Applications for the program are now closed.
Ana Karina Pano, 2024 – 2025 Alumna
Equipping entrepreneurs with training, expert-led workshops, and a powerful network to bring financial services to underbanked communities, support small businesses, and expand home ownership opportunities.
Get notified when applications open
Fill out the form below to receive an alert when applications launch.
The Fellowship Offers
The BMO Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute, is a fully-funded program for entrepreneurs and small business owners driving economic opportunity in their communities. Fellows are increasing their communities’ access to formal financial services, tools, and literacy, supporting and enhancing the small business ecosystem in their market, or expanding home ownership opportunities for families locked out of wealth-building pathways. Fellows gain the skills, insights, peer network, and long-term Alumni support needed to drive sustainable impact and growth in their communities.
Business & Leadership Workshops
Participate in 16-weeks of entrepreneurship training led by expert practitioners who are successful entrepreneurs and small business owners themselves, with workshops focused on business acumen and financial literacy.
Financial Tools & Resources
Access practical financial tools, frameworks, and workshops designed to strengthen your venture’s financial foundation. Benefit from the expertise of practitioners and Watson Institute’s broader network of specialists supporting entrepreneurs at every stage.
Basecamps: Creating Lasting Impact
Design and lead a comprehensive 1-day entrepreneurship training program (Basecamp) for 30 earlier-stage small business owners in your community. With training, resources, and a community development stipend, you’ll deepen the small business ecosystem in your market.
Experts You Will Learn From
We recruit experts and entrepreneurs with the specific expertise needed to best serve you. They are brought on to share their insights, facilitate workshops, and provide 1-on-1 guidance. Preceptors from past BMO Fellowship cohorts have included:
Paul Rivera
Expert Facilitator | Be.Act.Change | USAID
Ali Fraenkel
Community Strategist | Consultant & Facilitator | Trust-based Grantmaking Advisor | Philanthropy Innovator
Cole Hoover
Designer of Impact Networks | Strategic Facilitator | Purpose Coach
Don’t take our word for it, hear theirs
Meet The Alumni
More Life Liquid is a wellness brand offering cold-pressed, non-alcoholic beverages that empowers individuals through conscious consumption, while reducing environmental impact by using sustainable packaging and donating compost to local farms. Over the past five years, More Life Liquid has hosted four sober-friendly events that promote social and environmental awareness, introduced 100% biodegradable packaging, and partnered with 2 local farms to compost over 800 pounds of pulp.
Princess Gardens Worm Farm is dedicated to promoting sustainability through vermiculture, composting, and soil regeneration. By educating communities on the benefits of organic waste reduction and regenerative agriculture, the farm empowers individuals to take tangible steps toward combating climate change. They have educated over 4,500 community members through workshops and hands-on training sessions, fostering widespread adoption of regenerative practices like composting and soil revitalization and diverted approximately 8 tons of organic waste from landfills, converting it into nutrient-rich compost that supports urban agriculture and green spaces.
The Halo Food Project is a pioneering initiative that operates Los Angeles’ first 100% clean energy, zero emissions Electric Vehicle (EV) Mobile Retail Grocery Store, providing fresh, locally sourced food to communities across the city. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing over $400,000 into the local economy, and educating more than 2,000 residents on sustainability and environmental justice, the project fosters both environmental and economic resilience. Through innovative food distribution and community engagement, The Halo Food Project actively combats food insecurity while promoting clean energy solutions and sustainable agriculture.
As the 8th largest bank in North America by assets, BMO provides personal and commercial banking, global markets and investment banking services to 13 million customers. They are proud to be fueling progress for individuals, families and businesses across North America. This program is fully-funded through the generous support of BMO.
