YTILI 2025 – Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative

The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship Program is a two-way exchange program for emerging entrepreneurs ages 25-35 from Europe. The program’s goal is to promote mutual understanding, enhance entrepreneurship and leadership skills, and build lasting partnerships between business leaders from Europe and the United States. YTILI Fellows spend five weeks in the United States including an opening program, entrepreneurship training, individually-tailored placements with businesses or relevant organizations, and participation in a closing event in Washington, D.C.

Host a Fellowship Placement at your Company

• Each Fellow will participate in and observe the operations of a host U.S. organization from his or her business sector. Through collaboration with their fellowship host organizations, Fellows will develop action plans to carry out upon their return to their home communities. Interested? Check out the brief bios of our Fellows below, and contact Camille Adkins-Rieck, the director of our Global Leadership Exchange team.
• Being involved as a YTILI Fellowship Host is an opportunity to create a network with and learn from a peer in another country pursuing a similar mission.
• YTILI will empower a new cohort of young European business and social entrepreneurs to grow their ventures, foster global partnerships, and positively impact the economic development of their communities.

Meet our Fellows:

Denis Vehovec Pondelak (Slovenia) is the CEO and co-founder of DDD Invoices, and is passionate about building scalable fintech infrastructure and bridging regulatory complexity through digital innovation. He leads DDD Invoices, an API-first platform that enables software companies to issue and receive tax-compliant e-invoices globally. Under his leadership, the company expanded across Europe, secured key partnerships, and positioned itself in global markets. Previously, Denis served as Marketing Team Lead at Anni Edico d.o.o., where he managed inbound growth and led teams across SEO, ads, and front-end development. His work focuses on the intersection of SaaS, compliance, and automation. Through YTILI, Denis aims to connect with key leaders in the U.S. fintech ecosystem, to learn from fintech infrastructure companies and to engage with sales leaders, growth teams, and founders to understand how marketing, sales, and product strategies align and scale. Additionally, he seeks insights from fintech founders on fundraising approaches and best practices for driving high-value deals and company growth.

Robin Röösli (Switzerland) is the co-founder and CEO of TIE International, a Swiss ICT education company that equipped over 300+ young professionals with essential technical skills through an intensive one-year apprenticeship bootcamp. TIE partners with leading corporations such as Accenture, UBS, and Siemens to align training with real industry needs and also offers international exchange opportunities for Swiss apprentices. With a background in computer science and business administration, Robin has extensive experience in leadership, program development, and fostering cross-sector collaboration, has developed innovative solutions, including a youth-focused cybersecurity program for the Swiss Armed Forces. An active member of the Global Shapers Community, Robin is passionate about cross-cultural exchange and vocational education. His professional interests lie at the intersection of workforce development, vocational education, and international collaboration. Through YTILI, Robin aims to stay current with emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to enhance TIE’s curriculum and better equip Swiss apprentices for global industry demands. He will explore how U.S. businesses, educational institutions, and government bodies collaborate to strengthen vocational training and workforce development. Robin also seeks to learn how private-sector-led apprenticeship programs are designed and scaled to align with industry needs and standards.

Rebekka Stumpf (Norway) is a strategic operations leader with a track record of scaling cleantech innovations across Europe and the Middle East. Currently Head of Business Growth at NablaFlow, she leads the international expansion of advanced wind simulation technology. As former COO of Ventum Dynamics, she grew the team, secured over 4M NOK in funding, and delivered projects like the World Expo Dubai installation. With expertise in R&D strategy, IP development, and cross-sector partnerships, Rebekka combines technical insight with commercial impact to accelerate sustainable design. Through YTILI, Rebekka aims to learn proven methodologies for scaling technical B2B companies in the U.S., with a focus on customer acquisition, partnership development, and revenue strategies in the simulation software and environment tech sectors. She seeks to master the evaluation and structuring of partnerships with engineering consultancies, tech integrators, and industry platforms to accelerate market penetration. Additionally, she plans to develop expertise in selling complex technical products across diverse sectors—such as automotive, sports, and urban planning—through both direct and partnership-based channels.

Eugenia Surucinschi (Moldova) began her career in corporate finance and became a CFO by the age of 25-but left it all behind to pursue what truly matters to her: building products that improve lives. Although her first startup didn't take off, it sparked her transition into tech, where she has since led product and growth initiatives for global clients. Now Eugenia Surucinschi is the CEO and Co-founder of Nearable, job search platform and application, recently registered to operate in the U.S. She is also the COO and Managing Partner of Oneest, a technology and software development company shaping the future for market leaders. She oversees operations, builds strategic partnerships, and develops market expansion strategies, collaborating with clients in Sweden and Germany while driving innovation and organizational agility. Beyond work, she volunteers with Toastmasters International in Chisinau and advocates for advancing automotive technology. Through YTILI, Eugenia is interested in learning B2B/B2C growth strategies for early-stage startups, GTM, Fundraising and building relationships with investors in early stage, Product market fit validation and startup launch strategies.

Ana Zviadauri (Georgia) is the founder and CEO of Ziodi Distillery, a woman-led startup based in Georgia's Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, where she produces premium fruit spirits using eco-friendly practices and traditional distilling methods. With a strong commitment to sustainability, she leads Ziodi in blending Georgian heritage with modern distillation techniques to craft unique, high-quality spirits. In addition to her work at Ziodi, Ana founded Mtskheta-Mtianeti DMI, an NGO focused on promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local entrepreneurship. She is passionate about empowering local entrepreneurs, particularly women-led companies, and fostering sustainable business practices that help expand Georgia's presence in global markets. Through YTILI, Ana aims to explore sustainable growth strategies for small-batch distilleries, focusing on scalability without compromising quality. She is also interested in B2B and export marketing approaches for niche beverage brands entering international markets. Additionally, Ana seeks to strengthen her leadership by learning from female mentors.