Timeline

Official Launch: November 1, 2023.

Registration Period: November 1, 2023 – April 15, 2024. 

Teams create a Team Profile on the Website and participate in online training sessions

Materials Submission Deadline for registered teams: April 29, 2024 10:00 PM (EST)

Registered teams may submit or make changes to Competition Materials and their Team Profile until the deadline.

Business Opportunity Online Training Camp (BOOT Camp): November 2023 – June, 2024

Boot Camp helps participants transform innovative ideas into more solid, structured projects, business plans and social enterprises. The BOOT Camp is a one-stop resource center for young entrepreneurs to access business development content, tips, tools, online training, and other relevant material for developing youth-led projects, start-ups and businesses.

Evaluations: May, 2024

Judges will conduct evaluations following the criteria defined in these Rules, Terms and Conditions. (Section D). The evaluation process is conducted solely by judges and coordinated by the Organizer. No contact between judges and team members, including mentors, is permitted at this time.

Announcement of Finalists: June, 2024.

Due to an expected high number of participants, YABT and its partners will announce the Finalist Teams through a virtual event transmitted via webcast. Only Finalist Teams will be contacted directly via email.

In preparation for the Finals, Finalists will receive the following technical assistance:

  • Assessment Report – YABT compiles feedback and scoring that the teams received from the Judges during the Semi-Finals phase. This resulting report helps teams understand the areas that need work and improvement. 
  • Group Mentoring – Finalist teams will receive group mentoring to improve the business strategy in preparation for the Finals. Mentors will be identified by YABT and will  come from renowned multinational companies, universities, incubators, etc. who allocate time and resources to support Finalists improve their projects for the live presentation to judges during the finals. 
  • Meet the Finalists Campaign – YABT holds an hemispheric social media campaign to provide wide visibility and potential partnerships to Finalists, including live, webcasted interviews, presentations, etc.

Finals and Awards Ceremony : July-August, 2024.

The Finals, a live virtual event that will be transmitted via webcast, (except when indicated below), consists of the following:

  • Presentation to Judges: Finalists will present to a panel of judges in real time, via virtual meetings using technological communications platforms (zoom, meet or similar). The teams’ presentations are not publicly transmitted and can be organized over a  week . 
  • Expo: a virtual Expo will be available and open to the general public to meet, connect, and support the finalists; Finalists will visualize and promote their initiatives during this period
  • Awards Ceremony: YABT and the IAF will announce the Winners during the second day of an online event . In addition, the event will include publicly available, online sessions and content such as:
  • Virtual Panels, Conferences, Master Classes and Sessions on Innovation, Proven Environmental Solutions: International experts, including Finalists and high-level speakers will be invited to participate in the Finals and share content.

Follow up and Capacity Building: July – September 2024

Awards Packages implementation process: YABT will work with Winners in the development and presentation of an investment plan, as well as all required documentation and formats for disbursements of funds. As winners, teams also receive further mentoring, visibility opportunities, including speaking invitations to YABT and/or partner events, youth dialogues  or forums, and other similar spaces that will showcase their impact and open partnership opportunities.