EmpowerfulHer is a non-profit community dedicated to promoting women’s leadership in China through in person and online mentorship programs and workshops. EmpowerfulHer offers bilingual training in Chinese and English, addressing gender equality and encouraging women to excel as leaders across various sectors. To date, the venture has positively impacted over 200,000 women globally, and established partnerships with NGOs and universities worldwide – including Utrecht University, University of Cambridge, and Harvard University.
Flagship Fellowship
Priority Application deadline is June 22, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline until all spots are filled.
Ryn Delpapa, 2024 Flagship Fellowship Alumna
As a Fellow in the Flagship Program, you’ll elevate your impact-driven venture through intensive training, dedicated mentorship from industry leaders, and connections to a powerful global network. This transformative 16-week journey begins with an Immersive experience in Boulder, Colorado, followed by virtual programming that keeps you deeply engaged with like-minded peers as you strengthen your leadership and scale your impact.
This is a fully-funded* program thanks to our generous partners and consists of a variety of individual Fellowships. Each Fellowship is tailored to address specific social impact areas or has a geographical specification. For further details on the Fellowships available, please click here.
*Fellows are responsible for covering expenses related to transportation to and from the Immersive in Boulder, Colorado, and some onsite meals during the Immersive.
Dates and Details
Key Dates
- Program: August 18–November 25, 2025
- In-Person Immersive: 5-day in-person Immersive, August 18–22, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado.
- Virtual Summit: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Time Commitment
- Weekly Sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM MT (GMT-6)
- Weekly Commitment: 8–10 hours/week
Core Components
- Virtual Workshops: Interactive online sessions with your cohort
- Basecamp: Lead a 1-3 day impact workshop in your community
- Virtual Summit: Pitch to leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs
To create the most valuable experience for all, we ask every Fellow to fully participate and attend all weekly workshops and events.
Who Should Apply
Entrepreneur Profile
You are an entrepreneur or community leader dedicated to creating impact through innovative solutions. You have a strong connection to your community and a track record of creating positive change. See below for specific Fellowship details.
Venture Stage
Your nonprofit or for-profit organization has an established business model and is actively serving customers or beneficiaries in historically underserved communities. You’re now ready to scale your impact with the support of dedicated mentorship and resources.
Location & Eligibility
Applicants must be 18 years or older and located in and/or creating impact in any geographical location with a preference for applicants from the USA, East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan), Brazil, and China.
What You Will Receive
Through this fully-funded Fellowship, supported by our Partners and powered by Watson Institute, you’ll gain the tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale your venture’s impact. The Fellowship is specifically optimized for impact ventures, with carefully selected facilitators, mentors, and speakers who bring deep expertise.
Fellowships:
The Flagship Fellowship Program brings together 30 entrepreneurs in the critical “missing middle” stage—ventures that have demonstrated initial traction but need support to scale their impact. While each Fellowship is distinct in its focus area and geographic scope, all impact-driven entrepreneurs participate in the same transformative program experience, creating a cohesive community addressing crucial challenges in their target communities.
Enlight Fellowship
Size: 20 Fellowship slots available
Impact Location: Creating impact in any location across the globe.
Impact Sectors: Open to social impact ventures focused on addressing mental health issues.
Basecamp: Fellows will be responsible for leading a Basecamp as part of the Fellowship. Read more about Basecamp here.
If you are interested in learning more about this Fellowship, please click here.
Jane Strode Miller Fellowship
Size: 5 Fellowship slots available
Impact Location: Creating impact anywhere in the world
Impact Sectors: Open to all social impact ventures
Luff Fellowship
Size: 1 Fellowship slot available
Impact Location: Creating impact anywhere in the world
Impact Sectors: Open to all social impact ventures
Sustainability Fellowship
Size: 1 Fellowship slot available
Impact Location: Creating impact in United States
Impact Sectors: Focus on:
- Environmental sustainability
- Climate change solutions
Watson Institute Fellowship
Size: 4 Fellowship slots available
Impact Location: Creating impact anywhere in the world
Impact Sectors:
- Technology initiatives
- Sustainability solutions
Application Process
1. Submit Your Application: Candidates complete the online application in approximately 30 minutes. Submit by the priority deadline of June 22, 2025, for early consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
2. Application Review: Our Admissions Committee evaluates applications to identify innovative entrepreneurs with scalable ventures and strong potential for impact. Early applicants receive priority consideration.
3. Interview: Selected candidates will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview to share their entrepreneurial journey, discuss their venture’s vision for growth, and explore how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.
4. Final Selection & Enrollment: Final decisions will be announced by August, 2025. Accepted applicants must confirm their enrollment to secure their spot. The program begins on August 18, 2025.
Jie Liu and Charles Losche, 2024 Flagship Fellowship Alumni
Yoselin Parades and Xinyue Huang, 2024 Flagship Fellowship Alumni
90% of Watson Institute’s Alumni are continuing their venture, employed at leading Fortune 500 companies, or continuing their education.
Creating Lasting Impact: Empower Your Community with Basecamps
As a core component of the Fellowship, some Fellows will be asked to design and lead a 1-3 day Basecamp—an interactive, community-focused workshop that strengthens their leadership skills, expands their network, and provides valuable feedback. These Fellows will receive training, resources, and a stipend to plan and execute an impactful event that supports rising entrepreneurs and changemakers in your community. Not all Fellows will be asked to conduct a Basecamp.
Wenxi Lin, 2024 Flagship Fellowship Alumna “The Art of Bilingual Public Speaking Basecamp”, United States
Meet the Alumni
Watson Institute Alumni from 81 countries have raised over $185 million in capital for their ventures, created over 1,900 part or full-time jobs, and impacted over 10 million people around the world through initiatives they help lead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the eligibility for this program?
Eligibility Requirements
- Venture Stage: Your venture is at the Problem-Solution or Product-Market Fit stage.
- Location: Fellows may be from any geographical location, with a preference for applicants from the USA, Mexico, East Africa, Brazil, and China.
- Time Commitment: You can fully commit to the entire 16-week program, including the mandatory 5-day in-person immersive in Boulder, Colorado (beginning August 18, 2025). Active participation throughout the program is essential, as our community thrives on engaged Fellows who are eager to both learn and contribute.
- Availability: You can attend all weekly virtual workshops scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Mountain Time (GMT-6).
Ideal Candidate Profile
The Flagship Fellowship seeks exceptional entrepreneurs and community leaders who:
- Have reached the Problem-Solution or Product-Market Fit stage with their ventures
- Demonstrate a proven history of impact and leadership within their communities
- Have successfully raised funding through grants, investments, donations, or other means
- May lead a team of up to ten full-time team members
How selective is this program?
Fellowships powered by Watson Institute receive a high volume of applications each year and have a 2-8% acceptance rate.
What do the in-person components entail?
- Fellows will travel to Boulder, Colorado for a 5-day in-person immersive to build community and learn about key programmatic information.
- Some Fellows will facilitate a Basecamp event in their communities during their time in the program. They will also have the option to have meet-ups with other program Fellows in their locations.
What are the costs associated with this program (travel, fees, deposits, etc.)?
Watson Institute covers the cost of accommodations, program-related transportation, and most meals. Fellows are responsible for flights and transportation to and from Boulder for the in-person Immersive. Outside of travel, there is no cost associated with this Fellowship program – it is fully funded for all accepted Fellows.
What is the application review timeline?
We understand the substantial interest in the program and strive to provide prompt responses. Decisions will be dispatched by August, 2025. Your patience during this process is greatly appreciated.
Can I apply if my country is not listed under the priority countries?
Flagship Fellowship is designed for entrepreneurs who are based and are creating impact in any geographical location with a preference for applicants from the USA, Mexico, East Africa, Brazil, and China.
I have another question and need assistance.
For all other questions, please reach out to Milena Kirillova at milena@watson.is.