We encourage Uruguayan entrepreneurs to dream big, to take risks, to become leaders and to inspire others. Our programs for entrepreneurs help Uruguayans from across the country to take their innovative ideas and projects to the next level.
Young Leaders of the Americas Exchange Program (YLAI)
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. It is designed to promote mutual understanding and build a network of young business and social entrepreneurs. The program takes young leaders to the U.S. for entrepreneurial leadership training and provides fellowships with U.S. companies and social enterprises. It is open for Uruguayan entrepreneurs between the ages of 25 and 35 with a minimum of two years of experience as an entrepreneur, to strengthen their ability to promote their businesses and contribute effectively to the social and economic development of their communities. The participants travel to the United States for four weeks where they gain valuable professional development skills and experience in U.S. organizations and companies. Uruguayan scholars can host their U.S. mentors in Uruguay as a second stage of this program, to deepen their professional and cultural ties.
You can learn more about YLAI here.
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses. By promoting women’s economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources needed to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. At the local level, AWE offers a four-month training opportunity to Uruguayan women entrepreneurs from all over the country, who work in social or commercial enterprises, to help them create a profitable business model. Participants with the best ventures are offered English workshops, as well as seed capital.
More information about ECA – AWE here.
