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Flagship Fellowship

Elevating impact-driven entrepreneurs with global networks, mentorship, and intensive training.

Priority Application deadline is June 22, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline until all spots are filled.

Start Your Application

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.

Pitch Development & Professional Recording

Refine how you communicate your venture’s impact and vision to stakeholders.

Create a professionally recorded pitch video you can use beyond the Fellowship.

Master the art of engaging and persuading key audiences.

Skill Enhancement & Leadership Growth

Develop essential skills through hands-on workshops focused on strategic planning, venture development, and problem-solving.

Build resilience and adaptability for the entrepreneurial journey.

Learn to effectively lead and scale an impact-driven organization.

Mentorship & Expert Guidance

Receive one-on-one guidance from experienced mentors and industry professionals.

Participate in group mentorship circles for collaborative learning.

Work directly with an Entrepreneur in Residence who supports your venture’s growth.

Community & Network Expansion

Join a dynamic community of impact-driven entrepreneurs and changemakers.

Connect with Fellows, Alumni, and experts who share your commitment to social impact.

Build lasting relationships that extend beyond the Fellowship.

Visibility & Collaboration

Share your work through Watson Institute summits and events.

Connect with mission-aligned leaders, funders, and industry influencers.

Position yourself as a thought leader in social impact.

Real-World Experience Through Basecamp

Design and lead a Basecamp community event with provided training and resources.

Put your leadership skills into action through hands-on experience.

Receive a stipend to support your community initiative.

Available for select Fellowships only.

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.

Start Your Application

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.

Learn More About Basecamps

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.

Dantong Zhang
EmpowerfulHer Women’s Leadership China

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.

Carl White III
Movespot Mental Health United States

Movespot is dedicated to improving mental health and well-being by fostering authentic social connections. By addressing the detrimental effects of conventional social media, such as anxiety and depression, Movespot cultivates a supportive community environment through its comprehensive mobile app platform. To date, the app has achieved a day-one retention rate of 77%, secured over 40 partnerships with organizations and community groups including Gatorade, Miro, and Github, and raised $100,000 in capital.

Madeline Freeman
NoSo November Mental Health United States

NoSo November addresses the chronic overuse of addictive technology among teenagers in Colorado, aiming to reduce its negative impact on mental health. By providing an immersive, multi-faceted detox experience, NoSo educates teens about the harms of social media and equips them with healthy coping mechanisms. In 2023, NoSo engaged approximately 6,300 participants in partnership with local organizations like Colorado University and Runners Roost, 89% reported noticeable improvements in mental health. To date, the venture has raised over $26,000 in capital and has been featured on 9News Colorado for their work and impact in the state. Madeline was recently listed on the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in the Education category at age 23 after graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder.

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.