Opportunity Information: Apply for SAU90022CA0001
The Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange is a U.S. Department of State-funded, U.S. Embassy Vienna-led cooperative agreement designed to build practical entrepreneurship skills among young people in Austria who are working on, or interested in launching, climate-focused ventures. The exchange centers on innovation and entrepreneurship tied to climate change challenges, with topic areas that can include renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, environmental engineering, climate adaptation, resilient and clean technologies, carbon reduction, food production, design, and other emerging fields that contribute to climate solutions. The overall intent is to give participants a strong mix of hands-on training and leadership development while deepening their understanding of how the United States and Austria can work together on business-driven climate solutions.
A core feature of the opportunity is a structured, multi-phase program that runs during a July to September 2023 window and combines substantial programming in Austria with an in-person experience in the United States. The U.S. portion is expected to take place in a specific U.S. city or region known for climate entrepreneurship, and it is meant to immerse participants in the local U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem. Beyond technical business content, the U.S. visit is also intended to expose participants to American culture, values, and business practices, with the broader public diplomacy goal of positioning the United States as a place for future partnerships, investment connections, and continued education. Before and after the U.S. travel, participants should receive robust pre- and post-program engagement in Austria, delivered in-person and/or virtually depending on local health regulations, including networking with Austrian business and climate leaders, team-building, orientation, and sector-specific learning. The design also calls for engagement with alumni of prior U.S. entrepreneurship exchange programs so participants can benefit from mentoring and real-world lessons from earlier cohorts.
The program content is expected to be intensely practical and ecosystem-oriented. Participants should learn what makes an entrepreneurial ecosystem work and how its pieces fit together, such as founders, mentors, incubators and accelerators, investors, universities, corporate partners, NGOs, and public-sector stakeholders. They should then experience these components directly through interactive activities in a U.S. community, which can include workshops, presentations, meetings with entrepreneurs, networking and social events, and business pitch sessions. The solicitation also allows for internships or practicums with businesses, NGOs, innovation hubs, or other relevant economic and business organizations, giving participants a way to apply skills in real operating environments. Another required element is exposure to social entrepreneurship: participants should examine how entrepreneurial approaches can address social problems and encourage civic action, tying climate innovation to broader community impact.
The exchange explicitly aims to connect participants with high-value networks on both sides of the Atlantic, especially for those who already have established start-ups. That means interactions with leading companies, experienced founders, incubators, and venture capitalists in both Austria and the United States should be built into the program model. Just as important, the program is not meant to end when travel concludes; it must include a post-program engagement plan that keeps Austrian participants connected as alumni and supports their continued growth through mentoring and ongoing opportunities. The implementing organization is also expected to define specific, measurable outputs and outcomes aligned with the program specifications, reinforcing that the exchange should produce trackable skill gains, relationship-building results, and longer-term engagement.
From a funding and administration standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which signals close collaboration with the funder. The U.S. Embassy Vienna, specifically its Public Diplomacy Section, will be substantially involved, including participation selection and approval, and oversight of the structure and content of the U.S. component. At the same time, the Embassy indicates flexibility for applicants to propose program models that credibly achieve the goals, as long as required elements are met.
The intended participants are young people residing permanently in Austria, described as university students, start-up leaders, and founders. The narrative emphasizes ages 20 to 25 for the central cohort focus, while the broader target audience section notes an 18 to 29 range, including aspiring entrepreneurs and youth actively engaged in a start-up. The overarching goals are to increase Austrian participants awareness of how U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystems operate, strengthen their ability to found, finance, and grow climate-oriented startups, foster professional and personal ties with U.S. counterparts, encourage future U.S.-Austria business and investment partnerships, and promote mutual understanding between the people of Austria and the United States.
Key solicitation details include: Funding Opportunity Title: Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange; Funding Opportunity Number: SAU90022CA0001; Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Austria; Instrument: Cooperative Agreement; Estimated maximum award (ceiling): $225,000; Expected number of awards: 1; Eligible applicants: nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); Opportunity posted May 10, 2022 with an original closing date of June 30, 2022.Apply for SAU90022CA0001
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Austria in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange
What is the Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange?
The Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange is a U.S. Department of State-funded, U.S. Embassy Vienna-led cooperative agreement focused on building practical entrepreneurship skills among young people in Austria who are working on, or interested in launching, climate-focused ventures.
Who is funding and leading this opportunity?
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and led by the U.S. Embassy Vienna (U.S. Mission to Austria), specifically through the Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section.
What is the main purpose of the exchange?
The intent is to combine hands-on entrepreneurship training and leadership development with a deeper understanding of how the United States and Austria can work together on business-driven climate solutions. It also aims to strengthen professional and personal ties with U.S. counterparts and support future partnerships, investment connections, and continued education links.
What kinds of climate and innovation topics can the program cover?
Topic areas can include renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, environmental engineering, climate adaptation, resilient and clean technologies, carbon reduction, food production, design, and other emerging fields that contribute to climate solutions.
Who is the program designed for (participant profile)?
The intended participants are young people residing permanently in Austria, including university students, start-up leaders, and founders. The narrative emphasizes ages 20 to 25 as the central cohort focus, while the broader target audience range is 18 to 29, including aspiring entrepreneurs and youth actively engaged in a start-up.
Do participants need to already have a start-up to take part?
The exchange is designed for both those already working on established start-ups and those who are interested in launching climate-focused ventures. The program explicitly aims to build high-value networks, especially for participants who already have established start-ups.
What is the overall program format?
The exchange is described as a structured, multi-phase program combining substantial programming in Austria with an in-person experience in the United States, plus pre- and post-program engagement in Austria delivered in-person and/or virtually depending on local health regulations.
When does the program take place?
The program runs during a July to September 2023 window.
Where will the U.S. portion of the exchange take place?
The U.S. portion is expected to take place in a specific U.S. city or region known for climate entrepreneurship, with the goal of immersing participants in a local U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem.
What will participants do during the U.S. in-person experience?
The U.S. visit is expected to include interactive activities such as workshops, presentations, meetings with entrepreneurs, networking and social events, and business pitch sessions. It is designed to expose participants to how an entrepreneurial ecosystem works in practice and how key players (founders, mentors, incubators/accelerators, investors, universities, corporate partners, NGOs, and public-sector stakeholders) fit together.
Is cultural exchange part of the program?
Yes. Beyond business and technical content, the U.S. visit is intended to expose participants to American culture, values, and business practices. A broader public diplomacy goal is to position the United States as a place for future partnerships, investment connections, and continued education.
What happens before and after the U.S. travel?
Participants are expected to receive robust pre- and post-program engagement in Austria. This can be delivered in-person and/or virtually depending on local health regulations and may include networking with Austrian business and climate leaders, team-building, orientation, and sector-specific learning.
Will participants interact with mentors or alumni from similar exchange programs?
Yes. The program design calls for engagement with alumni of prior U.S. entrepreneurship exchange programs so participants can benefit from mentoring and real-world lessons from earlier cohorts.
What is meant by an "entrepreneurial ecosystem" in this exchange?
The exchange expects participants to learn what makes an entrepreneurial ecosystem work and how its components fit together. Examples of ecosystem components named in the solicitation include founders, mentors, incubators and accelerators, investors, universities, corporate partners, NGOs, and public-sector stakeholders.
Are internships or practicums allowed as part of the program?
Yes. The solicitation allows for internships or practicums with businesses, NGOs, innovation hubs, or other relevant economic and business organizations to help participants apply skills in real operating environments.
Is social entrepreneurship included in the curriculum?
Yes. A required element is exposure to social entrepreneurship, with participants examining how entrepreneurial approaches can address social problems and encourage civic action, tying climate innovation to broader community impact.
How does the program support networking and partnerships?
The exchange aims to connect participants with high-value networks on both sides of the Atlantic. The model is expected to include interactions with leading companies, experienced founders, incubators, and venture capitalists in both Austria and the United States, and to foster future U.S.-Austria business and investment partnerships.
Does the program end when the travel ends?
No. The program must include a post-program engagement plan that keeps Austrian participants connected as alumni and supports continued growth through mentoring and ongoing opportunities.
What kind of results is the implementing organization expected to deliver?
The implementing organization is expected to define specific, measurable outputs and outcomes aligned with the program specifications. The exchange is intended to produce trackable skill gains, relationship-building results, and longer-term engagement.
What type of funding instrument is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, indicating close collaboration with the funder.
How involved will the U.S. Embassy Vienna be in the project?
The U.S. Embassy Vienna's Public Diplomacy Section will be substantially involved, including participation selection and approval, and oversight of the structure and content of the U.S. component. The Embassy also indicates flexibility for applicants to propose program models that credibly achieve the goals, as long as required elements are met.
What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
The estimated maximum award (ceiling) is $225,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The expected number of awards is 1.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
What is the Funding Opportunity Title and number?
The Funding Opportunity Title is "Youth and Climate Entrepreneurship Exchange" and the Funding Opportunity Number is SAU90022CA0001.
Which agency is associated with this funding opportunity?
The agency is the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Austria.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was posted on May 10, 2022, with an original closing date of June 30, 2022.
What are the stated goals for participants?
The stated goals include increasing participants' awareness of how U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystems operate; strengthening their ability to found, finance, and grow climate-oriented startups; fostering professional and personal ties with U.S. counterparts; encouraging future U.S.-Austria business and investment partnerships; and promoting mutual understanding between the people of Austria and the United States.
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