Westerwelle Young Founders Programme

The Westerwelle Young Founders Programme is a fully funded 6-month-long programme for outstanding young entrepreneurs from emerging and developing countries. The programme aims to connect young founders from all over the world and offers a mentoring programme tailored to their particular challenges. It supports them in further developing their entrepreneurial skills and their international network.

The 6-month-long Westerwelle Young Founders Programme Spring 2021 starts with a digital kick-off conference from 1st to 5th of March 2021. In the following six months, the young founders will have the opportunity to develop their company with the support of a personal mentor and to exchange ideas with the other young founders and obtain feedback.

On top of that, the Westerwelle Foundation will select the ten best performing Young Founders and invite them to the Top-10-Conference in Berlin in autumn 2021. During this conference, the selected startups will have the opportunity to pitch in front of investors, participate in workshops and networking events and get an insight into the German start-up scene.

Applications for the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme Spring 2021 are open from November 13th till December 9th and accessible here.

We wish all applicants good luck and are looking forward to again a new cohort of inspiring Young Founders.

What we offer:

  • The Top-10 Conference – a week-long conference in Berlin for the ten best performing startups who will be given the unique chance to pitch in front of investors, participate in workshops and networking events and get an insight into the German startup scene. (travel and accommodation will be covered by the Westerwelle Foundation);
  • personal mentor who is an experienced entrepreneur and will function as a sparring partner with whom you can discuss upcoming challenges and new opportunities;
  • Monthly peer mentoring calls with the other successful Young Founders of the cohort to share knowledge with and support each other;
  • Expert sessions on relevant topics (e.g. OKRs, investor KPIs, marketing & sales);
  • The Young Founders Network — a strong alumni network that functions as a platform for all Young Founders to connect with each other, exchange ideas and find support for existing challenges;
  • Exposure to the Berlin startup scene and the public for you and your startup via our social media channels and our networks,
  • Assistance beyond the programme as we remain a contact person for the Young Founders and will help you to find suitable experts for challenges, offer possibilities to share learnings with current cohorts or celebrate successes.
  • The buddy programme that connects alumni of the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme with new Young Founders that operate in the same business to potentially open doors and enhance mutual exchange.

Our requirements

  • You have recently (in the last 5 years) started a for-profit company with a scalable business model that has achieved Product-Market Fit and has ideally secured first external funding (if you run a business model that requires external investment);
  • your company is based in a developing or emerging country or has a strong business focus on developing and emerging economies;
  • you possess a good working knowledge of English;
  • you are available to attend the digital kick-off conference and can make time to participate in monthly mentoring and peer mentoring calls for the 6-month programme.

Please note that foreign applicants must possess valid travel documents (including a visa, if necessary) to enter Germany, and valid travel medical insurance.

Application process YFP Spring 2021

  1. Application deadline (9th of December 2020, 12am CET)
  2. Skype interviews with shortlisted candidates (2nd of January to 31st of January 2021)
  3. Jury decision and selection of participants (4th of February 2021)
  4. Notification of all applicants (6th of February 2021)

The Network

One of the highlights of participating in the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme is that every participant will also join the Young Founders Network — a strong network of outstanding entrepreneurs from emerging and developing countries who had participated in the programme themselves. The Young Founders Network is a place to look for expertise, develop synergies with other Young Founders and support each other.

Meet our Young Founders here:

Westerwelle Young Founders Spring 2020

Westerwelle Young Founders Autumn 2019

Westerwelle Young Founders Spring 2019

Westerwelle Young Founders Autumn 2018

Westerwelle Young Founders Spring 2018

Westerwelle Young Founders 2017

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For further information, please see the FAQs.

Amsterdam-Silicon Valley Female Founder Program

The Founder Institute, the world’s premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is launching the first of its kind virtual program in collaboration with WomenTech Network as part of the Amsterdam – Silicon Valley Virtual 2021 program.  

The Female Founder Program helps early-stage women entrepreneurs build innovative businesses in the Silicon Valley-Amsterdam Founder Institute through:

  • Mentorship and feedback from +100 top entrepreneurs and industry experts 
  • Access to a local and global support network of mentors, investors, and advisors
  • Introductions to business angels, VCs and corporates investing globally 
  • Over €1.5MM in partner deals and resources
  • Several fellowships awarded to the top applicants, allowing them to participate in the program for free

This collaboration with WomenTech Network is part of Founder Institute’s goal of improving the gender gap in technology. Together we aim to build additional promising female-led startups in 2021, and help further establish Amsterdam as a center for female leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Who Should Apply?

The Founder Institute is the world’s premier pre-seed startup accelerator, with chapters across 185+ cities and alumni companies that have raised over $950M in funding. Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used our program to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, building a co-founding team, and more. 

The Regional Female Founder Program (scheduled with Amsterdam – Silicon Valley Virtual 2021 program) takes place from  Mar 3, 2021 to May 27, 2021. Any pre-seed female entrepreneur interested in building an innovative startup is encouraged to apply, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies (pre-funding). 

The entire program is run virtually, so no physical presence is required. The weekly mandatory sessions are scheduled to take place starting 8.30AM PDT / 11:30AM EDT / 5:30PM CET / 6:30 EET and will last for 3 hours.

What to Expect?

To apply to the Amsterdam-Silcon Valley Female Founder Program you must complete your application below. 

During the program you can expect:

  • 3.5 months of systematic development on your idea and your company
  • 200+ specific tasks to develop your idea and your company
  • Direct and honest feedback about your business
  • Weekly online group sessions with top mentors giving practical guidance and Q&A session on specific topics
  • Personal and group office hours with hand-picked experienced mentors
  • Later in the program, introductions to corporates and potential investors
  • Global online demo day webinar for the graduates!

Rules of the game:

  • A limited number of applicants will be accepted to the program
  • We require execution – if you are not learning and executing, you may be dropped from the program
  • You will get strong peer support from other founders in your cohort
  • No need for physical appearance but mandatory remote video appearance for three hours on Wednesdays

After the short form, you will be invited to take our Entrepreneur DNA Assessment, which is our main criteria for evaluating applicants. 

The Final Application Deadline is on Feb 21, 2021. Female Founder Program recipients will be chosen from the top overall applicants to the program, and be notified via email within a few days of applying. 

Canada Scholarships for International Students

Duration: open for the 2020-2021 academic year
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Candidates: Canadian post-secondary institutions on behalf of admitted candidates
Application Form
Official Link

Overview

Following the launch of the new International Education Strategy, Global Affairs Canada is pleased to present the Study in Canada Scholarships program. This program will offer academic scholarships for up to two years of study at the post-secondary level that leads to a diploma, post-secondary or post-graduate certificate, or Master’s degree at a college, technical or vocational school, or university in Canada. The Study in Canada Scholarships program is open to students from all disciplines.

The Study in Canada Scholarships program aims to increase opportunities for post-secondary institutions across Canada to welcome international students from around the world.

Successful candidates from eligible recipient countries/territories will receive scholarships to study in programs of up to two academic years in length leading to a diploma, post-secondary or post-graduate certificate, or Master’s degree at a college, technical or vocational school, or university in Canada.

Successful Canadian post-secondary institutions will have the opportunity to strengthen and diversify their international academic and people-to-people linkages, and to showcase the excellence of Canada’s post-secondary institutions across the country.

The new connections created through the program will diversify and enrich Canada’s education engagement with a diverse range of partners, strengthen bilateral ties, and complement the Government of Canada’s broader international trade diversification efforts.

Benefits

Funding for the Study in Canada Scholarships program is made available by Global Affairs Canada through its legal title: the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).

The Canadian post-secondary institution will receive funding from DFATD for all successful candidates in the form of a contribution agreement and will be responsible for disbursing the funds as scholarships to the recipients.

The scholarship value varies depending on the duration, level and program of study.

  • Up to CAD 60,000 for one academic year of minimum 8 months and maximum 12 months in duration
  • Up to CAD 120,000 for two academic years of maximum 24 months in duration

Terms or semesters (e.g. summer) during which no full-time study or other academic activity required for program completion take place, are not covered by the scholarship.

In addition to the funds allocated to the recipients by DFATD, the Canadian host institution may also claim a one-time fee of CAD 500 per scholarship recipient to assist with administrative costs once the scholarship recipient arrives in Canada.

Eligible expenses under the scholarship value:

  • visa and/or study/work permit fees and/or travel expenses related to the collection of biometrics;
  • economy-class airfare, for the scholarship recipient only, to Canada by the most direct and economical route and return airfare upon completion of the scholarship.  For two-year academic programs with an intervening spring/summer term/semester during which no full-time study or other academic activity required for program completion take place, an additional round-trip economy-class airfare between Canada and the student’s country/territory may be covered;
  • health insurance;
  • tuition and other mandatory fees for the full-time, on-campus diploma, post-secondary or post-graduate certificate, or Master’s degree;
  • living expenses, for the scholarship recipient only, such as accommodation, utilities and food;
  • ground public transportation, including a public transportation pass; and
  • books and supplies required for the recipient’s study or research, excluding computer equipment.

The benefits will vary according to the Terms and Conditions as well as the length of the scholarship.

Duration

Scholarships are tenable for a minimum of one academic year (8 months) and up to a maximum of two academic years (24 months total), which must begin between August 2020 and February 2021.

Eligibility

Candidate students:
To be considered for a scholarship, candidate students:

  • must be citizens of one of the following eligible countries: Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Comoros, Djibouti, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritania, Micronesia, Palau, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Vanuatu. Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem are also eligible.
  • must not hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency and must not have a pending application for permanent residency in Canada;
  • must apply and be admitted to a full-time academic program at a Canadian post-secondary institution;
  • should indicate their interest in being considered for the Study in Canada Scholarships program when applying for admission at a Canadian institution; and
  • must possess the linguistic competencies necessary to undertake studies in the language of instruction at the Canadian post-secondary institution (English or French).

Canadian post-secondary institutions are:

  • responsible for submitting applications on behalf of eligible candidates; and
  • encouraged to promote this scholarship opportunity on their relevant institutional websites (e.g. Admissions, International Student Office and External Scholarships websites), through faculty and staff members, as well as to partner post-secondary institutions in eligible countries/territories.

Supporting documents

he following documents must be uploaded and attached to the online application form in one of the following formats: .pdf, .jpg, .doc, .docx, .txt or .gif. Each document must be smaller than 5 MB in order for the application to upload successfully.

  • Proof of citizenship/identity: a copy of the candidate’s passport or official identity document with valid dates. Note: a driver’s licence, permanent resident card, student card or baptism certificate are not accepted as proof of citizenship. The country/territory of citizenship/identity selected in the online application form must be the same as the country/territory of the proof of citizenship/identity. For Palestinian candidates from the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, the option “Other” should be selected from the drop-down menu. A copy of the candidate’s Palestinian Authority-issued travel document or identification demonstrating East Jerusalem residency with valid dates must be provided.
  • Letter of intent from the post-secondary institution: a letter in English or French from the Canadian post-secondary institution describing: i) its rationale for nominating the candidate(s), ii) how receiving the student(s) will contribute to the school’s international linkages and internationalization objectives, and iii) how the candidate’s studies will contribute to developing ties between the recipient’s country/territory and Canada (maximum one page). See “Selection Process” for more information on the criteria that will be used to assess applications.
  • Letter of acceptance: a letter confirming the candidate has received admission to the program of study.
  • Academic study plan: an outline of the candidate’s proposed program of study for the scholarship period, issued by the host institution. For two-year programs, the plan should specify whether full-time study or another academic activity required for the program completion will take place during the intervening spring/summer term/semester.
  • CV: a curriculum vitae of the proposed candidate outlining the individual’s qualifications.
  • Budget: a clear and itemized budget indicating how the scholarship will be used to cover eligible expenses of the candidate (e.g., tuition, living expenses, health insurance).
  • Privacy Notice Statement: a copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants dated and signed by the candidate.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

All inquiries regarding the Study in Canada Scholarships program should be directed to: scholarships-bourses@cbie.ca.

Application

The application period will be open from February 5 to March 31, 2020.
Application Form
Official Link

UNAOC 2020 FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

Host Country: Russia
Host Organization: Untied Nation Alliance of Civilizations
Fellowship Theme: Building Peace in the age of new media
Deadline: 3 April 2020

Background

he United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to announce its UNAOC Fellowship Program 2020. The United Nations fellowship is open to participants between 25 to 35 years old, from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and North America, with a strong interest in intercultural exchanges.

To be selected for the UN Fellowships, candidates must be able to present professional achievements in the fields of media, social media, and peacebuilding, with knowledge of the UN system. The Call will lead to the selection of a group of young leaders from Europe, North-America (EUNA) on one end, and a group of young leaders from the Middle East and North-Africa (MENA) on the other end. Participants from each geographic area will travel to their counterparts’ region for two weeks.

Vision

The goal of the United Nations Fellowship 2020 is to challenge perceptions and deconstruct stereotypes by providing participants with first-hand exposure to cultural diversity. In every country they visit, UNAOC Fellows will interact with a wide range of local stakeholders. While exploring opportunities for intercultural collaboration, Fellows will also discuss and exchange ideas on how to use media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work toward sustainable peace and conflict prevention.

Eligibility Criteria

 To be eligible as EUNA candidates, applicants must be:

  • Nationals from the United States, Canada, or a country member of the Council of Europe (plus Belarus)
  • Born between January 1st 1985 and December 31st 1995
  • Fluent in English
  • Working directly in the fields of media and/or peace-building, with strong social media proficiency and strong knowledge of the UN and its global agenda.
  • In possession of a passport valid at least 3 months beyond July 2020 (October 1st 2020 and beyond)
  • Must not have participated in any of UNAOC program before.

 To be eligible as MENA candidates, applicants must be:

  • Nationals from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
  • Born between January 1st 1985 and December 31st 1995
  • Fluent in English
  • Working directly in the fields of media and/or peace-building, with strong social media proficiency and strong knowledge of the UN and its global agenda.
  • In possession of a passport valid at least 6 months beyond September 2020 (March 1st 2021 and beyond)
  • Must not have participated in any of UNAOC programmes before.

The jury will only evaluate applications meeting all of the above-mentioned criteria.

Evaluation and Selection 

Candidates meeting all the eligibility criteria will have their application reviewed by a jury composed of UNAOC staff, experts working in the fields of media, social media, peace-building and conflict prevention, with a strong knowledge of the UN system.

The jury will be looking for candidates with strong interest in learning more about other cultures and societies. To be selected, participants should also express their motivation in developing cross-cultural collaboration with peers and partners from different countries.

The jury will also be assessing professional accomplishment in the fields of media and peace-building and will look for applicants with a potential in shaping opinion and taking strong initiatives within their community.

The jury will also make sure that the final selection is:

  • Gender balanced
  • Region balanced between participants from North America, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
  • Limited to two participants per country
  • Professionally balanced with no more than a third of participants working in the same sector or industry.

To preserve the above-mentioned balance and to ensure the quality and diversity of participants, the selection jury will select the next highest scoring candidate to replace the lowest scoring redundant candidate.

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for a short Skype or phone interview.


How to apply?

  • Only fill in the following application if you meet all the eligibility criteria mentioned above
  • The application is to be completed in English only
  • The application is to be completed truthfully and in its entirety
  • Make sure to attach all the documents required
  • Resume must be in English
  • Do not attach anything else but the documents required

Only complete applications meeting the eligibility criteria and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Application

The last date to apply for the UNAOC Fellowship Programme 2020 is  Sunday, 8 March 11:59 pm EST to apply.

Apply as a MENA candidate Apply as a EUNA candidate

Official Link: link