Entrepreneurship doesn’t grow in isolation—it thrives through connection, mentorship and the exchange of ideas across borders. That’s exactly the spirit behind the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship, a program that brings together emerging entrepreneurs from across the Americas to learn, collaborate and expand their impact.
YLAI: Supporting Entrepreneurship Across the Americas
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, YLAI is a highly competitive, fully funded fellowship that supports entrepreneurs from Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada. Through a blended leadership curriculum and a four-week professional placement with a U.S. host organization, fellows gain hands-on experience, strategic mentorship and access to a powerful international network. The goal is simple but powerful: equip entrepreneurs with the tools, connections and confidence they need to strengthen their ventures and drive innovation in their home communities.
Our Role in the Fellowship
At ASU’s Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I) Network, our role in the YLAI Fellowship goes beyond delivering content. We leverage our extensive network to empower the next generation of global entrepreneurs. By connecting fellows with experienced founders, mentors, educators and industry experts, we help transform the fellowship into a collaborative learning experience that supports long-term impact. A Program Officer for the YLAI Fellowship Program referred to Edson E+I as “a premier example of what we want a State Department Partnership to look like.”
An Evolving Curriculum
Our team develops and continuously evolves the leadership curriculum, ensuring it is practical, reflective and action-oriented so fellows can immediately apply what they learn to their ventures. We also organize and facilitate virtual pre-departure and alumni sessions, helping entrepreneurs prepare for the program while building lasting relationships across the global YLAI community. A key strength of our work is the ecosystem behind it. We collaborate with ASU faculty and staff, E+I mentors, YLAI alumni, community entrepreneurs and partners across our broader network, bringing diverse perspectives and real-world insights into the program. A 2026 YLAI fellow recently shared, “It was once again a pleasure and an honor to participate in Debrief Session #2 with such knowledgeable experts and inspiring fellows. Special thanks to Arizona State University for such a great dynamic session.”
Tools that Reflect New Technology
We also continue to innovate the learning experience by introducing new modules and tools such as WorldLabs and Yoodli to help fellows strengthen their strategy, communication and leadership skills. At the same time, we actively incorporate feedback from fellows and partners to keep the program relevant across industries and regions.
A Foundation of Strong Partnerships
Finally, when a group of fellows arrived in Phoenix, in collaboration with Global Ties Arizona, we connected them with host organizations and the local entrepreneurial community, ensuring they can engage directly with mentors and innovators in our ecosystem. The fellows have a chance to meet and engage with the E+I team, and this year, they had an opportunity to practice their pitch in front of a panel of judges, get feedback and compete for prizes.
Through these efforts, we activate our network to support, connect and empower emerging entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and economic growth across the Americas.
Amplification and Impact Opportunity
The YLAI Fellowship creates a powerful opportunity to amplify impact for both the fellows and the ASU Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I) Network.
For the fellows, the program provides meaningful exposure to ASU and the E+I ecosystem, introducing them to the university’s entrepreneurial resources, mentors and innovation-driven approach to venture development. Through this experience, participants gain new tools, perspectives and connections that can support the growth of their ventures long after the fellowship ends.
For our team, the fellowship serves as a valuable platform to repurpose and expand our curriculum, making it accessible and actionable for entrepreneurs from diverse industries and regions. Many of the modules are adapted into practical worksheets and reflection tools that help fellows translate ideas into clear action steps for their ventures. By focusing on hands-on examples and real-world applications, we ensure the content is not only informative but also immediately useful. Fellows consistently highlight the practical value of the curriculum. “The curriculum has been instrumental in addressing real-world challenges and enhancing adaptability in our specific industry context,” stated one participant in the post-fellowship survey.
The program also creates a continuous feedback loop. Insights from fellows, who represent a wide range of industries, markets, and cultural perspectives, help us refine and strengthen the curriculum. Incorporating these perspectives allows us to develop content that is more globally relevant and responsive to the needs of entrepreneurs operating in different ecosystems.
At the same time, the fellowship helps strengthen and expand our network. Collaborating with mentors, alumni, community entrepreneurs and host organizations allows us to deepen existing relationships while building new ones. Each cohort introduces new contacts and new opportunities for collaboration, further connecting ASU and the E+I Network to entrepreneurial ecosystems across the Americas.
Ultimately, this creates a powerful global outreach effect. As fellows return to their home countries, they carry with them new knowledge, resources and connections—extending the reach of the E+I Network and contributing to a growing community of entrepreneurs driving innovation and economic development around the world.“This program is designed so well to inspire engagement and facilitate sharing and building globally,” said Eric Walker, Entrepreneur and E+I Venture Mentor.
Accelerating Entrepreneurial Impact Through Connection
Entrepreneurship has the power to create opportunity, strengthen communities and drive innovation across borders. But it thrives when people and ecosystems are connected. Through the YLAI Fellowship, we’ve seen how bringing together entrepreneurs, mentors, educators and organizations can spark ideas, build lasting partnerships and accelerate impact around the world. As the ASU Entrepreneurship + Innovation Network continues to support and learn from this growing global community, we are always looking to expand our network of collaborators who share a commitment to empowering entrepreneurs.
Learn more about entrepreneurial events and opportunities to get connected with the Edson E+I community.
