About Us

Chetan Pania

Founder, Youth Economic Forum (YEF)

“When young minds are guided, supported, and empowered, they do not just build businesses they build nations.”

India stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey, with the world’s largest youth population presenting an unprecedented opportunity to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. The Youth Economic Forum (YEF) was founded on the belief that youth must not only seek opportunities but create them, becoming catalysts of inclusive and sustainable progress. Guided by our purpose, “Until Every Youth Becomes Self-Reliant to Serve Humanity”  YEF functions as a single window, no cost ecosystem providing free awareness, consultancy, and handholding support to aspiring entrepreneurs across regions and backgrounds. Our mission is to democratize entrepreneurship by ensuring access to knowledge, mentorship, networks, and meaningful growth opportunities for every young individual. Over the next five years, YEF aims to train 10 crore aspiring youth entrepreneurs, support the creation of 1 lakh youth-led startups and MSMEs, and introduce 25 crore students to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our 14 Pillars of Youth Development, we enable holistic empowerment across leadership, financial inclusion, innovation, policy engagement, and global readiness.

About Us

The Youth Economic Forum (YEF) is a national platform dedicated to empowering India’s youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and future leaders. Founded by international leader and philanthropist Chetan Pania, YEF is inspired by the legacy of freedom fighter Dr. Gopikishan Acharya, whose lifelong public service and nation-building efforts continue to guide the organization’s vision and values.

 

Driven by the purpose “Until Every Youth Becomes Self-Reliant to Serve Humanity,” YEF equips young Indians with skills, mentorship, resources, and global exposure through its inclusive single-window digital ecosystem. By offering free awareness, consultancy, and handholding support, YEF is nurturing a confident, self-reliant generation ready to contribute to a prosperous Viksit Bharat and a better world.

Our MTP

Creating a self-reliant youth ecosystem where every young individual serves humanity with purpose and impact.

Our Vision

A world where every youth is self-reliant and empowered to serve humanity.

Our Mission

To Equip young people with skills, knowledge and opportunities that foster self reliance, ignite innovation and enable meaningful contribution to society and nation.

Our Teams

Meet the members behind YEF’s day-to dperations and strategic decisions.

Patrons Members

Meet the core members driving YEF’s day-to-day operations and strategic decisions.

Core Team

Meet the core members driving YEF’s day-to-day operations and strategic decisions.

Advisory Team

Meet the experienced advisors supporting YEF with their industry knowledge and expertise.

Milestone & Achievements

SDG 8 · Decent Work & Economic Growth

  • 2014 | VISION & FOUNDATION

Youth Economic Forum – Bharat & World was initiated by Chetan Pania as a self-funded, informal youth platform to empower first-generation youth entrepreneurs through awareness, consultancy, and handholding on government policies and schemes.

2014 | VISION & FOUNDATION
2014–2020 | CAPACITY BUILDING

SDG 4 · Quality Education

  • 2014–2020 | CAPACITY BUILDING

A formative phase of deep engagement across national and international MSME, startup, investment, and youth leadership platforms, laying YEF’s foundation in public policy, governance, and global entrepreneurship.

SDG 16 · Strong Institutions

  • 2020 | INSTITUTIONALIZATION

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, YEF was formally incorporated as a Section 8 not-for-profit, marking its transition into a structured institution committed to youth-led economic development and inclusive nation-building.

2020 | INSTITUTIONALIZATION
2021 | IDENTITY & CREDIBILITY

SDG 17 · Partnerships for Goals

  • 2021 | IDENTITY & CREDIBILITY

YEF secured its IP rights and key statutory recognitions, strengthening institutional identity, governance, and credibility as a trusted youth economic organization.

Viksit Bharat 2047 · Youth-led Growth

  • 2020–2025 | SCALING IMPACT

High-impact entrepreneurship conclaves, policy dialogues, and capacity-building programs positioned YEF as a catalytic bridge between young entrepreneurs and key stakeholders, delivering holistic knowledge and guidance to startups and MSMEs for sustainable growth.

2020–2025 | SCALING IMPACT
PRESENT & BEYOND

SDGs · Viksit Bharat 2047

  • PRESENT & BEYOND

Aligned with the SDGs and Viksit Bharat 2047, YEF continues to advance youth-led economic leadership by supporting startups and MSMEs through policy awareness, institutional handholding, and ecosystem-driven capacity building

SDG 8 · Decent Work & Economic Growth

  • 2014 | VISION & FOUNDATION

Youth Economic Forum – Bharat & World was initiated by Chetan Pania as a self-funded, informal youth platform to empower first-generation youth entrepreneurs through awareness, consultancy, and handholding on government policies and schemes.

2014 | VISION & FOUNDATION
2014–2020 | CAPACITY BUILDING

SDG 4 · Quality Education

  • 2014–2020 | CAPACITY BUILDING

A formative phase of deep engagement across national and international MSME, startup, investment, and youth leadership platforms, laying YEF’s foundation in public policy, governance, and global entrepreneurship.

SDG 16 · Strong Institutions

  • 2020 | INSTITUTIONALIZATION

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, YEF was formally incorporated as a Section 8 not-for-profit, marking its transition into a structured institution committed to youth-led economic development and inclusive nation-building.

2020 | INSTITUTIONALIZATION
2021 | IDENTITY & CREDIBILITY

SDG 17 · Partnerships for Goals

  • 2021 | IDENTITY & CREDIBILITY

YEF secured its IP rights and key statutory recognitions, strengthening institutional identity, governance, and credibility as a trusted youth economic organization.

Viksit Bharat 2047 · Youth-led Growth

  • 2020–2025 | SCALING IMPACT

High-impact entrepreneurship conclaves, policy dialogues, and capacity-building programs positioned YEF as a catalytic bridge between young entrepreneurs and key stakeholders, delivering holistic knowledge and guidance to startups and MSMEs for sustainable growth.

2020–2025 | SCALING IMPACT
PRESENT & BEYOND

SDGs · Viksit Bharat 2047

  • PRESENT & BEYOND

Aligned with the SDGs and Viksit Bharat 2047, YEF continues to advance youth-led economic leadership by supporting startups and MSMEs through policy awareness, institutional handholding, and ecosystem-driven capacity building

Youth Growth Pillars

Empowering the next generation through skills, mentorship, entrepreneurship, innovation, and social responsibility shaping youth into confident leaders and change makers.

Accordion Updated
Skill Development
+

Equipping youth with modern, job-ready skills through training, workshops, and hands-on learning to strengthen their professional and entrepreneurial capabilities.

Entrepreneurship
+

Inspiring and supporting young innovators to launch, build, and scale sustainable ventures through resources, guidance, and financial opportunities.

Mentorship
+

Connecting aspiring individuals with industry experts who provide direction, real-world insights, and personal guidance to accelerate growth.

Economic Empowerment
+

Creating pathways for financial independence through funding access, employment support, and income-generating opportunities.

Social Responsibility
+

Encouraging youth to contribute to society by promoting ethical leadership, community engagement, and purpose-driven initiatives.

Innovation
+

Cultivating a culture where creativity, new ideas, and problem-solving are celebrated to drive progress and meaningful change.

Advocacy
+

Raising youth voices in policy discussions and decision-making processes to ensure their needs, ideas, and contributions shape the future.

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