$10,000 Youth Ecopreneur Accelerator and Awards
- Organization: International Trade Centre (ITC)
- Type: Other
- Location: Global
- Deadline: November 22, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, runs the Youth Ecopreneur Programme through its Ye! Community together with the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD. It is an online accelerator for legally registered green businesses led by founders under 35, working in land restoration or green business solutions. The 2026/27 cycle runs as a 10-week Global Bootcamp for 225 entrepreneurs, an Accelerator for 25 businesses, and the Youth Ecopreneur Awards, where six finalists compete for a 10,000 USD prize in each of two categories. **What you get:** - A 10-week online Global Bootcamp with expert-led masterclasses on business plans, investment readiness, intellectual property, pitching, sales, marketing and using AI - For the 25 Accelerator businesses: a 360 degree business assessment, tailored training and coaching, mentorship and access to investor networks - Equity-free seed funding for the land restoration cohort, drawn from a shared pool of 100,000 USD for the whole cohort - Preferential access to pro bono legal services from Sidley Austin (subject to due diligence) and to Google's Startups for Sustainable Development programme - One-on-one coaching with experts from EY - An all-expenses-paid trip to an international conference for the six Award finalists - 10,000 USD prize money for the winner of each of the two categories - Continued mentorship, networking, event access and an alumni community in the Scale and Impact phase **What you'll do:** - Apply on the Regular Track, which starts with the Bootcamp, or the Fast Track, which goes straight to the Accelerator for businesses with revenue and market traction - Give about 3 to 4 hours a week to masterclasses, digital training, assessments and networking during the 10-week Bootcamp - If selected, work with coaches and mentors in the Accelerator and pitch your business at the Youth Ecopreneur Awards **Key dates:** - Applications close 22 November 2026, midnight CET - Fast Track interviews for shortlisted applicants the week of 30 November 2026 - Global Bootcamp starts the week of 14 December 2026 and runs 10 weeks **More information:** - Full eligibility, tracks and category details are in the official YECO FAQs - The list of countries eligible for the Accelerator and Awards stages is linked from the apply page - The full list of application questions is published by ITC so you can prepare before starting - Questions go to youthecopreneurawards@intracen.org
