Applications open for BMO Fellowship Program (United States)

It offers award-winning training in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and leadership to help advance their environmental sustainability-focused ventures and actively contribute to solving their communities’ most pressing challenges. This Fellowship is specifically intended for individuals from historically underserved communities who possess lived experience with the challenges they are determined to address.

Benefits

• Tailored for environmental sustainability-focused ventures, the Fellowship equips participants with the skills, insights, and networks needed to drive sustainable impact and growth in their communities.
• Venture Acceleration & Leadership Training
  • Fellows will engage in weekly expert-led sessions covering:
  • Foundations
  • Data & Metrics
  • Go-To-Market
  • Funding
  • Team Management
  • Pitch
• Community & Network Building:
  • A diverse cohort of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofit founders will form partnerships, collaborations, and further their growth and impact during and after the program. Community building activities include:
  • Engagement with Watson Institute Alumni
  • Self-organized Fellow events
  • Basecamp training and events
• Mentorship & Collaboration
  • Renowned leaders, entrepreneurs, and practitioners join the fellowships to share their entrepreneurial journey and experience, as well as mentor the Fellows. Fellows are provided with multiple mentorship opportunities that include:
    • Preceptor Advisory Board
    • Impact Speaker Series
    • Mentor Bonanza
• Pitch Training & Summit:
  • Throughout the program, Fellows will refine their pitch through guided sessions focused on crafting their story, showcasing impact, and effectively communicating their vision. The Summit is the culminating event where top Fellows pitch and present their ventures to local leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs. It’s a platform to catalyze change, forge partnerships, and unlock new opportunities for growth and impact.

Funding Information

• Fellows have the potential to receive a venture development stipend of up to $6,000, contingent on their active participation in the program, leading a Basecamp, and successfully completing the workshop-related checkpoint assignments.
• In addition, all Fellows are eligible to receive a $1,000 stipend to support the implementation of their Basecamp.

Eligibility Criteria

• Who you are: You are a BIPOC, woman, or Indigenous entrepreneur or a community leader deeply committed to creating sustainable, scalable impact. Ideally, your venture is in the space of environmental sustainability. You have an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and are driven to grow as an effective leader.
• Venture Stage: You are an impact-driven entrepreneur with proven products, traction, and revenue. This Fellowship targets those in the ‘missing middle’ stage—entrepreneurs who have moved beyond prototyping but need support to grow. You lead a sustainability-focused social impact venture or community endeavor in its initial stages, showcasing a history of making a difference. Ideal candidates have demonstrated impact in their communities and are in the Problem-Solution Fit or Product-Market Fit stages, with engaged customers and measurable outcomes in both impact and revenue.
• Commitment: You are able to commit to the 16-week program including a 2-week virtual immersive. They prioritize individuals who are fully committed to actively participating in the entire program. At the heart of the program is a strong sense of community, and its success hinges on the active engagement and enthusiasm of all participants, who are eager to both learn and share.
• Where You Are Creating Impact: While BMO is located across North America, preference will be given to applicants from:
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • New Mexico
• What You Are Looking For: You seek expert-guided entrepreneurial training, a supportive community for feedback, a broad mentor network to enhance your leadership, and opportunities to challenge yourself by leading a Basecamp event and other initiatives that benefit your venture and community.
• Demographics: Adults 18 or Older.

For more information, visit Watson Institute.