$20,000 Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship

The Founder Fellowship helps new or early‑stage social impact founders move from idea to MVP through mentorship, research, and hands‑on support. It focuses on ventures addressing economic mobility and community resilience in five impact areas:

• Education
• Financial Empowerment
• Health
• Housing
• Hunger & Jobs

The fellowship is structured in two phases:

• Step 1: Explore & Test (Virtual, June–July) Founders validate assumptions, conduct user research, and sharpen their story. Larger cohort participates virtually, with final presentations to experts and funders.
• Step 2: Build Your MVP (Brooklyn, Sept–Nov) ~25 founders advance to build their MVP with mentorship, structured workshops, and a $20,000 stipend. Includes onsite programming, collaboration with engineers/designers, and a final showcase to funders and partners.

Benefits

• $20,000 stipend (for Step 2 fellows)
• Weekly programming on research, validation, product, growth, fundraising

• Must be a new or early‑stage founder (no prototype or co‑founder required)
• Must be based in the United States
• Must have lived or learned experience in the challenge area addressed
• Commitment to attend virtual workshops (Step 1) and onsite programming in Brooklyn (Step 2)
• Focus on one of Robin Hood’s impact areas (Education, Financial Empowerment, Health, Housing, Hunger & Jobs)
• Running a project or organization
• Working (full-time or part-time)
• Entrepreneur