Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Pitch Competition

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Join us at Amazon as we celebrate our European Fellows participating in the Young Transatlantic Leaders Initiative (YTILI), the U.S. Department of State's flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe, in the capstone of their professional exchange in Seattle: a pitch competition. Each of the Fellows, representing Azerbaijan, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, have spent the month in Seattle partnered with host organizations that align with their work in order to share their strengths, develop new skills, and build their perspective on Seattle's startup ecosystem.

For the pitch competition, the Fellows will competitively present their innovative business plans to a panel of local judges. Their companies work in clean tech, sustainability, the circular economy, waste reduction, and more! The winner will present to the full cohort at the YTILI Closing Summit in Washington DC. The YTILI Fellows have been refining their pitches under the mentorship of:

CleanTech Alliance • Panorama Global • Clean Energy Institute • Modern Species • Seattle Good Business Network

Whether you're in the clean tech, energy, or climate space yourself; or if you're interested in connecting with an exciting group of entrepreneurs from a diverse range of countries; or simply curious to meet our volunteer homestay hosts, host companies, community members, and visitors from Europe; join us to cheer on our Fellows and learn about their startup journey.

Meet our Fellows:

Azerbaijan – Shahin Badirkhanli is the deputy director of BIOROPEAN, a company that aims to lead the way in waste management practices in Azerbaijan, with a focus on regional business development and promoting a sustainable future for the entire region. BIOROPEAN’s aim is to become the leading waste management company in the region and expand to other recycling segments, working with internationally recognized large corporations. Through YTILI, Shahin hopes to gain a deeper understanding of innovation in the United States and gain new insights that will help him to improve his entrepreneurial skills and apply these in his work back in Azerbaijan.

Finland – Julius Oförsagd is the founder, CEO, and head of design of the design agency Arctic Factory, which works towards the goal of solving problems with interdisciplinary design teams. Artic Factory has focused on helping public actors strategically solve problems and design new  service and policy models. Julius hopes YTILI will help to make international openings so that Arctic Factory can be part of solving relevant challenges at a global level in the future. Julius is also looking for knowledge to create a new kind of design-oriented innovation ecosystem.

Netherlands – Jaap van de Vorst is founder of ‘The Inventive Step’, which works to accelerate innovation. Jaap believes innovation is at the heart of solving today’s biggest challenges. With his company he focuses on projects in an early phase that are bound to make an impact, primarily in fields like clean energy and mobility. With tools developed in-house, Jaap is working towards a broader support platform empowering inventors and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life. Through YTILI, Jaap aims to learn more about diverse cultures and different technology ecosystems with the goal of fostering a greater international perspective for empowering innovation.

Poland – Michał Kruszyński is the co-founder and the CEO of ZNIKA, a marketplace for sustainable packaging and labels dedicated to SMEs. The startup also focuses on the development of their own
compostable bioplastic materials. ZNIKA was created to tackle plastic pollution, and it's Michał’s third project, following an educational NGO: Fundacja Nowy Głos, and a climate communication think-tank: Planet-A Foundation. During YTILI, Michał looks forward to meeting professionals, startups founders, investors and fellows. His goal is to broaden his perspective through meaningful conversations and broaden his understanding of the US startup ecosystem.

Sweden – Max van der Mars is the co-founder of Skosh, a company pioneering circularity in consumer goods, effectively lowering carbon emissions and promoting the responsible use of natural resources. Max aims to expand Skosh's reach in European markets, forge partnerships with local sustainability initiatives, and collaborate with like-minded businesses. Through his participation in YTILI, Max seeks to enhance his leadership and coaching skills while also leveraging the platform to accelerate Skosh's growth and promote sustainable living.

More about YTILI

The YTILI Fellowship Program, sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, includes a five-month virtual entrepreneurship curriculum and a four-week Fellowship experience with a U.S. company. Chosen from a competitive applicant pool, the YTILI Fellows represent 45 European countries and reflect a wide variety of industry sectors. The program is a collaborative, enriching experience that combines entrepreneurship training with leadership development and networking opportunities.