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Apply to YTILI - The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program

By Made of Lisboa Dec 15, 2020

YTILI is a U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. Open applications from January 4 – March 1, 2021

Apply to YTILI - The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program — Photo by Sonder Quest on Unsplash

The 2021-2022 Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program (YTILI) program recruitment is now open and will begin accepting applications on January 4, 2021.

YTILI is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. Since its launch in 2016, YTILI has helped to advance the careers of nearly 300 business and social entrepreneurs from Europe by providing them with the tools, networks, and resources they need to grow their ventures.

“YTILI was a life-changing experience for me personally and professionally, as I had the opportunity to explore business opportunities, learn from the Seattle startup ecosystem players, and find real friends and collaborators among my co-fellows from Europe. I highly recommend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to all European entrepreneurs and innovators,” says Nina Nikolich, co-founder of Startup Macedonia and a YTILI alumna.

CEED Slovenia is excited to partner with WorldChicago, which has been selected by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to implement the YTILI Fellowship Program. “We are honored to expand our partnership with WorldChicago through the YTILI Fellowship Program. Our CEED Slovenia team consists of U.S. Department of State’s professional exchange alumni from the Professional Fellows Program, International Visitor Leadership Program, and YTILI. We have also been an important in-country partner for the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program, and we will use this experience to support individuals throughout the YTILI application process,” says Alja Gajšek, Program Director of CEED Slovenia.

“YTILI is helping to transform the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Europe and creating a synergy to attract, promote, and sustain a robust global economy.” says Peggy Parfenoff, President of WorldChicago. “We are fortunate to help administer this important project and continue to use diplomacy as a tool for connecting local communities with international professionals.”

The 2021-2022 YTILI Fellowship Program will engage 60 young European entrepreneurs from 45 countries in a series of virtual and in-person professional development and leadership activities, beginning in late 2021. The program will include a five-week U.S.-based experience with a fellowship at a U.S. company. The fellowship will be complemented by a virtual Mini-MBA entrepreneurship curriculum before and after the U.S. experience.

The application for YTILI will be open from January 4 – March 1, 2021. To learn more about the program, please visit http://ytili-worldchicago.org/.

CEED Slovenia provides training, consulting, mentoring and ecosystem building for entrepreneurs in Southeast Europe. By addressing the opportunities and challenges that face young entrepreneurs, CEED Slovenia creates a viable path towards growth and success for businesses and organizations.

WorldChicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting citizen diplomacy through programs that connect the Chicago community with the world. As a host to U.S. Department of State sponsored international visitors, WorldChicago acts as a liaison between approximately 1,000 international visitors and their Chicagoland counterparts each year.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional, and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs.

The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program (YTILI) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by WorldChicago and CEED Slovenia.