Launched in 2016, the Young Transatlantic Innovative Leaders Initiation Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) of the U.S. Department of State and is supported in its implementation by The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF).

Entrepreneurs are a driving force for economic development, job creation, security, and good governance across Europe. YTILI empowers young European and Eurasian entrepreneurs and innovators with the tools, networks, and resources they need to turn ideas into action and grow successful enterprises. Recognizing that European entrepreneurs face unique challenges to starting a business, the YTILI program is also a vehicle for building a transatlantic network of leaders that can more fully contribute to an ongoing policy dialogue to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and opportunities for innovation.

The 2018 Fellowship year will conclude with a closing conference in Washington, DC. The 68 YTILI Fellows from the 2018 program will gather in DC to meet in person following the conclusion of their week-long U.S. Experience in one of nine U.S. Cities: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Washington, DC. The YTILI Closing Conference will feature a pitch showcase, meetings at the State Department, and breakouts and panels on topics such as engaging VCs, social entrepreneurship, and how the US government supports innovation. The event will be the capstone to the 2018 Fellowship year as the 2018 YTILI class becomes alumni. GMF is pleased to be partnering with the following organizations to support programming at the Closing Summit:  Google, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Case Foundation, and Alley, a DC coworking space powered by Verizon.