YLAI Fellowship Program 2025 – Empowering Young Entrepreneurs in the Americas

YLAI Fellowship Program: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs Across the Americas

Are you a passionate young entrepreneur ready to take your venture to the next level? The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program could be your launchpad to international success. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX, this prestigious program offers emerging business leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada a unique opportunity to grow their entrepreneurial skills, gain hands-on experience in the United States, and build lasting global networks.

Now accepting applications for the upcoming cohort, YLAI supports driven individuals who are actively scaling their own businesses and creating positive economic impact in their communities. From tailored placements with U.S. organizations to leadership development and international collaboration, this fellowship offers a transformative journey that goes far beyond business growth.

What the Fellowship Offers

1. Four-Week Professional Placement
YLAI Fellows are matched with U.S. businesses in their sector for a month-long placement. During this time, they collaborate on a customized Entrepreneurial Leadership Action Plan (E-LAP), which they execute upon returning home.

2. Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum
Developed by IREX and Arizona State University (ASU), this curriculum blends entrepreneurship training with leadership development. It includes both online and in-person sessions, focused on equipping fellows with the skills to achieve their goals.

3. Opening Orientation
Upon arrival in the U.S., Fellows gather in a welcome city for a program orientation. It’s an opportunity to meet YLAI advisors, review program logistics, and connect with other fellows.

4. YLAI Closing Forum
The program concludes with a networking forum in Washington, D.C., where fellows engage with U.S. government officials, business leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs.

5. Post-Fellowship Engagement
After the program, fellows remain connected to a vibrant network of mentors, alumni, and ongoing professional development. Selected fellows may even host their U.S. mentors through the Outbound Exchange Program in their home countries.

Note: If travel is not feasible, the program will be delivered virtually.

Program Costs Covered

There’s no application fee, and all program expenses are covered by the U.S. Government, including:

J-1 visa processing (Note: Dependents are not included)
Round-trip international and domestic travel
Housing and a meal stipend
Accident and sickness insurance
All coursework and training sessions
Placement with a U.S. host organization
Participation in the Washington, D.C. forum

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

Be 25–35 years old by January 1, 2026
Be a citizen and resident of an eligible country in Latin America, the Caribbean, or Canada
Hold a valid passport and be eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa
Have at least two years of experience managing their own business
Demonstrate English proficiency (without AI assistance)
Not be a U.S. citizen, resident, or government employee

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The selection process is inclusive and merit-based.

YLAI Application Guidelines & Helpful Tips

The YLAI Fellowship application is designed to assess your eligibility and potential for the program. It gathers key information about your professional background, business experience, and English language skills, along with details about your work history and business profile.

Online Application Format

The entire application must be completed online using a computer or mobile device with internet access.
If you have a disability that makes the online process difficult, contact the YLAI team at apply.ylaifellowship@irex.org. They’ll assist you with accessible alternatives.

Work at Your Own Pace

You don’t need to complete the form all at once—you can save your progress and return anytime before the deadline.
However, once you hit submit, you won’t be able to go back and edit your responses. So double-check everything before final submission!

Important Submission Guidelines

The application must be completed in English.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
Your responses—especially essays—must be entirely your own work. Submitting text generated by AI tools or copied from websites or other applications is considered plagiarism and will lead to disqualification.
It’s a good idea to draft your answers offline (for example, in a Word document) and paste them into the form once finalized.

Official and Exclusive Submission Platform

This is the only official application for the YLAI Fellowship, overseen by the U.S. Department of State.
Applications submitted via email or any unofficial method will not be accepted.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply