YTILI 2024 – 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. American participants then travel to Europe to work with YTILI Fellows on joint projects in their workplaces and communities.

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. This year, all of our Fellows work in clean tech! 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.
• Fully-funded reciprocal exchanges – U.S. fellowship hosts will have the opportunity to continue their entrepreneurial growth through reciprocal exchanges to their Fellows' home communities.
• 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.

Homestay Hosting

• Homestay hosting: We are seeking 4 more host families to provide a one-week homestay for the first week of their program. Find our more on our website here.

Meet our Fellows:

Azerbaijan – Shahin Badirkhanli is the deputy director of BIOROPEAN, a company that aims to lead the way in waste management practices in Azerbaijan, with a focus on regional business development and promoting a sustainable future for the entire region. BIOROPEAN’s aim is to become the leading waste management company in the region and expand to other recycling segments, working with internationally recognized large corporations. Through YTILI, Shahin hopes to gain a deeper understanding of innovation in the United States and gain new insights that will help him to improve his entrepreneurial skills and apply these in his work back in Azerbaijan.

Bulgaria – Denimir Dimitrov is the founder and CEO of Zero Wave, a company with the mission to turn waste into valuable resources, by making food products made of the by-product that comes after the production of beer - brewer's spent grain. Food waste and loss are estimated to be responsible for 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Through circular economics, Denimir is tackling one of the most pressing issues nowadays - climate change. During the YTILI program, Denimir will use the opportunities to build a bridge between Europe and USA to align the mission of decarbonization of the planet.

Finland – Julius Oförsagd is the founder, CEO, and head of design of the design agency Arctic Factory, which works towards the goal of solving problems with interdisciplinary design teams. Artic Factory has focused on helping public actors strategically solve problems and design new  service and policy models. Julius hopes YTILI will help to make international openings so that Arctic Factory can be part of solving relevant challenges at a global level in the future. Julius is also looking for knowledge to create a new kind of design-oriented innovation ecosystem.

Netherlands – Jaap van de Vorst is founder of ‘The Inventive Step’, which works to accelerate innovation. Jaap believes innovation is at the heart of solving today’s biggest challenges. With his company he focuses on projects in an early phase that are bound to make an impact, primarily in fields like clean energy and mobility. With tools developed in-house, Jaap is working towards a broader support platform empowering inventors and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life. Through YTILI, Jaap aims to learn more about diverse cultures and different technology ecosystems with the goal of fostering a greater international perspective for empowering innovation.

Poland – Michał Kruszyński is the co-founder and the CEO of ZNIKA, a marketplace for sustainable packaging and labels dedicated to SMEs. The startup also focuses on the development of their own
compostable bioplastic materials. ZNIKA was created to tackle plastic pollution, and it's Michał’s third project, following an educational NGO: Fundacja Nowy Głos, and a climate communication think-tank: Planet-A Foundation. During YTILI, Michał looks forward to meeting professionals, startups founders, investors and fellows. His goal is to broaden his perspective through meaningful conversations and broaden his understanding of the US startup ecosystem.

Sweden – Max van der Mars is the co-founder of Skosh, a company pioneering circularity in consumer goods, effectively lowering carbon emissions and promoting the responsible use of natural resources. Max aims to expand Skosh's reach in European markets, forge partnerships with local sustainability initiatives, and collaborate with like-minded businesses. Through his participation in YTILI, Max seeks to enhance his leadership and coaching skills while also leveraging the platform to accelerate Skosh's growth and promote sustainable living.