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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
How to participate

Take your first step towards success

Who should apply

Any citizen of an EU country who is

  • an EU-based owner or founder of an SME 
  • between the ages of 18 and 40 

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Individual – Applications can only be received from an individual entrepreneur (team applications are not permitted). 
  2. Origin – Participants must be EU-based owners or founders of SMEs, and the applicant must be a citizen of an EU country. 
  3. Age – Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 40 on 14 March 2025. 
  4. Business stage – The competition is open to individuals with SMEs in the early stages of development (less than 5 years in operation). Eligible SMEs can be in the pre-seed, seed or early growth stages.  
  5. Entrepreneurial experience – Entrepreneurs must have less than 5 years of total entrepreneurial experience (including starting other companies).  
  6. Ownership – The applicant must have a minimum of 51 % ownership of the company on which their application is based. 
  7. Participation – Only the owner/co-owner of the company can participate and do the final pitch (employees are not allowed to participate).  
  8. Focus – Businesses should address a key societal, environmental or economic challenge (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals). 
  9. Industry – The competition is open to SMEs and owners of small businesses across all industries, but the business idea must clearly demonstrate innovation and scalability. 

Rules and regulations of the contest

Please review the following document for complete instructions before submitting your application through the link.

  • 16 JANUARY 2025
YEEA Rules and regulations

Applications are open until March 14