Applications open for Westerwelle Young Founders Programme for entrepreneurs

The Westerwelle Young Founders Programme has opened an application for its fully funded year-long programme for 25 exceptional entrepreneurs from developing and emerging economies. The programme focuses on connecting young founders from developing and emerging economies with each other and with the German startup scene, the organisation said.

As part of the programme, the Westerwelle Foundation hosts an annual conference in Berlin: the Young Founders Conference, which the participants will “have the unique opportunity to meet and interact with successful entrepreneurs, investors and political decision makers. They will also join a network of like-minded outstanding young founders from developing and emerging economies,” the organisation said on its website.

During the year-long programme, all fellows will get access to the previously mentioned Young Founders Conference in Berlin, Germany to be held on April 10 to 14, 2018; a monthly mentoring calls with an experienced entrepreneur and with the group of Westerwelle Young Founders; invitations and scholarships for entrepreneurship conferences and an international alumni network, among others.

The organisation is providing funding for travel and accommodation for the Young Founders Conference, just as fellows are expected to actively participate in the Young Founders Conference as well as in the scheduled mentoring calls.

To apply for this opportunity, the organisation requires that startups must have a five-year-started a for-profit company with a scalable business model and such company must be based in a developing or emerging country or have a strong business focus on developing and emerging economies.

Shortlisted candidates will be expected to be available for a Skype interview, which will go into consideration for their final selection. “Based on the results of both the written applications and Skype interviews, our jury then selects the candidates who will get to participate in the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme,” the organisation said.

The deadline for application is December 18.