GYEL
GYEL is a UN-system-affiliated, application-based virtual program that delivers tiered, income-priced leadership and global-affairs curricula to middle and high school students worldwide. Its five-course pathway targets families seeking differentiated credentials for ultra-selective university admissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What GYEL does
GYEL (Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program) is a selective, application-based educational initiative that delivers virtual leadership and global-affairs programming to middle and high school students worldwide. Founded around 2015 as a multilateral initiative within the UN system and currently led by Executive Director Joanne Jones (a credentialed UN ECOSOC Delegate appointed in 2023), GYEL offers a layered product suite: a four-week Intro to Global Leadership course, the Promising Young Leaders Program for grades 6–8, a two-part High School Program with capstone research or social enterprise projects, and an AI Horizons course on emerging technologies. Instruction is delivered 100% virtually via the TalentLMS learning management system with live lectures, recorded sessions, office hours, and guest speakers drawn from UN diplomats and industry leaders; acceptance is selective at roughly 20%.
The business model is a tiered contribution model rather than fixed tuition. Per-course contributions range from $1 to $5,500, calibrated to household income, with the median family paying approximately 2.5% of annual household income and lower-income families qualifying for need-based subsidies or full waivers; the Intro course is a flat $600 with no assistance available. GYEL operates as a for-profit entity but is governed by UN Coalition Partners holding ECOSOC special consultative status — including OPAD, IAAI, OIJ, Climate Chain Coalition, and Producers Trust — and convenes UN side events (UNEP/UN-Habitat Joint Session, ECOSOC Forum 2025). There is no disclosed external funding, headcount is described only as "dozens" of full-time team members, and stated operations span the USA, Kenya, UK, China, and Singapore under a virtual, direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion.
GYEL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GYEL
- Legal name
- Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program
- Website
- https://gyel.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GYEL is a UN-system-affiliated, application-based virtual program that delivers tiered, income-priced leadership and global-affairs curricula to middle and high school students worldwide. Its five-course pathway targets families seeking differentiated credentials for ultra-selective university admissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GYEL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Leadership Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Model United Nations (MUN) (EDAMAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Model UN & Parliamentary Procedure Programs (Oratory-Focused) (EDAMAOAG)
Keywords
Where GYEL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
GYEL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tiered Family Contributions: GYEL uses an equitable contribution model where families pay based on household income. High-income families ($200k+) pay full administrative costs while lower-income families receive subsidies. Most families contribute 2.5% of annual household income.
- Program Tuition (Shared Administrative Cost): Contribution cost per course ranges from $1 to $5,500 depending on family income level and external support. Families earning $100k+ for middle school programs and $200k+ for high school programs are expected to pay full tuition cap.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per course | High School Program (Part 1 & Part 2) - Full Pay |
| Subscription | Per course | High School Program - Need-Based Assistance |
| Subscription | Per course | Middle School Program - Full Pay |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Introduction to Global Leadership (4-week course) |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
GYEL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GYEL offers a suite of virtual, application-based leadership education programs for middle and high school students, delivered fully online through TalentLMS. Programs cover global institutions, UN systems, geopolitics, SDGs, climate policy, human rights, ethics, AI/emerging technologies, and leadership preparation, taught by instructors from Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Yale, and Tsinghua, with UN ambassadors and industry guest speakers. Students produce capstone research papers, participate in crisis negotiation simulations, and receive ambassador recommendation letters and certification recognized by top universities including MIT, Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Yale, and Cornell.
Product overview
GYEL operates as a suite of educational programs for middle and high school students, organized into a progressive pathway. The core offerings include the Intro to Global Leadership (foundational course), Promising Young Leader Program (middle school grades 6-8), Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program High School Part 1 and Part 2 (advanced leadership and research), and AI Horizons (emerging technologies). Programs feature live virtual lectures from instructors with degrees from top universities, guest speakers from UN officials and industry leaders, office hours mentorship, capstone projects, and formal certification. Part 2 offers publication opportunities and Ambassador recommendation letters. Delivery is entirely virtual via the TalentLMS learning management system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program (High School) Part 1 A comprehensive virtual learning program for high school students featuring 12 weekly 3-hour advanced lectures, UN and industry guest speakers, office hours mentorship, and a capstone project. Curriculum covers global institutions, geopolitics, human rights, sustainable development, climate policy, global economics, ethics, global health, and leadership preparation.
- Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program (High School) Part 2 Advanced leadership program building on Part 1, where students apply knowledge to real-world problems through original research papers (2,500-4,000 words) or social enterprise proposals. Includes modules on policy writing, public diplomacy, crisis negotiation simulations, emerging tech ethics, and fellowship preparation, with publication opportunities and ambassador recommendation letters.
- AI Horizons: Global Youth Leadership in Emerging Technologies A high school-level course exploring AI and emerging technologies across 10 topics including IoT for sustainability, AI for climate/healthcare, AI ethics and bias, AI-powered education, cybersecurity, AI art/creativity, quantum computing, automation, and space exploration.
- Promising Young Leader Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of parents would recommend the program
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GYEL
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GYEL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
GYEL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and strategic.
- UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)flagshipGYEL serves as Deputy Convenor and Principal Partner for UNEP/UN-Habitat Joint Session side events. Collaborative initiative bringing together youth leaders, data specialists, and urban development experts to advance science-driven approaches to SDG localization.
- UN-HabitatflagshipJoint UN side event collaboration focusing on sustainable urban development and youth-led innovations. GYEL positioned as Deputy Convenor and Principal Partner.
- OPAD (Organization for Poverty Alleviation and Development)coreOPAD holds ECOSOC special consultative status. Ambassador Carlos García serves as Chief Representative to the UN with 25+ years UN system leadership. Partner in GYEL multilateral initiative.
- IAAI (International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges)coreDr. Miroslav Polzer serves as Secretary General. IAAI maintains ECOSOC special consultative status and leads GloCha flagship initiative. Operates at intersection of digital innovation, youth empowerment, and global governance.
- OIJ (Organization of American States - Permanent Observer)coreAmbassador David Xavier Sanchez serves as Ambassador and Permanent Observer to the UN. OIJ's Permanent Observer status at UN General Assembly places it among select entities including EU and WTO.
- Climate Chain CoalitionstrategicUN-backed global network leveraging emerging technologies to support Paris Agreement and SDGs implementation. Dr. Miroslav Polzer serves as Strategic Director.
- Commonwealth of The Bahamas (Permanent Mission to UN)strategicAmbassador Stan Oduma Smith serves as Permanent Representative to UN since March 2022. Hosted 'Sustainable Climate Action and Capacity Building for The Water Crisis' conference.
- GloCha (Global Challenges Action Empowerment Consortium)strategicIAAI's flagship initiative uniting UN agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector to address SDGs through digital technologies and youth empowerment.
- Producers TruststrategicKeith Agoada founded Producers Trust, UN partner on climate action and farmer empowerment. Network spans 1,000+ producer groups across 80+ countries. UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration speaker.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GYEL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MyDiplomat: Provider of MUN/diplomacy summer institutes and year-round programs for middle and high schoolers; runs International Crisis negotiation simulations similar to GYEL's core feature.
- Best Delegate: Largest dedicated Model UN training and competition resource provider for middle and high school students globally — the most direct overlap with GYEL's UN-system, debate, and crisis-negotiation curriculum.
- AI4ALL: Nonprofit AI-education programs targeted at high school students, with curricula spanning AI ethics, applications, and societal impact — the closest comparable to GYEL's new AI Horizons track.
- Global Leadership Adventures: Service- and leadership-themed travel + virtual programs for high schoolers tied to global issues and SDGs — comparable mission framing for college-bound student leaders.
- Yale Young Global Scholars: Yale University's pre-college summer enrichment program for high-achieving high school students focused on global affairs, leadership, and admissions distinction — directly comparable applicant pool and admissions-outcome pitch.
- Oxbridge Academic Programs: Residential summer enrichment for pre-college students across global affairs, leadership, and STEM — comparable student demographic and admissions-distinction positioning.
Regional players
- Concordia Language Villages: US-anchored immersive enrichment provider (language + global leadership) for youth; comparable long-running enrichment model with global-citizenship framing though focused on language acquisition.
Broad incumbents
- iD Tech: Large-scale operator of STEM and AI summer camps and after-school programs for K-12 — broader incumbent in youth tech enrichment with overlapping AI-curriculum surface area.
- United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA): Largest US civil-society organization advancing UN engagement, running Model UN programs nationally — a broader incumbent operating in the same UN-engagement-for-youth category.
- Center for Excellence in Education (RSI): Runs the Research Science Institute (RSI) and other selective pre-college STEM enrichment programs drawing top applicants to elite universities — comparable selectivity and admissions-distinction premise.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GYEL social profiles
Digital presenceGYEL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GYEL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GYEL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GYEL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GYEL
What does GYEL do?
GYEL offers a suite of virtual, application-based leadership education programs for middle and high school students, delivered fully online through TalentLMS. Programs cover global institutions, UN systems, geopolitics, SDGs, climate policy, human rights, ethics, AI/emerging technologies, and leadership preparation, taught by instructors from Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Yale, and Tsinghua, with UN ambassadors and industry guest speakers. Students produce capstone research papers, participate in crisis negotiation simulations, and receive ambassador recommendation letters and certification recognized by top universities including MIT, Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Yale, and Cornell.
Is GYEL a public or private company?
GYEL is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was GYEL founded?
GYEL was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GYEL based?
GYEL is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does GYEL make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tiered Family Contributions are the primary driver. The others are program Tuition (Shared Administrative Cost).
Who are GYEL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MyDiplomat, Best Delegate, AI4ALL, Global Leadership Adventures, Yale Young Global Scholars and Oxbridge Academic Programs. Concordia Language Villages is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are iD Tech, United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and Center for Excellence in Education (RSI).
Does GYEL have an API?
No public API is recorded for GYEL.
What industry is GYEL in?
GYEL's product category is Youth Leadership Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAGAB, Model United Nations (MUN), with a secondary code of EDAMALAK, Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.