Deadline: August 11, 2024.

The Young Founders Programme is a 6-month fellowship for outstanding young entrepreneurs from emerging markets. It brings together leaders from all over the world, who are united in the pursuit to achieve entrepreneurial greatness.

The Westerwelle Young Founders Programme (YFP) is a six-month fellowship for 25 leaders uplifting emerging and developing markets towards a sustainable future. They offer targeted support to scale their founders’ ventures and develop their leadership abilities, with the following programme plan:

• Kick-Off Event: A two-day digital kick-off event will take place in mid September 2024.
• Remote Programme: From September 2024 – February 2025, the Young Founders will receive six months of support including a personal mentor, monthly peer learning sessions, monthly expert workshops and networking opportunities with corporates and investors.
• Berlin Conference: The ten best performing Young Founders will be invited to a five-day conference in Berlin in June 2025. During this conference, the founders will have the opportunity to pitch in front of investors, participate in workshops, join networking events and get insights into the German start-up scene.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

They are looking for entrepreneurs with high potential for impact and growth to become leaders of a sustainable future, with the following criteria:

• You are a citizen or resident of a developing or emerging country.
• You have recently (in the last five years) started a for-profit company focused on developing or emerging markets.
• Your company possesses a scalable business model that has generated revenue or secured a first round of external funding.
• You or your business possesses disruptive qualities that can increase the quality, impact or inclusiveness of the industry.
• You possess a good working knowledge of English.
• You are available to attend the digital kick-off conference and can make time to participate in programme activities for the six months.

BENEFITS

1. MENTORING: A unique experience with a successful entrepreneur or investor, who becomes your sparring partner.
2. PEER LEARNING: Exchanges with other successful young founders of the cohort to share knowledge and support each other.
3. EXPERTS SESSION: In-depth sessions on relevant topics with high-class experts.
4. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: Access to new business opportunities by being connected to programme alumni, partners and other members of the Westerwelle Foundation network.
5. BERLIN CONFERENCE: Exposure to the Berlin Startup Ecosystem through a fully funded 5-day conference together with the other founders for the top 10 participants.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK