Following IREX and Village Capital’s previous series of online trainings for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship alumni, we launched YLAI Americas Accelerator, an accelerator program designed to empower emerging entrepreneurs. The 10 alumni that were selected through a competitive process will be part of interactive workshops tailored to help their companies identify early milestones and prepare them for their next round of capital (if relevant).

This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by IREX in partnership with Village Capital.

The selection process closed in December, 2021, and the selected cohort (below) will join the accelerator from January to April 2022 on a hybrid model, with both virtual and in person sessions (provided all health conditions, travel restrictions, and approvals make it possible).

The companies that were selected will benefit from Village Capital’s network; receive mentorship from potential strategic partners, customers, and other founders; receive one-on-one coaching with an investment analyst; and participate in meetings with representatives from financial institutions, corporates, startups, and investors that can help their organization scale.

The 10 selected startups for this program will receive the following benefits: 

• Ability to network and receive mentorship from prominent region-wide investors in an Investor Forum. 

• Learning from and with peers to support each other.

• A stipend for one (1) founder/C-suite member to travel to the selected emerging city for the workshop (if safe travel is possible).

• Twelve (12) days of interactive workshops tailored to help their company identify early milestones and prepare them for their next round of capital (if relevant).

• Access to an investment analyst who will coach them 1:1 on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and on using financial metrics to drive both their business and investor diligence.

• Participation in mentor meetings with representatives from financial institutions, corporates and investors that can help their organization scale.