The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27 from Ye! Community is a programme for young founders whose businesses promote land restoration, sustainability, circularity and the green economy. It combines a Global Bootcamp, an Accelerator and Awards, with equity-free seed funding of USD 100,000 for the land restoration cohort and a USD 10,000 Youth Ecopreneur Award in each category. Applications close on 22 November 2026 at midnight CET. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official programme page and application page to list what is offered, who can apply and how the stages differ.
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Programme
YECO is a business acceleration programme run by Ye! Community. It is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). The official page lists no application or participation fee. You can find similar openings in the Others section on Youth Works Hub. The programme is meant for founders with a legally registered business, not for volunteering or youth exchange participants.
What the YECO Programme Is
YECO is designed for young ecopreneurs looking to take their initiatives to a new level. Ideal candidates are innovators with a clear understanding of the environmental challenges they address, offering scalable solutions ready for acceleration. The programme serves as a launchpad for those ready to make a substantial impact in environmental innovation.
Stage 1: Global Bootcamp
🎓 Training and masterclasses on investment readiness and other crucial topics, facilitated by business development, legal and IP experts
🌐 A unified platform for global exchange and networking within the young entrepreneur cohort
🧑🏫 Mentoring from the Ye! Community
Businesses legally registered in developed and developing countries can participate in the Bootcamp, so the bootcamp is open globally.
Stage 2: Accelerator
The Accelerator is reserved for eligible countries on the official list published by the programme. It includes:
🔎 A bespoke 360 degrees Business Assessment, followed by tailored trainings and coaching for your business
🌱 Seed funding for the Land Restoration category
🧬 IP expertise and coaching by WIPO
🤝 Access to investment networks
⚖️ Preferential access to pro-bono legal services from Sidley Austin (subject to due diligence requirements)
🚀 Preferential access to the Google Startup for Sustainable Development Programme
📊 A one-on-one coaching session with experts from Ernst & Young (EY)
Stage 3: Awards
🏆 Win the Youth Ecopreneur Award and receive USD 10,000 prize money, with one award per category
✈️ All-expenses-paid trip to an international conference for award finalists
🏫 In-person capacity building
🎤 Personalized pitch training and coaching
📣 Visibility with stakeholders and investors
🎁 Special prizes from partners
Scale and Impact
🌐 Global networking among participants
🎟️ Coaching and opportunities to attend high-level sustainable events and trade fairs
🔭 Increased visibility and connections with key stakeholders in green entrepreneurship
👪 Integration into the alumni community of the programme
📖 Access to peer learning, collaboration and shared experiences from previous cohorts
Programme Categories
YECO is split into two main categories that support innovative environmental solutions.
🌳 Land restoration (200 spots): reforestation or afforestation, soil conservation and enrichment, wetland restoration, erosion control, cleanup of contaminated land, agroforestry and carbon farming, invasive species control, forest or urban woodland fire management, stream and river restoration, and the use of modern technology for any of these
♻️ Green business (25 spots): innovative products or processes that significantly contribute to a sustainable and green economy, renewable energy systems (for example solar and wind), eco-friendly packaging and sustainable materials, waste reduction and recycling innovations, energy-efficient technologies and processes, and circular economy models (reuse, repair, remanufacture)
Who Can Apply
🎂 The applicant must be under 35 years old by the application deadline
👤 The applicant must be a Founder, Co-Founder or CEO
🧑💼 The business must be majority run by a young person
📜 The business must be legally registered
🌱 The business must promote land restoration, sustainability, circularity and/or the green economy
🗺️ The bootcamp is open globally; the accelerator is reserved for eligible countries on the official list
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO)?
YECO is a programme for young green entrepreneurs with three parts: a Global Bootcamp, an Accelerator and Awards.
How much funding can I win?
The land restoration cohort receives USD 100,000 in equity-free seed funding, and each category has one Youth Ecopreneur Award of USD 10,000.
Do I need a registered company?
Yes. The business must be legally registered and majority run by a young person, and the applicant must be a Founder, Co-Founder or CEO under 35.
Can I join from any country?
The bootcamp is open globally to businesses legally registered in developed and developing countries. The accelerator is reserved for eligible countries on the official list.
Is there a fee to apply?
The official page lists no application or participation fee.
Is YECO part of Erasmus+ or ESC?
No. It is a business acceleration programme run by Ye! Community and is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps.
Deadline
⏳ 22 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now: https://social.yecommunity.com/topics/49027/page/apply-now
📄 Programme page: https://social.yecommunity.com/page/youth-ecopreneur-programme
