Beyond VC: 6 Fellowship Programs That Fund Founders
Skip the VC grind - these fellowships offer funding, mentorship, and game-changing networks.
This week, I spoke to several entrepreneurs with the same question: “What are alternatives to traditional Venture Capital funding?”
Finding funding sources can be challenging for entrepreneurs, with many believing that bootstrapping or VC funding is their only option. That’s where fellowships come in. These programs don’t just offer capital; they provide mentorship, credibility, and access to game-changing networks.
While there are many other funding sources for founders who wish to take a different path, fellowships often come with the same support and guidance that founders can expect from an incubator or accelerator program but are usually focused on individuals instead of organizations. This means that high-potential founders can receive the funding and mentorship they need to pursue ideas without having to focus on raising capital early on in their journey.
Here are six fellowship programs that every ambitious founder should have on their radar.
1. Fellow Fund
Run by Ripple Ventures, the Fellow Fund supports underrepresented student founders transforming legacy industries across the United States and Canada. Focused on tech founders, funding recipients also receive access to Ripple’s founder, investor, and operator network and can connect with other like-minded individuals in their fellowship program through private group chats and events. Ripple also provides hands-on mentorship and access to their network as a talent pipeline for your future hires.
Funding Provided: $50,000 investment in funding rounds of up to $250,000
Important Dates: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
2. Z Fellows
Z Fellows is an ultra-fast, high-intensity fellowship designed for those who want to build fast and scale big. They are a one-week startup program that provides $10,000 in funding and a continuous community for high-potential founders and builders. It’s open to solo builders, dropouts, student founders, early-stage startups, and even those working full-time jobs but looking for the right moment to make the leap.
Their program mentors include the founders of Eventbrite, AngelList, Figma, Netflix, Tinder, DoorDash and more. Alums of the program have gone on to raise funds from Sequoia, General Catalyst, a16z, Insight Partners, and more.
Funding Provided: $10,000 investment at a $1 Billion market cap
Important Dates: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
3. Thiel Fellowship
One of the more famous fellowships on this list, the legendary Thiel Fellowship, launched by notable entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel, provides young entrepreneurs a $100,000 grant to take a break from or drop out of college and focus entirely on their startups. This highly selective fellowship targets founders under 22 working on ambitious, paradigm-shifting ideas in areas such as biotech, AI, and deep tech. Unlike grants, Thiel Fellows are expected to make real progress toward building the next billion-dollar company and will receive support from the Thiel Foundation’s network of founders, investors, and scientists.
Funding Provided: $100,000 over two years
Important Dates: Applications accepted year-round
4. Echoing Green Fellowship
For founders in the social innovation space who are tackling the world’s most pressing social issues, Echoing Green provides an unparalleled platform. This fellowship funds and supports impact-driven entrepreneurs in climate justice, racial equity, and economic empowerment. Past fellows have launched global nonprofits and social enterprises, reshaping industries and communities worldwide.
The fellowship includes a leadership development program, wellness and well-being support, expert resources, virtual and in-person events, and a stipend of 100,000 USD over 18 months.
Funding Provided: 100,000 USD across 18 months (in the form of recoverable grants for for-profit entities)
Important Dates: Annual application cycle; next cycle opens in fall 2025
5. Activate Fellowship
The Activate Fellowship helps scientists turn research into viable deep-tech startups. Unlike traditional startup fellowships, Activate is designed for PhDs and engineers building commercial applications for cutting-edge science. Fellows receive funding, lab access, and mentorship to transition from academia to entrepreneurship. Desi
Their entrepreneurial curriculum and support are “tailored for scientists and engineers,” and the fellowship also connects founders with a broad network of industry executives, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and other experts from academia, industry, government, and finance. Though they have resources globally and an “Active Anywhere” community, they also have several other location-specific communities in Boston, New York City, Houston and Berkeley.
Funding Provided: A living stipend of $100,000, along with travel allowance and health insurance. Projects also receive an additional $100,000 in R&D funding
Important Dates: Annual application cycle; next cycle opens in late 2025
6. Camelback Fellowship
Camelback Ventures has a 10-year track record of supporting diverse founders tackling social and systemic issues.
Their fellowship focuses on founders innovating in two areas. The first is in education, where they back ventures, schools, programs, and products in early childhood, K-12, higher education, adult learning, and alternative pathways that are improving educational outcomes and access. Their second focus area is on conscious technology focuses on tech ventures in health and wellness, community development, policy and advocacy, and workforce readiness.
Their program is designed around their 5 pillars of coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum, providing not just funding but executive coaching and a structured curriculum that is designed to help founders refine their business models and scale impact-driven startups.
The Camelback Ventures team is also hosting an application webinar on March 17th for those looking for best practices.
Funding Provided: $40,000 investment
Important Dates: Applications will open on March 17th and will close on April 7th
If you’re a founder needing capital, mentorship, or a push to leap, these fellowships offer more than just funding - they offer a launchpad. Many of the biggest names in startups today were shaped by programs like these. The question is: which one is right for you?
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