The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Fellowship Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange implemented with IREX for entrepreneurs and business leaders from Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It combines an online entrepreneurial leadership curriculum with a four-week placement at a U.S. business.
The six-month hybrid exchange builds practical leadership skills, business connections, and an action plan for each fellow to apply after returning home. The 2026 cohort has completed its U.S. placement, and the next application opening date has not been announced.
Benefits & funding
- There is no application fee, and the U.S. Government covers program costs.
- Support includes a J-1 visa, round-trip travel from the fellow’s home city, and required travel within the United States.
- Fellows receive entrepreneurship coursework and mentoring, an opening orientation, a four-week professional placement, and a closing forum in Washington, D.C.
- The package also includes a limited accident and sickness benefit plan, housing, and a meal stipend during the program.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be 25–35 years old at the fellowship start date.
- Applicants must have at least two years of demonstrated experience successfully growing their own business or social venture.
- Applicants must be citizens and current residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, or Venezuela. Dutch citizenship is accepted only for applicants residing in Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten.
- Applicants must be eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa, be proficient in spoken and written English, and must not be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or U.S. Government employees.
- No degree or gender requirement is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica
+ 26 more
Cuba · Curaçao · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Netherlands · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Sint Maarten · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Uruguay · Venezuela
Residence required
Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica
+ 25 more
Cuba · Curaçao · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Sint Maarten · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Uruguay · Venezuela
Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
Age requirement
25–35 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Wait for the next cycle to be announced on the official YLAI fellowship page.
- 2Create an account in the official IREX online application system.
- 3Complete the application in English with the requested work history, business profile, and written responses.
- 4Review all entries before submitting online by the announced deadline.
Program timeline
Application deadline for the 2026 cohort
May 15, 2025
Six-month hybrid exchange began
January 2026
Fellows arrived in Houston for opening orientation
Apr 21, 2026
Four-week U.S. professional placement
Apr 27, 2026 to May 21, 2026
After the placement
Closing forum in Washington, D.C.
Next cycle
Opening date not announced