Julia Youngs

Acceleration Program Manager
Creative Startups
Santa Fe, NM

Julia joined Creative Startups team in 2015 and is presently the Acceleration Program Manager responsible for assisting with and overseeing the expansion and execution of their successful accelerator and pre-accelerator programs. Creative Startups is a leading global accelerator for entrepreneurs in the creative industries, and since 2014 their alumni have raised nearly $50 million in outside investment. They presently have a variety of acceleration programs in New Mexico, North Carolina, Minnesota, Kuwait, and Malaysia and more locations forthcoming. In her role, Julia has worked with all Creative Startups sites, and in-depth on Creative Startups New Mexico based programs, such as their accelerator, pre-accelerator, and newly launched “Libraries as Launchpads” program, as well as globally in spearheading their program development in Malaysia.

Julia’s commitment to the creative economy is both professional and personal. Prior to joining Creative Startups, Julia received her MA in Latin American Studies and Community + Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. Her academic scholarship focuses specifically on transitional justice, human rights, and economics in Latin America, and helped shape her passion for community economic development. In addition, she has worked for many years in Albuquerque as a stage manager for the National Institute of Flamenco, and active volunteer and community arts organizer. She is the co-chair of EmergeABQ, New Mexico’s only chapter of the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network, member of the steering committee for Albuquerque’s Downtown Arts & Cultural District, and appointed representative to the City of Albuquerque’s Urban Enhancement Trust Fund board. She is committed to combining her passion for community engagement and urban development to help grow more creative cities and creative industries. Julia has spent extensive time living and working throughout Latin America and speaks Spanish fluently and Portuguese conversationally.