Youth Business International (YBI)

This year, we expanded our global reach, strengthened our impact, and championed systemic change to support young entrepreneurs tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.    From hosting global events to delivering impactful programmes and advocating for inclusive policies, we’ve seen how youth-led innovation drives sustainable growth, social equity, and environmental solutions.    As we look to 2025, we call for bold collaboration to break down barriers and unlock the full potential of young changemakers. Together, we can shape a future powered by youth-led innovation.    Explore YBI’s 2024 highlights: https://lnkd.in/eqVMPa5K #YBIHighlights2024

“Our foundation, our strength, lies in our network. It lies in all of you.” This year’s Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit focused on the theme of 'shaping the future of youth entrepreneurship'. At the event, it was evident that the YBI network maintains a unified dedication to addressing pressing global challenges and creating a transformative impact through youth entrepreneurship. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We'll see you at the next one. https://lnkd.in/eXsaDtn8 #GYES2024 #YBIAwards #YBIHighlights2024

At YBI, we champion the transformative power of young entrepreneurs to drive economic growth while advancing social impact and environmental sustainability. They are our generation for change. Guided by this vision, in June the first-ever Youth Business International Bootcamp convened exceptional green and social entrepreneurs from 20 countries for an intensive week in London. Representing some of the best youth businesses supported by our members, the first Bootcamp was an inspiring week of collaboration and learning. Relive the highlights. #YBIBootcamp #YBIHighlights2024

Around the world, young entrepreneurs are addressing social and environmental issues through innovative green and social businesses. These ventures are critical drivers of sustainable growth and the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, significant barriers—limited funding, market access, and regulatory hurdles—hold them back. This is why this year, YBI and our Mongolian member Development Solutions published a paper calling for bold action to unlock the potential of youth-led green and social enterprises. Our recommendations: 1. Create dedicated investment funds: Establish government-backed funds for youth-led green and social businesses, with tax incentives for investors. 2. Subsidize sustainable production: Offset costs for eco-friendly practices and support small businesses in achieving certifications. 3. Streamline regulations: Develop tailored legal frameworks to create an enabling environment for green and social enterprises. 4. Standardize impact measurement: Provide tools and training to measure and communicate environmental and social impact effectively. 5. Integrate green and social entrepreneurship into education: Equip youth with skills to lead in sustainability and social impact and track progress through robust data. The time to act is now. Let’s support youth-led innovation for a more inclusive and #sustainablefuture. Read our full paper: https://ow.ly/wyCa50UrF2W #YBIHighlights2024

This year we took our Policy Framework to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva and launched it alongside the Commonwealth Secretariat at our Global Summit. We’ll continue to share highlights next year including deep-dives on how to make the most of it. Read more about it here: https://ow.ly/fvVG50UrCFN #YBIHighlights2024

85% of employment in sub-Saharan Africa is informal, according to the International Labour Organization. These businesses are vital but lack access to finance which prevents them from scaling up, creating jobs and contributing to economies. This is why in 2024, we published a paper with our Kenyan member Somo advocating for innovative #financingmodels to unlock the potential of informal youth-led businesses, especially women-led enterprises. We call for tailored support, microloans, alternative credit, financial literacy support and simplified policies to increase access to finance for these businesses. Read the paper here: https://ow.ly/iQJC50UrC5c #YBIHighlights2024

Member Spotlight: Startup Vietnam Foundation SVF is empowering young female entrepreneurs by addressing two critical challenges: building self-confidence and enhancing capabilities to overcome gender-based barriers. With SVF’s support, young entrepreneur Le Chi Kim Thoa built her business Alpha Amin, a pioneering venture tackling the overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture. By developing innovative supplementary fish feed products, Alpha Amin supports the health of aquatic animals while safeguarding both the environment and human health.

In 2024, 10 additional delivery partners joined our Sustainability Toolkit programme, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, in Germany, France, Spain, South Africa and the UK. With the Sustainability Toolkit now available on the YBI Learning Portal in four languages, the network continues to drive sustainable economic change across industries. Learn more about 2024’s programme successes: https://lnkd.in/eqVMPa5K #YBIHighlights2024

Member Spotlight: Startup Vietnam Foundation (SVF) With a strong focus on empowering young female entrepreneurs, SVF’s work is dedicated to removing barriers and creating opportunities for women in business to advance sustainable development and gender equality. With SVF’s support, young entrepreneur Truong Le Yen Phuong built her award-winning business Quang Vy Cordyceps Farm using innovative production methods and empowering other local women.

Young entrepreneurs are full of ambition but often lack the resources to succeed. Access to finance alone isn’t enough—financial literacy is key. This is why in 2024, we launched our Financial Health model, an evidence-informed approach that can systematically improve the financial health of young #entrepreneurs. Explore it here: https://ow.ly/ru6b50UrAyW #YBIHighlights20204 Our #financialhealth model was co-created with our members Cordaid East & Southern Africa, ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities), FATE Foundation, Habitat Derneği, KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH, Mebala Youth Studios, Somo, Startup Vietnam Foundation, YCAB Foundation, and Youth Business Poland (YBP).