Young Professionals in Yachting

What Young Professionals in Yachting does

Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) is a non-profit professional association founded in 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that serves land-based professionals aged 21–40 working in the superyacht industry. The organization operates through a federated chapter model, with chapters established in the USA (2009), Monaco (2013), United Kingdom and Netherlands (2015), Germany (2017), Greece (2022), Italy (2023), and Turkey, plus a separate Alumni Network for members who age out at 40. Members pay annual dues (typically €50–€150 depending on chapter) for access to monthly meetings featuring industry speakers, networking events at major boat shows, a mentorship program, and reciprocal attendance privileges across all international chapters.

YPY is not a technology company. There is no proprietary software platform, no app, and no AI component to the offering; digital touchpoints are limited to WordPress chapter websites, LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook pages, and email newsletters. Revenue is generated from three streams: individual membership subscriptions (250+ members across chapters), tiered corporate sponsorship packages (Bronze through Platinum, ranging from €830 to €2,030 per chapter annually), and one-off event sponsorship (e.g., €1,500–€25,000 tiers for the 2019 International Sailing event). Notable sponsors include major yacht builders such as Feadship, Oceanco, AMELS, Sanlorenzo, and Burgess, alongside law firms (Clyde & Co, Hill Dickinson), insurance providers (Howden, Pantaenius), and marine service companies.

YPY's go-to-market is community-led: growth is driven by word-of-mouth among industry peers, boat show presence (Monaco, Fort Lauderdale, London, Singapore), and chapter-based application processes (PDF forms, Google Forms, PayPal). The organization is led by founder D.J. Kiernan and governed by chapter-elected boards operating semi-autonomously under an international umbrella. Germany is formally registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.), and the USA chapter is a registered Florida non-profit; no venture capital, private equity, or institutional funding is disclosed.

Name

Young Professionals in Yachting

Legal name

Young Professionals in Yachting

Website

https://ypyinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Young Professionals in Yachting is a non-profit professional association founded in 2009 that runs eight international chapters serving land-based yachting professionals aged 21–40 through annual memberships, monthly networking meetings, mentorship, and corporate-sponsored events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees collected from individual professionals in the yachting industry, with different pricing tiers by chapter (USA $150, UK £150, Netherlands €100, Germany €120, Monaco €120, Italy €120-150, Greece €50, Turkey 2500 TL). Corporate/group rates available with discounts for bulk memberships.
2. Event Fees: Non-members may attend events for an entrance fee (e.g., €30 per event in Monaco). Alumni pay per-event entry fees.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Companies sponsor YPY chapters at various tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) with annual fees ranging from €830 to €2,030 for Netherlands chapter, providing brand visibility at events and in marketing materials.
4. International Event Sponsorship: Major international events like the 2019 International Sailing event in Croatia offered sponsorship packages at Owner (€25,000), Captain (€5,000), Navigator (€2,500), and Crew (€1,500) levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) is an international non-profit professional association that provides networking, professional development, mentorship, and social events for land-based business professionals aged 21-40 working in the yachting industry. The organization operates through eight country chapters (USA, Monaco, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Italy) plus an Alumni Network, with members paying annual dues to access monthly meetings, industry speaker sessions, career development seminars, and reciprocal membership benefits across chapters.

Product overview

Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) is a non-profit professional networking organization for land-based yachting industry professionals aged 21-40. The core offering is the YPY Membership, which provides access to monthly meetings, professional development seminars, industry speakers, and networking events. The organization operates through regional chapters in the USA (Fort Lauderdale), Monaco, United Kingdom (London), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Germany, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, each hosting local events and providing chapter-specific benefits. Additional offerings include a Mentorship Program connecting members with industry veterans, and an Alumni Network for former members who age out of the 40-year membership limit. YPY functions as a platform connecting young professionals with established industry leaders, facilitating career development through knowledge sharing and relationship building across the global yachting sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YPY Membership
• YPY Alumni Network
• Corporate Sponsorship Program

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship sponsor, sponsor, platinum sponsor, gold sponsor, silver sponsor, core partner, joint event partner and launch sponsor.

• Burgessflagship sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Superyacht brokerage company and proud supporter of YPY UK. Provides speaker support and sponsorship for events.
• HowdensponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Insurance provider supporting YPY UK with superyacht insurance products.
• Hill DickinsonsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Law firm supporting YPY UK with maritime legal expertise and sponsorship.
• YS TalentsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Talent recruitment firm supporting YPY UK.
• Feadshipplatinum sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026World-leading pure custom superyacht builder and Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Founded 1849, based in Netherlands.
• Oceancoplatinum sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Dutch superyacht builder and Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands.
• AMELSplatinum sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Dutch superyacht builder and Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands.
• One&YachtCloudplatinum sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Marine services company.
• Bolidtplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Marine deck coverings specialist.
• YERplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands.
• Metstradeplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Marine equipment trade show organization.
• Xquipplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Marine equipment supplier.
• Videoworksplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Marine electronics and entertainment systems.
• Royal Huismangold sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Dutch superyacht builder.
• Diana Yacht Designgold sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor of YPY Netherlands. Yacht design firm.
• Bradford Marineplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Platinum sponsor of YPY USA. Provides financial support for events and receives brand visibility at YPY events and in marketing materials.
• Summit Fire Securitygold sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Gold sponsor of YPY USA. Fire security company serving the marine industry.
• AME Solutionssilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA. Mechanical engineering services specializing in precision alignment and vibration analysis for yachting propulsion systems.
• Las Olas Marinasilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA. Marina facility in Fort Lauderdale.
• MIR (Marine Information Resources)silver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA.
• Moore & Cosilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA. Professional services firm.
• Oversea Yachtsilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA. Part of EPIC brokers company.
• Ankorsilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Silver sponsor of YPY USA.
• ABEKING & RASMUSSENcore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024German superyacht shipyard (Lemwerder) where YPY Germany board member Stina Krause works. Host of YPY Germany events and press coverage in boote Exclusiv magazine.
• PantaeniussponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of YPY Germany. Yacht insurance provider.
• OptonavalsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of YPY Germany. Managing Director Christopher Schäding serves on YPY Germany board.
• Yacht Club de Monacocore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Venue partner for YPY Monaco monthly seminars and events. Located at Quai Louis II, MC 98000 Monaco.
• Monaco Yachting Clusterjoint event partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborates with YPY Monaco on joint speed networking events.
• MYBA (The Worldwide Yachting Association)joint event partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborates with YPY Monaco on joint speed networking events. Richard Lambert from MYBA participated in Ethics in Yachting panel.
• Ege YatsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Turkish yacht company supporting YPY Turkey.
• Boa YachtssponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Turkish yacht company supporting YPY Turkey.
• Soyaslan Naval Architecture & DesignsponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Turkish naval architecture and design firm supporting YPY Turkey.
• Sanlorenzolaunch sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Italian yacht builder and founding sponsor of YPY Italy at 2023 Monaco launch event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• US Superyacht Association: US Superyacht Association is a national industry body representing the US superyacht market. It overlaps with YPY's USA chapter in terms of event programming and sponsorships, but serves all industry members rather than a youth-focused niche.
• Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF): MIASF is the regional trade association for the marine industry in South Florida, where YPY USA is headquartered and YPY USA President Kathleen Hagan sits on the board. It serves a broader industry constituency and is a structural incumbent YPY operates alongside.
• International Superyacht Society (ISS): ISS is a longer-established industry body serving the superyacht sector with awards, networking events, and industry advocacy. It serves a broader demographic including senior executives and is a broader industry incumbent rather than a youth-focused niche player.

Others

• The Superyacht Group: The Superyacht Group is a media and events company serving the superyacht industry. While not a membership association, it competes for the same sponsor marketing budgets and offers networking touchpoints via industry events, making it an ecosystem peer.
• Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA): RINA is a long-established professional society for naval architects with qualification, membership, and event offerings. Although it targets a more technical and senior demographic, it competes for the same professional society mindshare and offers an adjacent career-development pathway for yacht designers.
• Superyacht Forum: Superyacht Forum is an annual industry event convening senior yacht industry leaders. While more of an event/conference than a membership organization, it competes directly with YPY's international event programming for sponsor dollars and senior-level attention.

Direct peers

• MYBA (The Worldwide Yachting Association): MYBA is an established international yacht industry trade association that has partnered with YPY Monaco on joint events. It directly competes for the same pool of yachting industry professional members and sponsors, and is the industry incumbent YPY is most directly adjacent to in the superyacht segment.
• International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA): IYBA is a trade association for yacht brokers, with comparable membership, networking, and professional development offerings in the yachting ecosystem. YPY alumni have worked there, and the organizations share some overlapping member demographics.
• Professional Yachtsmen's Association (PYA): PYA is a membership organization for yacht crew and industry professionals, offering training, networking, and representation. Very directly comparable to YPY in target audience, professional development focus, and membership-driven revenue model, though PYA skews more toward crew than land-based professionals.
• WISTA (Women's International Shipping & Trading Association): WISTA is a global professional networking association for women in maritime industries, with national chapters and similar membership-based structure. It is the closest direct peer in terms of mission (professional development of an underserved demographic in maritime), operating model (chapter-based, dues-funded, sponsorship-supported), and target audience (industry professionals seeking networking and mentorship).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ypyuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-professionals-in-yachting
• Instagraminstagram.com/ypyusa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Young Professionals in Yachting