Applications open for 2027 YLAI programme
October 13 2026
Guyanese entrepreneurs aged 25 to 35 can now apply for the 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship, a programme offering business development, leadership training and networking opportunities in the United States.
The US Embassy in Georgetown announced that applications opened on October 9, 2026, and will close on November 8, 2026.
Sponsored by the US Department of State, the fellowship brings together emerging business and social leaders from 36 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada to participate in professional development activities, business exchanges and networking with American counterparts.
The 2027 programme is scheduled to run from June to July, with particular emphasis on entrepreneurs working in artificial intelligence, manufacturing, biotechnology, agricultural technology and supply chains.
To qualify, applicants must be Guyanese citizens residing in Guyana who have operated a business or social enterprise for at least two years and demonstrated growth.
Launched in 2015, YLAI aims to strengthen entrepreneurship, promote trade, encourage job creation and build lasting networks among emerging business and social leaders throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The initiative also seeks to expose participants to US business models and create opportunities for collaboration between entrepreneurs in participating countries and the United States.
To date, 33 Guyanese entrepreneurs have benefited from the programme.
Interested applicants can submit their applications through the official YLAI website at [https://ylai.state.gov](https://ylai.state.gov) before the November 8 deadline.
