About this opportunity
Green businesses in Africa rarely fail for lack of ideas. They stall on the last mile, the investor conversation, the contract, the paperwork that protects an innovation. The Youth Ecopreneur Programme, run by the International Trade Centre through its Ye! Community, is built around that last mile.
The 2026/27 edition opens with a ten week global bootcamp for 225 entrepreneurs, covering investment readiness, business development and intellectual property, then narrows to a global accelerator of 25 businesses with a bespoke 360 degree assessment, one on one coaching with experts from Ernst & Young, pro bono legal support from Sidley Austin and preferential access to Google's Startups for Sustainable Development Programme. Six finalists then present at the Youth Ecopreneur Awards and compete for $10,000 USD in prize money.
The money that draws most attention is the equity free seed funding pool of up to $100,000 USD for the Land Restoration track, available at accelerator stage. Land Restoration covers reforestation and afforestation, soil conservation, wetland restoration, erosion control, cleanup of contaminated land, agroforestry and carbon farming, invasive species control, woodland fire management, river and stream restoration, and the use of modern technology in any of these. Green Business Solution covers renewable energy systems, eco-friendly packaging and sustainable materials, waste reduction and recycling innovations, energy efficient technologies and circular economy models.
Nigerian and other African founders who run a legally registered, youth led business in either category can apply. The bootcamp is open globally to businesses registered in developed and developing countries. The accelerator is reserved for eligible countries, and only businesses registered in developing countries are eligible for it, so applicants aiming for the funding pool should check the provider's country list before submitting.
What you receive
- Equity free seed funding pool of up to $100,000 USD for the Land Restoration track
- Ten week global bootcamp with expert led training, masterclasses and investment readiness support
- Accelerator stage with a bespoke 360 degree business assessment, tailored training and one on one coaching
- Mentorship and networking through the Ye! Community and the programme alumni community
- Intellectual property sessions to help protect and manage innovations
- Preferential access to pro bono legal services from Sidley Austin, subject to due diligence
- Preferential access to Google's Startups for Sustainable Development Programme
- One on one coaching sessions with experts from Ernst & Young
- All expenses paid trip to an international conference for award finalists
- A $10,000 USD Youth Ecopreneur Award prize, one award per category
Who can apply
- Applicants must be under the age of 35 by the application deadline
- Applicants must be a founder, co-founder or chief executive officer of the business
- The business must be majority run by a young person
- The business must be legally registered
- The business must fall under Land Restoration, for example reforestation, soil rehabilitation, wetland restoration, erosion control or agroforestry, or Green Business Solution, for example renewable energy, eco-friendly packaging, waste reduction or circular economy models
- The bootcamp is open globally, and businesses legally registered in developed and developing countries can participate in the bootcamp
- The accelerator is reserved for eligible countries, and only businesses registered in developing countries are eligible for it
- Female entrepreneurs, founders from least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked countries, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply
Who should not apply
- Fast Track requires a business registered in a developing country; applicants outside the eligible country list can still join the bootcamp and progress to the accelerator through the regular track
- The programme does not accept applications from businesses that are not legally registered
Documents to prepare
- Business certificate
- A short motivational video for Fast Track applicants
How to apply
- Read the eligibility criteria and choose between the Regular Track and the Fast Track on the official application page at https://social.yecommunity.com/topics/49027/page/apply-now
- Prepare your passport, business certificate and pitch deck before you start, the application takes around 30 to 40 minutes
- Open the official application form at https://social.yecommunity.com/topics/49027/page/apply-now and complete it in one sitting or save it and continue later
- Fast Track applicants also submit a short motivational video with the application
- Submit before the application deadline of 22 November 2026
Selection process
- Applications close on 22 November 2026 and the bootcamp starts the week of 14 December 2026
- Fast Track applicants who are shortlisted take part in a 15 minute interview on the week of 30 November 2026
- 225 selected entrepreneurs join the ten week global bootcamp
- 25 selected businesses move to the global accelerator for tailored coaching, investor access and the equity free funding pool
- 6 finalists showcase their solutions at the Youth Ecopreneur Awards and compete for the $10,000 USD prize
- Graduates enter the Scale and Impact phase for continued mentorship, partnerships and access to international events
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Can I apply if my business is registered outside the accelerator country list?
Yes for the bootcamp. The provider states that businesses legally registered in developed and developing countries can participate in the bootcamp, while the accelerator is reserved for eligible countries and only businesses registered in developing countries are eligible for it.
What is the difference between the Regular Track and the Fast Track?
The Regular Track is for early stage businesses that want to strengthen their foundations through the ten week bootcamp before progressing to the accelerator. The Fast Track is for pre-seed or seed stage businesses with proven market traction, consistent revenue, a proven business model, a dedicated full-time team and evidence of investment readiness, and selected Fast Track businesses proceed directly to the accelerator with a few mandatory bootcamp sessions.
How much does the application cost?
The provider does not state any application fee. Applications are made through the official YECO application page.
Who runs the programme?
The Youth Ecopreneur Programme is run by the International Trade Centre through its Ye! Community, with support from partners including Ernst & Young, Sidley Austin and Google.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
