WHO WE ARE
KAISE is a Canadian nonprofit putting young people in the driver’s seat of social transformation. We don’t just give youth a voice – we give them the keys to power.
How We Do It
• Open Doors: Connect young leaders directly with policymakers and CEOs
• Build Skills: Teach policy-making + entrepreneurship as tools for change
• Create Impact: Turn ideas into real policies, businesses, and reforms
Why It Matters
The generations facing tomorrow’s crises deserve to design today’s solutions.
“We’re not the future – we’re building it now.”
OUR EXPERTISE
We equip young leaders to drive systemic change through three pillars: policy influence (training youth to craft legislation), social enterprise (incubating impactful ventures), and cross-sector leadership (bridging generational divides). Our unique model blends these disciplines to create changemakers who implement solutions, not just propose them.
The annual International Youth Conference epitomizes our approach, connecting 1,000+ young innovators with policymakers and CEOs. Here, top ventures secure funding, breakthrough ideas gain traction, and transformative partnerships form—last year’s conference generated $2.3M for youth-led solutions.
With 85% of alumni leading change initiatives and 100+ institutional partnerships, KAISE delivers proven impact. Born in Canada but global in reach, our programs have been adapted across 12 countries while maintaining core principles of innovation and inclusion. We don’t just prepare youth for the future—we give them the tools to build it today.
WHY CHOOSE US
KAISE transforms youth into powerful changemakers through proven leadership pipelines and a unique policy-to-action model. With 85% of alumni securing influential roles in government, social enterprises, or NGOs, our competitive programs combine policy training, entrepreneurial labs, and institutional access to turn ideas into real-world impact. We go beyond theory—youth leave with funding, mentorship, and the tools to drive systemic change.
Home to the International Youth Conference on Social Enterprise & Innovation, KAISE connects 1,000+ young leaders annually with policymakers, investors, and global experts. Our Canadian-rooted, globally scaled programs leverage cross-sector networks (governments, Fortune 500s, impact investors) to amplify youth-led solutions. Recognized by the UN and tested across diverse communities, we don’t just empower youth—we remove barriers so they can lead today.
KAISE bridges the gap between ideas and impact through our integrated policy-entrepreneurship framework. Youth master legislative processes in our Policy Labs, then immediately apply knowledge by developing real ventures – like the youth-led recycling cooperative now operating in three Canadian provinces. Our ChangeMaker Playbook provides step-by-step systems change strategies, ensuring solutions move beyond theory to institutional adoption.
What sets us apart? While most programs focus on just advocacy or just business, KAISE youth learn to navigate city halls and boardrooms equally well. This dual-competency approach has led to 37 youth-initiated policies adopted since 2020, along with 89 social enterprises launched through our incubator.
Our International Youth Conference isn’t just an event – it’s an impact accelerator where young leaders from 60+ countries secure funding, policy backing, and global visibility. The 2024 conference generated $2.3M in venture funding and produced the Urban Youth Resilience Pact now implemented in 14 cities.
Beyond the annual gathering, we maintain year-round platforms connecting conference alumni with ongoing mentorship and scaling opportunities. This continuous support system explains why 72% of participating ventures remain operational after three years – compared to the 20% industry average for youth startups.
KAISE opens doors normally closed to young leaders through strategic partnerships with 15+ government ministries, Fortune 500 companies, and leading impact investors. Our youth advisors currently sit on 11 policy committees nationwide, while corporate partners like Shopify and RBC provide both funding and real-world testing grounds for youth ventures.
The KAISE network effect continues post-program through our Global Opportunity Board, where alumni access exclusive jobs, grants and speaking engagements. This living ecosystem has facilitated 230+ high-level connections in the past year alone, with 40% leading to concrete collaborations.
Born from Canada’s multicultural innovation ecosystem, KAISE programs combine rigorous policy frameworks with inclusive design principles – a blend now replicated across 12 countries. Our Manitoba Indigenous Youth Governance Initiative became the model for similar programs in Australia and Scandinavia.
This global-local approach has earned recognition from the UN and World Economic Forum, while maintaining grassroots relevance. Of our 89 international adaptations, 83% retain core Canadian methodologies while incorporating local cultural competencies – proving impactful ideas can both travel and adapt.
OUR COMMITMENTS
KAISE doesn’t just include youth voices—we redesign power structures. With majority-youth governance (51%) and our mandatory Youth Impact Benchmark™ (20% decision-making roles), we institutionalize intergenerational equity. Every dollar creates ripple effects: our 2:1 Global South funding ratio and $5M impact fund turn ideas into policy changes and scalable ventures.
The proof? 85% of participants lead systemic change within five years. Our International Youth Conference delivers concrete results—not inspiration—through guaranteed mentorship, funding pathways, and direct policymaker access.
This isn’t temporary empowerment. We provide lifelong access to networks, resources, and capital because youth leadership doesn’t expire at 30. Third-party audited scorecards track every outcome, from venture launches to policy adoptions.
We don’t believe in youth potential—we’ve built the evidence to prove it.
UPCOMING EVENTS
25th - 28th June, 2025
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
We’re seeking 1,000 visionary leaders (ages 18-45) who:
Are driving change through policy, entrepreneurship or community leadership.
Want to scale their impact with global networks and resources.
Can engage fully in English (all programming is in English).
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all nationalities and regions. Ideal candidates:
Demonstrate leadership in advocacy, research or social impact
Show passion for youth empowerment and systemic change
Have some track record in activism, governance or community initiatives
SELECTION PRIORITIES
We’re building a cohort that:
→ Clearly connects this opportunity to their change-making goals
→ Shows potential to create ripple effects in their communities
→ Brings diverse regional, sectoral and socioeconomic perspectives
WHY THIS CONFERENCE TRANSFORMS CAREERS
80% of alumni accelerate their impact within 1 year
1:3 participant-to-expert ratio for personalized guidance
$2M+ in funding opportunities available