Applications are open for the Young Leaders of the Americas (YLAI) Fellowship Program 2026. YLAI supports entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to economic development in their communities.
About Young Leaders of the Americas Fellowship Program
Opportunity Details
Since the initiative's launch in 2015, more than 1,750 YLAI Fellows from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada have expanded their leadership and entrepreneurial experience through fellowships at businesses and organizations across the United States.
Through the YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum and individualized professional placements, YLAI Fellows have accelerated their commercial ventures' success and developed specific action plans to implement upon return to their home countries. YLAI Fellows built networks, linkages, and lasting partnerships to attract investments and support for their entrepreneurial ventures.
Program Components
Program components have included:
- Four-week Professional Placement: In cities across the United States, YLAI Fellows gain valuable professional development skills and experience at U.S. entrepreneurial organizations from the Fellow's business sector. Fellows will collaborate with their placement host on their Entrepreneurial Leadership Action Plan (E-LAP) which the Fellows will implement upon return to their home countries.
- YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum: The YLAI Fellowship Program includes online and in-person coursework, developed by IREX and Arizona State University (ASU), that combines technical entrepreneurship training and leadership development. Using the E-LAP, Fellows will set and achieve their entrepreneurial leadership
goals.
- YLAI Opening Orientation in the United States: The YLAI team will meet Fellows in a U.S. city upon arrival for a welcome event. Opening Orientation will welcome Fellows to the US and give YLAI advisors and Fellows the chance to connect and go over logistics, discussion of community guidelines, and program policies.
- YLAI Closing Forum in the United States: YLAI Fellows participate in the YLAI Closing Forum in Washington, D.C., as well as networking events with business entrepreneurial leaders, and U.S. government representatives.
- Post-Fellowship Sustained Engagement: After successful completion of the Fellowship, YLAI Fellows continue their collaboration with U.S. partners and have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentorships, networking, and alumni activities. YLAI Fellows will have the chance to welcome a U.S. host to their country through the Outbound Exchange Program, sharing their expertise on the entrepreneurship climate in their country.
Benefits of Young Leaders of the Americas Fellowship Program
There is no fee to apply to become a YLAI Fellow. If selected for the YLAI Fellowship Program, the U.S. Government will cover all program costs. Financial provisions provided by the U.S. Government will include:
- J-1 visa support. No visa support will be offered to dependents, as this is an unaccompanied program.
- Round-trip travel from participant’s home city to the United States and domestic U.S. travel, as required by the program.
- YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum coursework and mentoring;
- Closing Forum in Washington, D.C.;
- Four-week professional placement with host organization;
- A limited accident and sickness benefit plan; and
- Housing and meal stipend during the program.
Young Leaders of the Americas Fellowship Program Requirements
Candidates will be considered without respect to race, color, religion, sex, sexuality, national origin, disability or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. Applicants with disabilities are eligible and encouraged to apply for the YLAI Fellowship Program. The YLAI Fellowship Program is open to young entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35 by January 1, 2026.
- Are a resident and citizen of one of the participating countries*: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.
* In the specific cases of residency in Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, citizenship in the Netherlands is accepted
- Are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa.
- Have a demonstrated track record of successfully growing their own business for at least two (2) years.
- Are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
- Are not a U.S. government employee.
- Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English without the assistance of generative AI*
What are the criteria for selection?
The YLAI Fellowship Program is an open, merit-based competition. There is no cost to apply. After the application deadline, an independent selection committee of regional and technical experts reviews all eligible applications. Those applicants selected to be semifinalists will be contacted to schedule an interview in July. All applicants will be notified of their semifinalist or non-selection status by August 2025.
The YLAI Fellowship Program Selection Committee uses the following criteria to evaluate applications and interviews:
- Demonstrated professional entrepreneurial experience and knowledge.
- Commitment to community or public service, mentorship, or volunteerism in your home country and to applying entrepreneurial and leadership skills, experience and knowledge to benefit your community and country.
- Demonstrated understanding of how your personal and professional goals align with program objectives.
- Demonstrated leadership, commitment to your organization’s or business’s success, positive attitude, initiative, and perseverance.
- Ability to communicate effectively in written English without the assistance of generative AI*
*Applications are considered based on content and program qualification, not grammar or spelling. English proficiency will be evaluated during the live semifinalist interviews, and we encourage personal and candid responses.
Application Date and Process
General Application Instructions and Tips
The purpose of the application is to collect information and to better understand an applicant’s qualifications for the YLAI Fellowship Program. Questions are designed to capture the applicant’s professional background, experience with their own business, and English language proficiency. The application will also include the applicant’s work history and business profile.
- The YLAI Fellowship Program uses an internet-based application system. You will need access to a computer or mobile device and the internet to apply. If you are unable to complete this online application due to a disability, please email [email protected]. The YLAI Team at IREX will coordinate with you directly regarding application accommodations.
- You do not have to finish your application in one session. You may save your work and return to complete your application as many times as necessary. Once you have submitted your application, you can no longer add any additional information or make any changes. All information must be entered prior to your final submission. You must submit your completed application by the deadline.
- Answer all questions on the application in English.
- All fields marked with an * must be completed.
- All answers in the application, including written responses to essays, must be your own, original work. Using generative AI tools or language copied from other past applicant essays or using language from websites is considered plagiarism and will result in disqualification.
- You may wish to review the application and its questions before filling out the application. Some applicants find it helpful to draft their responses offline (in a separate Word document for example) and then cut and paste their responses into the appropriate sections of the application.
- This is the official application for the YLAI Fellowship Program administered by the U.S. Department of State. Only those applicants who complete this application will be considered. Applications and information submitted through email or other means will not be considered.
For more information, see FAQs and Terms & Conditions.
Application Deadline
15 May, 2025
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Young Leaders of the Americas Fellowship Program
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