Applicants between the ages of 25 and 35.

You are not required to use a specific CV format. 

Applicants who are able to begin the YTILI Entrepreneurship Curriculum in November 2021 and their U.S. based experience in March – April 2022.

Applicants who are citizens of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Fellows are not able to choose their U.S.-based experience city. WorldChicago will work to place fellows in a city that aligns with their needs and experiences. All fellows will be placed in a U.S. emerging economy and have the opportunity to work with expert mentors during their U.S.-based experience. Please note that if safe travel is not possible at the time of the YTILI Fellowship, this program will be conducted virtually or postponed.

You must have been working in your current social or business venture through which you are applying for two years. 

Yes, all applications must be completed in English, including: the submitted application, the attached CV, and the interview. 

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The YTILI Fellowship program is offered as a hybrid program with virtual activities leading up to a U.S.-based exchange. Please note, the in-person, U.S.-based fellowship is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event there are travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants and hosts, the YTILI Fellowship program will pivot the in-person, U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming. 

Yes, you can still complete the initial application. If you advance as a Semi-Finalist, then you may be asked to provide more specific details on your past travel to the U.S. 

When you agree to participate in the YTILI Fellowship Program, you will be issued a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Visa that will cover the duration your U.S. based experience of the fellowship. If you already have a valid J-1 Visa for another program, you will not be able to participate in the YTILI program as you cannot have two valid J-1 Visas at the same time. Having another class of visa for the U.S., such as a B1 or B2 Tourist visa does not conflict with obtaining a J-1 Visa for the YTILI program. Preference is given to candidates who have not participated in a U.S. Department of State funded program in recent years. 

WorldChicago and the U.S. Department of State do not require written permission from employers to apply for the program; however, it is expected that selected fellows proactively communicate with employers, complete any due diligence, and meet any obligations that may require employer notification. 

If you are selected as a YTILI Fellow, you are not able to defer your participation to another fellowship year. All selected fellows must be available to travel and participate in all fellowship activities, including the Opening and Closing Summits and their fellowship experience in the United States. Selected fellows must be available to participate in the virtual Entrepreneurship curriculum before, during, and after the U.S.-based experience. 

Yes, previous applicants are able to apply again so long as they meet the eligibility requirements for the current iteration of the program. 

No, the YTILI Fellowship Program is designed for individuals only.

• Applicants who are eligible and able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa.

• Applicants who are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English at the time of application.

• Applicants who are committed to returning to his or her home country after completion of the program.

• Applicants who are not a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the United States or have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years.

• Applicants who are not a U.S. government employee.

• Applicants who have not participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. Department of State in the past five years.

• Applicants who are not residing or working outside of Europe at the time of application.

Applicants who have at least two (2) years of experience at their current social or business venture.

Applicants currently residing in the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

If selected as a YTILI Fellow, the program will cover J-1 Visa support; the entrepreneurship curriculum; supplemental entrepreneurial training; accommodations, meals, local transportation during U.S.-based experience, and a limited accident and sickness health plan. The air travel included will be: air travel from the fellow’s current city of residence to Chicago, IL for the Opening Summit, air travel from Chicago, IL to the city of the fellowship placement, air travel from the fellowship placement city to Washington, D.C. for the Closing Summit, and air travel for the return flight to the fellow’s home country.  

The application window is open from February 1, 2022, through March 15, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST. Applications will be reviewed for technical eligibility on a rolling basis and then further evaluated through Spring 2022. Semi-Finalists will be selected and notified of next steps in Summer 2022.  

Fellows will be required to participate in a virtual entrepreneurship curriculum and U.S. fellowship experience. The virtual Entrepreneurship course will begin Winter 2022 and include synchronous and asynchronous sessions lasting 60-120 minutes each. There will be three to four sessions before and after the U.S.-based fellowship experience. Workshops and classes will also be embedded as part of the U.S.-based experience. The U.S. experience will be in early Spring 2023, which includes opening and closing summits and a four-week fellowship placement. Select Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in reciprocal exchanges. 

The YTILI Fellowship Program is an exchange visitor program funded by the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by WorldChicago. In order to arrive in the U.S. for the U.S. based experience portion of the YTILI Fellowship, you will need a J-1 Visa. This J-1 Visa will only be valid for the duration of the U.S. based experience dates of the YTILI 2022 program. As the YTILI program is funded by the United States government, you will be subject to the two-year home-country foreign residency requirement. You must return to your country of permanent residence for at least two years, cumulatively, at the end of your exchange visitor program. You are not prohibited from traveling to the United States or conducting business in the United States but may not benefit from certain employment-based or family-based visas until the foreign residency requirement is satisfied. Please read through the U.S. Department of State’s J-1 Visa Common Questions here.

U.S. cities with either established or emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems are targeted for the program. The nine U.S. cities, or ‘Innovation Hubs’ for the YTILI Fellowship are: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Huntsville, Alabama; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; and Seattle, Washington.  

WorldChicago is working with a regional partner, CEED Slovenia. If you have questions regarding fit for the program, you may email CEED Slovenia at ytili@ceed.si.

If you have specific questions regarding the program components, dates, or application, please contact WorldChicago at ytili-info@worldchicago.org.

If you have questions regarding advice for the program or fit for the program, please contact WorldChicago's regional partner, CEED Slovenia at ytili@ceed.si.

Entrepreneurs and innovators between the ages of 25-35 with citizenship and legal permanent residence in any of the 45 participating countries are eligible to apply for the fellowship. The participating countries include: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Applicants should be currently involved in a business or social venture.