Through the Youth in Business program, ConsumerCentriX combines evidence-based market insights with hands-on innovation in both financial and non-financial services. Working with partner financial institutions, the program helps banks and MFIs treat youth entrepreneurs not just as borrowers but as future market builders, pairing access to finance with capacity-building, digital skills, and ecosystem partnerships. This integrated model ensures that support for young business leaders is commercially viable, digitally forward, and responsive to the realities of their “first-time” entrepreneurial journey. The Youth in Business (YiB) Programme continued its steady expansion in 2025, evolving from a regional pilot into a multi-country platform that combines financial access with digital innovation and entrepreneurial learning. Building on strong foundations, ConsumerCentriX and its partners focused this year on scaling non-financial services, strengthening institutional capacity, and helping banks and microfinance institutions design youth-focused business models that are both inclusive and commercially viable.
In partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and IPC, the YiB Programme extended its coverage. Ensuring that support is delivered in response to local market realities, the ConsumerCentriX team in 2025 briefed all leading Turkish banks on the findings of our research into the opportunity constituted by young entrepreneurs.
Covering Georgia, Armenia, and Jordan as well as the West Bank, we documented the urgency for a dedicated approach to this segment at the risk of not merely a missed opportunity but an entire generation turning away from formal business finance. The very detailed assessment of hurdles on the side of entrepreneurs and financial institutions documented by our work clearly presents a picture that regular SME programs fail to resolve. Insights from this type of assessment are now being finalized for Moldova as the 19th country, capping a unique body of knowledge on the needs, challenges, and opportunities presented by this cohort of 18 to 35-year-old entrepreneurs.
Working with a growing number of teams at leading financial institutions provided ample opportunity for putting these insights into practice. In Morocco and the Western Balkans, we onboarded two large Microfinance institutions and the largest bank in one market. This expansion opened new opportunities for peer learning among participating financial institutions, each testing models that integrate financing, training, and digital support for young entrepreneurs.
The 2025 cycle placed particular emphasis on innovation in non-financial services. The AI Bootcamps held in Agadir and Marrakech became flagship events, offering young business owners hands-on experience with artificial intelligence tools to streamline operations, enhance marketing, and strengthen customer engagement. These sessions showed how technology can help level the playing field for youth-led enterprises, equipping participants with the practical digital skills needed to compete in rapidly evolving markets.
Beyond training, the programme continued to mobilize financing for youth entrepreneurship. By the final quarter of 2025, partner financial institutions had disbursed over €19 million to more than 1,700 clients, reflecting strong demand and growing institutional confidence in the youth segment. Several partners secured new or follow-on credit lines, and the first Moroccan institution joined the network, underscoring the programme’s momentum across diverse markets.
Evidence from the YiB Programme also suggests a multiplier effect: as youth-led enterprises grow stronger and more resilient, they tend to create opportunities for other young people, thereby expanding the reach of inclusion through peer-driven employment and collaboration. The success of the YiB Programme has shown that empowering young entrepreneurs requires more than credit. It calls for ecosystems that combine financing with knowledge, mentorship, and technology. Through its integrated approach, ConsumerCentriX is helping redefine how financial institutions engage with the next generation of business leaders. As the programme continues to grow, it is shaping a future where youth entrepreneurship becomes a cornerstone of inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven economies.