Growth
In this paper, Youth Business International (YBI) and our member Habitat in Türkiye shine a light on the potential of youth-led businesses that have outgrown microfinance and start-up support but are still considered too small or high-risk for mainstream investment. These businesses—often innovative and rooted in their communities—are overlooked despite their immense potential to create […]
Impact Report 2024
Take a look at our full report to learn more about the number of youth businesses supported by the YBI network in 2024.
Policy Paper: Incentivizing and supporting green and social business models among young entrepreneurs to advance the Sustainable Development Goals
In this paper, Youth Business International (YBI) and Development Solutions, our member in Mongolia, call for a concerted effort to support youth-led green and social enterprises as critical drivers of sustainable economic growth. With approximately 10 million social enterprises globally generating around $2 trillion annually and creating nearly 200 million jobs, the potential for young […]
Youth Business International and Global Entrepreneurship Network Youth Entrepreneurship Trends and Policy Framework
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and shifting economic landscapes, young entrepreneurs find themselves at the forefront of innovation and change. At the same time, they face substantial challenges to turn innovations into profitable and scalable businesses. Now is the time to harness the power of young entrepreneurs as more young people than […]
YBI’s Impact Report 2023
In 2023, the Youth Business International global network supported over 150,000 young people in developing their entrepreneurship skills and helped more than 65,000 start or strengthen their businesses. Ambitious Strategy and Significant Achievements 2023 marked the first year of YBI’s ambitious strategy to create a million jobs by starting and scaling 250,000 youth-led businesses by […]
