Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), is a nonprofit organization created in 1999, which works in cooperation with General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) to promote social and economic development of young people around the world. YABT is an organization of young people for young people.

YABT advances the goals of the OAS and the Summits of the Americas Secretariat by promoting and implementing entrepreneurship programs in the Americas and elsewhere as a mean to fight poverty and create job opportunities for young people.

At the same time, YABT provides a regional platform for exchanging best business practices and cooperation among young people in the Americas. Its strategy is focused on four areas of work:

• Leadership: Connecting young entrepreneurs and national associations in a regional network, with opportunities to train a new generation of business leaders with responsibility.
• Training: Emphasizes the experience - learning by doing. It is a practical methodology to generate a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation among young people, motivating and leading them through a "real life business experience".
• Technology: by using the Internet's potential to provide information and building networks for learning opportunities and virtual communities.
• Strategic Alliances and National YABT Locations: alliances with national and international chapters that provide technical and financial support, programs for young entrepreneurs.

YABT is a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service.

Mission

Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) acts as an innovator and catalyst for the promotion of young entrepreneurs initiatives through business skills training, partnerships for strategic alliances, leadership development and technology literacy for the young people of the members of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Visión

"The talent of young entrepreneurs in the Americas will determine the Hemisphere's potential for future economic growth and democratic stability."
Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) believes that the main asset of the region are young talented and innovative people, therefore, it offers the best learning tools for the development of the Americas, at the same time is aware that training and investment are important factors factors for realization of the young people's dreams. YABT facilitates the consolidation of a new generation of young, competitive and socially responsible leaders in the Western Hemisphere and around the world.

These are some examples of the impact of the YABT programs.

Young Americas Forum:

▪ In 2005 YABT brought together young people of the continent as a social actor in the dialogue with the Foreign Ministers of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina. There were more than 150 young people presenting their recommendations at the event.

▪ More than 15,000 young people from 34 member states gave their recommendations at the V Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009. Their suggestions were important inputs while preparing the Youth Declaration of the Americas that was given to the presidents at the Summit

Business Labs Program:

▪ More than 12,000 young entrepreneurs trained.

▪ the program reached over 20,000 indirect beneficiaries per year through the incorporation of the Business Labs to the academic curriculums.

▪ YABT has provided training and workshops in 32 member states countries of the OAS.

Nex Links: Follow-up Networks for Young Entrepreneurs:

▪ Links Network operates with hundreds of members and over 80 certified NEX Links, or in certification process Centers. Thousands of young people receive follow up services form the Nex Links Network.

▪ A Comprehensive Manual and Guidelines on SME Development was created in collaboration with over 20 experts in the field of entrepreneurship, with special emphasis on the business culture of the Americas.

▪ 133 Training workshops for instructors in: NEX Links Centers (SBDC Development), Rural Tourism, Business Labs (SME Development) and InnovAction (Innovation Management).

▪ Activities and capacity building workshops were held in 32 Countries of the Americas, as well as in Israel, Sierra Leone and Mongolia.

▪ Activities were held in four languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese and French.

▪ YABT partnered with over 660 organizations to make the program possible.

▪ Impacted 22,000 people in a direct way.

▪ due to the reproduction and incorporation of the YABT's methodology into educational curricula, the program accounts for 18,000 beneficiaries a year.

▪ An Outreach and Expansion Plan of Nex Links was formulated in collaboration with the program stakeholders for the next three years. The next phase will focus on reaching and providing opportunities at the community level and rural areas in the Americas.

Talent and Innovation Challenges of the Americas (TIC Americas)

▪ 16,821 young entrepreneurs have participated in this competition.

▪ 4,916 businesses have registered to be a part of this competition

▪ Approximately 20,000,000 people heard about TIC Americas via electronic channels and media.

▪ the Participants came from 72 Countries

▪ 43.5% of the participants are generating revenues and profits for their companies; and 17.4% have started their company as a result of this competition.

▪ 91.3% of the participants believe that their participation in the competition opened doors for them in terms of productivity and ability to achieve a better position in the market.

▪ 59.1% of participants believe that TIC Americas is still giving benefits to them, more than a year after their involvement.

▪ 73.9% of participants reported that before the TIC Americas they only generated 1 up to 3 jobs, but afterwards 91.2% they were able to generate 1 and 20 jobs approximately.

▪ 47.8% of the respondents believe that the competition contributed to the generation of these new jobs.

▪ before going to the competition, 56.5% of the participants did not generate any income, but afterwards 82.6% generated sales revenue for their businesses

▪ 65.5% said that the TIC Americas contributed to generate new revenue for their company.

▪ 91.3% of TIC Americas' participants who began with just a business plan reported their participation in the competition helped them to formalize an operational, functioning company.

▪ More than 400 professionals participated as judges evaluating the teams and giving feedback to improve and strengthen their businesses.

▪ More than 250 professional experts from the Americas and the world had participated as Mentors by providing advice to the teams and prepare them to enter the world market.

▪ More than 200 universities, higher education institutions and incubators have opened doors to YABT to promote the competition and prepare their students to participate in TIC Americas.