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From Antarctica to Agriculture: A YECO Alum’s Microbial SolutionSome of the toughest life on Earth hides in the ice of Antarctica. For more than twenty years, a group of Argentine scientists studied the microorganisms that survive and actually thrive in temperatures that drop below minus fifty degrees Celsius. Those microbes carried secrets about adaptation that most of us can only imagine.Julia M

After looking across the world for the best business ideas to help the planet, eight youth-led ventures have been selected as finalists for the YECO Awards 2025. They’re now set to pitch their solutions at ChangeNOW in Paris, where investors and business leaders gather to look for innovative new ideas to tackle the climate crisis. The awards are a highlight of the Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO)

By Sourabh S SindheFounder & CEO, OMGPart of the International Trade Centre Delegation through YECO 2025A journey that deepened understandingArriving in Belém for COP30 as part of the International Trade Centre (ITC) SME Delegation, I was immediately struck by the energy and purpose in the air. This global convergence was not just about policy; it was about people, place, and possibility. My journ

When the Ye! Community hosted an entrepreneurship competition in Zambia back in 2017, Gilbert Mwale stood among the hopefuls, pitching his venture for the very first time. He had just launched E-Msika Service Ltd, a digital platform connecting smallholder farmers to farm inputs, consultations, and agricultural knowledge. That pitch turned out to be more than a win. It was the beginning of a long a

BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATIONI heard about the Ye! community in 2021, and I was motivated to join the Ye! community because I was looking for a community that offers opportunities to young entrepreneurs, online training, finding opportunities, and networking. In my country, I couldn't find that, specifically when talking to entrepreneurs (especially young people). I came across it online (Ye! Communit

The first time Eliud Luutsa walked into a Ye! Community event in Nairobi, he felt something he hadn’t experienced in years as a young entrepreneur: belonging. "I was building Innovative Procurement, a platform to help marginalized businesses access contracts, while all my university friends were taking corporate jobs," he recalls. "At Ye!, I suddenly found my tribe."This moment of connection would

Federico Perez, a passionate advocate for youth entrepreneurship in Colombia, never expected a simple scroll through LinkedIn to shape the next chapter of his career. That’s where he first discovered the Ye! Community—a global network of changemakers, dreamers, and doers supporting young entrepreneurs around the world. What began as a curious click turned into a mission-driven journey to help unlo

In the heart of Cameroon, where resilience often defines ambition, Mechi Amaah stands as a powerful testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship and community. As a trained accountant, the founder of Black and Natural Cosmetics, and Ye! Community Advisor (Cameroon), Mechi has woven a career rooted in purpose—bridging the gap between business and social impact, especially for young ent

NoorNation is a climate-tech social enterprise from Egypt that focuses on one of the most fundamental challenges in rural and agricultural areas across Africa: the simultaneous lack of clean water and affordable electricity. Instead of treating these as separate development problems, the company works on solutions that deliver both resources together through decentralized, solar-powered infrastruc

Joshua Forte is the founder of Red Diamond Compost Inc, a pioneering biotech social enterprise based in Barbados focused on producing nutrient-rich, environmentally sustainable agrochemical solutions. Growing up in Barbados, Joshua developed a profound connection to nature through his grandmother, who instilled in him an appreciation for plants, gardening, and the ecosystems around them. Early exp

W. Leif Van Grinsven was born and raised in Milwaukee, near Chicago, USA, in a community that valued education, curiosity, and social engagement. From an early age, he was drawn to understanding societal structures and how they shape human opportunity. He pursued higher education rigorously, culminating in a master’s degree in Development Studies, which gave him a strong foundation in economic dev

Camila Saa is the COO of Satellites on Fire, a pioneering startup that uses AI and satellite imagery to detect wildfires early and prevent their spread. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she has a background in business administration and finance. Her journey into climate tech was personal: in 2020, she witnessed family and friends lose their homes to wildfires, which are among Argentina

Ikenna Nzewi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Releaf, an agro-industrial startup that leverages technology to revolutionise palm oil processing in Nigeria. Born and raised in the United States, Ikenna studied computer science at Yale University before returning to Nigeria to address inefficiencies in the agricultural sector. His journey into agro-industrial and climate tech was motivated by a vision t

Spotlight on ITC Ye! Community in ChinaMeet Nouran Farouk, co-founder and CEO of Dosy, the first women-led mobility platform in Egypt and MENA offering female-only scooter ride-hailing services, while empowering women through training, green jobs, and sustainable transport. Her company is also working toward establishing its own production line for scooters and bicycles to localize manufacturing a

#ThisWeekatITC: A high-level delegation from #SierraLeone is in Korea for a 9-day benchmarking mission under the Republic of Korea-funded READY Salone project. 🇰🇷 🇸🇱Led by the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, the delegation includes senior government officials, business support organizations and young entrepreneurs.In Seoul and Jeju, they are engaging with innovation hubs, minis

🌍✨ Youth Day with Ye! CommunityA few weeks ago, Ye! local chapters across Africa came alive to celebrate Youth Day with activities led by inspiring advisors and young entrepreneurs. Swipe through for some of the highlights.🇰🇪 Kenya: Picnic and hike at Karura Forest to connect, share stories, and strengthen bonds.🇨🇲 Cameroon: Sip & Paint gathering sparking creativity, green thinking, and cross

In Freetown, the READY Salone project brought together 48 women entrepreneurs and support organizations for two workshops focused on practical skills and inclusive collaboration.Communicating for market success From 30 June to 3 July, 26 women entrepreneurs joined a four-day training on storytelling, pitching and using digital tools to grow their businesses. Participants also learned how to use Ch

Last week, the Republic of Korea-funded READY Salone project had the honour of hosting Mr. Kim Eunsub, Country Director of KOICA Nigeria, and his delegation in Freetown.The visit featured a project overview on how READY Salone is equipping youth with digital and entrepreneurial skills, supporting youth-led innovation, and collaborating with stakeholders such as Limkokwing University.The delegation

ChangeNOW in Paris is Europe’s leading global event for start-ups to meet with potential investors to scale their solutions to the climate crisis. Among the standouts were ten young entrepreneurs who have honed their presentations through a joint initiative by ITC and G20 Global Land Initiative. Over three days, these Youth Ecopreneurs showcased their businesses, met with potential clients, and en

Empowering Youth & Women in The Gambia! The EU Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) has officially launched, bringing a €9.9 million investment to support women and young entrepreneurs in the tourism and creative industries. This five-year initiative, supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen MSMEs, enhance skills, improve marketing, and crea