Uniting young entrepreneurs as a force for good

Youth Business International (YBI) is pleased to announce that we are launching a new initiative in 2024 for young entrepreneurs supported by our network. We will be hosting a five-day bootcamp for a cohort of underserved, high-performing youth-led businesses – some of the most impressive young entrepreneurs supported by our global network of members. YBI and our network know that entrepreneurship is transformative and that when youth-led businesses thrive, they create new jobs, shape local communities, and drive economic growth. This new opportunity will unite a group of young entrepreneurs as a force for good. 

Expanding on our biannual Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, this is also an opportunity for YBI members to showcase some of the most promising and pioneering young entrepreneurs they support. The young entrepreneurs who are accepted into the bootcamp will not only gain new skills to help them take the next step in their business journey, but they will also have the opportunity to connect with experts in youth entrepreneurship and impact entrepreneurship and with like-minded peers from around the world. 

About the Bootcamp

The bootcamp will take place in London in June 2024 and will be available to up to 30 participants. It will focus on delivering transformational learning experiences and building global business relationships. The event is designed to elevate entrepreneurs in their growth ambitions by bringing an inspirational group into one room to explore together, share experiences, and learn from other successful entrepreneurs. Participants will: 

• Exchange and learn with experts 
• Develop their entrepreneurial growth mindset 
• Develop a compelling founder story and a well-refined pitch
• Network and share experiences with other like-minded entrepreneurs
• Collaborate on similar entrepreneurial challenges, hear different perspectives and ways that these can be overcome

There will be daily opportunities to network with peers and business leaders to form lasting supportive relationships.

Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Finalists will be selected from the bootcamp cohort by a judging panel for the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The three winners, selected after a public vote, will be invited to receive their award at the Summit in October 2024. There will be three categories for the awards; Social Entrepreneurship, Climate Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Entrepreneurship. 

Who should attend and how to apply

The Youth Business International Bootcamp is designed for young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 with businesses in the impact entrepreneurship space. The young entrepreneur must be receiving support or have received support from a Youth Business International member within the last 24 months, and their business must also have the potential to win one of the three Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award categories.

It’s free to apply, and those invited to attend will be fully funded with flights, visas and accommodation. Applications will open in early January 2024.

More information for YBI members

We will be hosting a webinar on 29 November 2023 for YBI members to provide more information about the Youth Business International Bootcamp agenda and eligibility criteria, as well as a Q&A session. 

Register here.