Young entrepreneurs building environmentally focused businesses have until 22 November to apply for the 2026-27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), a United Nations initiative backing youth-led ventures in sustainability and land restoration.
Run by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the programme targets founders under 35, particularly those in developing countries.
Participants move through a Global Bootcamp and Global Accelerator before the Youth Ecopreneur Awards, where finalists pitch to an international audience and winners receive US$10,000. Businesses in the Land Restoration category can also tap into a US$100,000 equity-free funding pool, keeping full ownership of their companies. A Scale & Impact phase follows the awards.
Applicants can enter one of two categories. Green Business Solutions covers sustainable products, services and business models, including circular economy, low-carbon tech and eco-design. Land Restoration covers ventures in areas such as reforestation, soil conservation, wetland and river restoration, carbon farming, wildfire management and supporting technologies.
Beyond funding, participants gain intellectual property advice from the World Intellectual Property Organization, pro bono legal support from Sidley Austin, business coaching from EY and preferential access to Google’s Startups for Sustainable Development programme. They also join an alumni network of more than 350 entrepreneurs and ITC’s wider Ye! Community of over 50,000.
The previous cycle drew more than 1,500 applications from over 120 countries. Last year’s Land Restoration winner, Satellites on Fire, went on to an Earthshot Prize nomination and a US$2.7 million seed round, while Green Business Solutions winner Hellen Munyasa of Uganda’s Helton Traders secured a US$20,000 PayPal grant.
“YECO didn’t just grow my business, it prepared me to grow beyond borders,” says Munyasa.
Applications close 22 November 2026 via the ITC website.
