In order to compete and be eligible to win in the Start-Up Challenge, a special category of TIC Americas 2025, competing teams (“Teams”) must meet the following criteria:

1. Be composed of a minimum of one (1) person and a maximum of five (5) people between 18 and 34 years old, with experience in different areas of their business.
2. Participants must be citizens or legal residents of OAS Member States. Multinational Teams may compete. Multinational teams shall register under the country of nationality or country of permanent residence of the CEO. Operate or plan to operate a business in an OAS Member State and be capable of formally registering the business in that country.
3. Each team may register up to two Volunteer Mentors responsible for guiding the team through their expertise (optional). (See “Mentors”).

The following individuals are not eligible to register or compete in the Start-Up Challenge:

• YABT staff, members of its Board of Directors, and national chapters. TIC Americas judges. Staff, contractors, and members of its Board of Directors and Advisory Council of Banreservas. ¹
• Entrepreneurs who have already received capital investment and/or financing from Cree Banreservas Program.
• Organization of American States’ General Secretariat personnel. Immediate family or household members of anyone mentioned above.

sup>1All those interested in participating in the Start Up Challenge who have received capital investment through the Cree Banreservas Entrepreneurship Program will not be able to participate in this competition.