Youth Economic Circle (YEC)

What Youth Economic Circle (YEC) does

Youth Economic Circle (YEC) is a non-profit association founded in Barcelona in 2012 that connects young professionals and university students aged 20-30 with established business, academic, entrepreneurial, and political leaders. Operating across three chapters (Barcelona, Madrid since 2015, and Lisboa since 2022), YEC serves 600+ members through a portfolio of event-based products: Cenas YEC (intimate roundtable dinners capped at 19 members with distinguished speakers), Conferencias YEC (larger speaker presentations), YEC Afterworks (casual networking), Ocasiones Especiales (special occasions and company visits), the annual YEC Global Summit bringing all chapters together, a member-only Bolsa de Trabajo job board, and an Invitaciones y Ventajas member benefits program. The organization has hosted 220+ speakers at the Círculo Ecuestre in Barcelona alone, with marquee participants including the CEOs of Google Spain, Puig, McDonald's Portugal, Volkswagen Spain, Capgemini Portugal, and the former president of Credit Suisse.

There is no proprietary technology platform underlying YEC's offering; the core product is delivered in-person at prestigious venues (Círculo Ecuestre in Barcelona, Club Financiero Génova in Madrid, and partner venues in Lisboa), with a website and member intranet providing event registration and job-board access. Membership is by application and approval, with annual subscription fees (undisclosed publicly) supplemented by transactional revenue from paid events priced at €10-90 depending on event type and member status. The association is member-funded and operates without external investors, parent company, or private equity backing.

YEC's go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals and public events function as recruiting touchpoints, supplemented by owned social channels (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). The value proposition is differentiated by exclusive, curated access to senior executives in intimate formats, validated by strategic collaborations with PwC Spain, Accenture Spain, IESE Business School, IE Business School, Santander, and Portuguese law firm MLGTS, which lend brand credibility and feed the job-board pipeline. Governance is structured around city-specific chapters each with their own boards, and presidential roles rotate biennially; current leadership is Ignacio Molins Joly (President, YEC Barcelona) and Tomás Moreno Cebrián-Sagarriga (President, YEC Madrid).

Name

Youth Economic Circle (YEC)

Legal name

ASSOCIACIÓ YOUTH ECONOMIC CIRCLE

Website

https://youtheconomiccircle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Youth Economic Circle (YEC) is a non-profit association founded in 2012 that connects 600+ young professionals aged 20-30 across Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisboa with established business and political leaders through exclusive dinners, conferences, afterworks, and an annual Global Summit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking Association

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

Keywords

• Professional networking events
• Executive mentorship programs
• Youth leadership community
• Exclusive membership association
• Business networking dinners

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: YEC generates revenue through annual or periodic membership fees paid by its 600+ members across three cities. Membership provides access to exclusive events, networking, speaker dinners, the Global Summit, and the YEC job board.
2. Event ticket sales: Revenue from paid events open to both members and non-members, including dinners with speakers (€40 per person), afterworks (€10-15 for non-members, €15-21 for members), Global Summit tickets (€35-80 for members, €90 for guests), and special events like cocktail evenings (€30).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Youth Economic Circle (YEC) is a non-profit international association that organizes in-person networking and professional development events connecting young professionals aged 20-30 with established leaders across business, academic, entrepreneurial, and political sectors. Its offerings center on curated speaker dinners (max 19 members), conferences, afterworks, special occasions, an annual Global Summit, a members-only job board, and exclusive member benefits. The association operates chapters in Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon and is member-funded through annual fees and event revenue.

Product overview

Youth Economic Circle (YEC) is a non-profit international association that connects young professionals aged 20-30 with established leaders across business, academic, entrepreneurial, and political sectors. The organization offers a portfolio of event-based products centered around networking and professional development. Core offerings include Cenas YEC (exclusive dinner events with industry leaders), Conferencias YEC (larger conference-format events), Ocasiones Especiales (special occasions and networking activities), YEC Afterworks (informal networking events), and the annual YEC Global Summit (flagship gathering). The portfolio also includes Bolsa de Trabajo YEC (job board access) and Invitaciones y Ventajas (member benefits program). The products work together as an integrated membership experience designed to foster personal growth, professional development, and networking among young professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cenas YEC: Flagship dinner events in roundtable format where members dine with distinguished speakers from various sectors.
• Conferencias YEC
• Ocasiones Especiales
• Bolsa de Trabajo YEC
• YEC Afterworks
• YEC Global Summit
• Invitaciones y Ventajas

Products and services

• Cenas YEC (YEC Dinners) Flagship event of the association: a roundtable dinner format where up to 19 YEC members dine with a distinguished speaker from a specific sector, providing an intimate setting to learn from the speaker's experience and advice. Available to YEC members and guests at paid per-attendee pricing (e.g., €35-€40 per person).
• Conferencias YEC (YEC Conferences) Larger-scale events where YEC members attend presentations by invited speakers or panel debates among multiple speakers, typically held at sites of interest and concluding with afterwork-style networking.
• Ocasiones Especiales (Special Occasions) Extraordinary events prepared for members, including Christmas or summer dinners (e.g., Barcelona summer dinner at €35 members / €39 non-members), visits to major company offices or factories, and leisure activities that foster friendship among YEC members.
• YEC Afterworks Relaxed events focused on interaction among YEC members, providing opportunities to meet new people and build quality personal and professional relationships. Priced at €10-€21 per person depending on member status (e.g., Lisboa Afterwork de Verão at €10 for non-members; Madrid Afterwork Primavera at €15 members / €21 non-members).
• YEC Global Summit The most anticipated annual event of YEC, gathering all members across Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisboa with a selection of top business and social leaders as invited speakers, featuring personal interaction in a festive context. Tickets are released in tiers at €30-€90 depending on city and member status (e.g., Barcelona: €35-€80 members across four releases, €90 guests; Lisboa: €30-€70 members; Barcelona registration page lists €65 members / €79 non-members).
• Bolsa de Trabajo YEC (YEC Job Board) Job board accessible through member profiles on the association's intranet, featuring exclusive job offers from recognized companies across all sectors that collaborate with YEC, providing direct connection with HR teams of partner companies.
• Invitaciones y Ventajas (Invitations and Benefits) Exclusive member benefits program including invitations to major events, fairs or congresses; exclusive discounts at partner establishments; coaching and mentoring plans; and discounted placements at prestigious business schools (e.g., partnerships with IESE and IE).

Quantifiable outcome

• 220+ speakers hosted at Círculo Ecuestre (Barcelona) since 2012; 75+ speakers in Madrid; 30+ speakers in Lisboa

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Accenture SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccenture is listed as a collaborator on the YEC website homepage under 'nuestros colaboradores' (our collaborators). The partnership appears to involve Accenture's support for YEC events and activities, leveraging Accenture's brand association with YEC's mission of developing young talent.
• MLGTS (Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLGTS, a leading Portuguese law firm, is listed as a YEC collaborator. The firm supports YEC activities, particularly for the Lisboa chapter, and its association lends credibility to the YEC Lisboa events.
• PwC SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPwC Spain is listed as a YEC collaborator under 'nuestros colaboradores'. PwC supports YEC activities and the association benefits from PwC's reputation as a Big Four firm. PwC appears on the main YEC homepage and has been involved in supporting YEC events.
• IESE Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIESE is listed as a YEC collaborator under 'nuestros colaboradores'. The partnership provides YEC with academic credibility and access to IESE's network of faculty and executives, while YEC serves as a talent pipeline for IESE graduates.
• IE Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIE Business School is listed as a YEC collaborator. The partnership involves IE's support for YEC events and activities, with IE leveraging YEC as a platform for connecting with young talent and potential future MBA candidates.
• SantandersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSantander is shown as a collaborator on the YEC website's 'Invitaciones y Ventajas' section. The bank offers exclusive benefits to YEC members and participates in joint events such as the Santander International Banking Conference 2023, where 10 YEC members were invited to attend.
• RentacorporaciónminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRentacorporación is listed as a YEC collaborator on the 'Qué Hacemos' page, offering exclusive discounts or invitations to YEC members as part of the member benefits program.
• Closelabs / Closa SegurosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCloselabs/Closa Seguros is listed as a YEC collaborator on the 'Qué Hacemos' page, offering exclusive insurance-related advantages to YEC members.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Toastmasters International: Toastmasters is a global non-profit educational organization with local clubs that helps members develop communication, leadership, and public speaking skills. While broader in focus and less elite in targeting, it shares YEC's structured club-based, event-driven model for professional skill development among a member-curated network.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is the premier global community of chief executives and business leaders, with membership-driven forums, retreats, and events designed to accelerate leadership. YEC effectively serves as the youth/foundational layer of the same value chain that YPO addresses for senior executives, with very similar curated-membership and event formats.
• EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): EO is a global, peer-to-peer network of entrepreneurs offering member-led forums, learning events, and conferences with regional chapters. While YEC targets early-career talent (20-30), EO targets founders generating significant revenue, but both share the member-curated model, event-based programming, and high-touch networking experience for driven professionals.

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global network of leading social entrepreneurs and changemakers, with programming to identify and support young leaders across regions. Like YEC, Ashoka operates a curated membership-of-leaders model tied to mission-driven outcomes and connects rising talent with established figures.
• Endeavor: Endeavor is a non-profit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs with mentorship, networks, and resources through local offices in 40+ markets. While focused on scaling founders rather than young professionals, it shares YEC's model of connecting high-potential talent with senior executive mentorship and curated peer communities.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): JA Worldwide is one of the largest youth-serving non-profits, focused on entrepreneurship, work-readiness, and financial literacy education for young people through chapters and programs. Its mission of preparing youth for leadership and economic participation aligns closely with YEC's professional and leadership development mandate.
• AIESEC: AIESEC is a global non-profit, youth-led organization focused on leadership development for students and young professionals aged 18-30, with local chapters across 100+ countries. YEC's municipal chapter model, age-restricted membership, mission-driven governance, and event-based programming mirror AIESEC's structure and target persona.

Emerging players

• Forbes 30 Under 30: Forbes 30 Under 30 is the flagship recognition platform identifying top young leaders across business, policy, and entrepreneurship globally. It competes for the same target demographic of ambitious 20-30-year-old professionals and shares YEC's emphasis on showcasing young leaders alongside senior business figures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTaVj_QH_2-5GdoHrmkm7Tg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-economic-circle
• Instagraminstagram.com/yec_spain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Economic Circle (YEC)