About

Youth Investors Association (YIA) is a dynamic and forward-thinking youth-led organization committed to taking a step in empowering young entrepreneurs in Tanzania and contributing to the creation of a supportive ecosystem where youth-owned businesses can thrive. Founded with the vision of having a generation of young resilient investors who drive sustainable economic growth, create opportunities within a supportive business environment, and thrive in a competitive marketplace locally and globally leading to the growth and expansion of youth-led businesses. YIA focuses on nurturing opportunistic mindsets and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among young people as entrepreneurship has come to be regarded as a major solution to overcome the challenges of unemployment, especially youth unemployment in Tanzania.

YIA was established in 2020 as a membership-based organization, with registration number ooNGO/R/4316, whose mission is to serve as a tool for growth by empowering young entrepreneurs, while fostering a conducive business environment where youth-led investments can thrive in a competitive marketplace, achieve sustainability, and contribute positively to Tanzania’s economic development. YIA act as a link between our members who are aspiring entrepreneurs with different opportunities, business leaders, stakeholders and strategic partners that will add value to their businesses and investments. YIA facilitates valuable linkages that lead to business collaborations both locally and internationally among members and access to different investment opportunities across various sectors as well as facilitation of youth business access to markets. Through various initiatives we initiate such as training/capacity building programs, business workshops, and networking events, which bring together our members and be an enabling factor to turn their ideas and businesses into successful and impactful ventures, contributing to both economic growth and social development in Tanzania.

We are working to address the challenges facing young Tanzanian investors and entrepreneurs in various sectors, especially in the areas of skills gaps that led to poor growth and sustainability of youth enterprises, networking, limited financial resources, policy advocacy, information and experience sharing, youth business market access, bureaucracy and legal issues. Our core goal is to serve as a bridge and link, providing young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, resources, and opportunities that will help them overcome challenges that they face while starting, managing, growing, scaling their businesses and succeeding in today’s competitive marketplace.

YIA works to understand, support, empower, advocate, and promote the social, economic, and entrepreneurial interests of its members. YIA works with both private and public sector organizations in assisting and providing the necessary support and guidance to youths in business, and in advocating for favorable policies in which their enterprises can thrive. We work in different pillars such as; capacity building, advocacy, financial linkages, marketing, information sharing, networking and experience sharing. We work in close collaboration with the Tanzania Government and provide a direct link between the Government and youth entrepreneurs in Tanzania.