Apply for the 2018 YTILI Professional Fellows Program for an Experience in the United States

Do you want to have an experience in the United States? Apply now for the Young Transatlantic Innovative Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship 2018. YTILI empowers young European and Eurasian entrepreneurs and innovators with the tools, networks, and resources they need to grow their enterprises and contribute more fully to economic development and job creation, security, and good governance in the region.

The 2018 YTILI Fellowship year will commence in April 2018 and conclude in December 2018. The cohort of up to 70 fellows will travel to the United States for their fellowship experience in October 2018. The full 2018 YTILI cohort will be connected virtually in pre-departure activities, an online platform, and at the Portugal opening summit in June 2018.

Program Details

In 2018, the YTILI Fellowship will engage up to 70 young European leaders in a series of professional development and leadership activities to support the growth and development of commercial and social business ventures in their home communities. Fellows selected for the program will work with teams of mentors to design a specialized program around capacity building as an entrepreneur, innovator, and changemaker. In June, fellows will convene for the opening summit in Portugal to plan for the upcoming fellowship year, network with other European entrepreneurs, and hear from industry experts on best practices in diverse business topics.

Fellows will also participate in a ten-day professional experience in an emerging U.S. economy, designed in collaboration with expert mentors from business, non-profit, and government. At the conclusion of the program, fellows will have an opportunity to share their personal experiences during the closing summit in Washington, DC. U.S. government leaders will meet with fellows to engage in a transatlantic policy dialogue on strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Benefits

• Gain professional experience, skills, and connections valuable to enhancing your business or social venture;
• Network with a dynamic group of experts and mentors in the United States and Europe;
• Expand your professional network and develop relationships with peers and counterparts on both sides of the Atlantic;
• Explore the policy context, financial landscape, and networks of U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystems;
• Join the growing network of dynamic European entrepreneurs committed to enhancing the transatlantic relationship and contributing to the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystems in their home communities.

Cost

The following costs are covered by the US Government:

• J-1 visa support;
• Round-trip air travel from participant’s current city of residence to the United States and all required program travel;
• All activities related to the fellowship program for the European opening summit, one-week immersive experience in a U.S. city, and Washington, DC closing convening;
• Online platform and related training;
• Housing throughout the program (opening summit, one-week U.S. city experience, closing convening);
• Meals and local transportation throughout European opening summit and Washington, DC program; meals and transportation stipend during U.S. immersive experience;
• Accident and sickness benefit plan

Eligibility

• Applicants should be between the ages of 24 and 35 by January 29, 2018;
• Must be a citizen and currently residing in one of the participating countries. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States are not eligible;
• Must not be an employee of the government of the United States;
• Must be eligible to receive a US J-1 visa;
• Must be available to travel for activities in Portugal between June 4-7, 2018 and to the U.S. between October 14-24, 2018 for the fellowship experience;
• Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English;
• Must have had at least two (2) years of professional work experience (not including internships or apprenticeships) in start-up businesses, social ventures, or other institutions within an entrepreneurial ecosystem (i.e. incubators, accelerators, venture capital, etc);
• Be currently engaged in founding or scaling a start-up.

Eligible Countries

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Application

Click here to start your application

For more information, visit YTILI Fellowship.