Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship by Watson Institute – Fully Funded Virtual Program for Entrepreneurs in Mobility and Transportation
The Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship is a fully-funded, intensive enterprise and management improvement program designed to empower entrepreneurs and neighborhood leaders devoted to bettering mobility, transportation, and accessibility. By offering important coaching, mentorship, and a supportive neighborhood, this fellowship helps members scale their mobility-based companies and improve their management expertise.
About the Opportunity
This fellowship is aimed toward entrepreneurs centered on rising entry to transportation or constructing providers on wheels. The program affords a singular alternative to develop each entrepreneurial and management expertise, offering Fellows with the instruments they should drive social impression inside their communities.
The fellowship is totally funded by Ford Philanthropy, enabling members to focus solely on rising their ventures with out monetary boundaries.
Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?
This fellowship is designed for entrepreneurs and neighborhood leaders who’re dedicated to creating sustainable, scalable impression in the fields of mobility, transportation, or accessibility. Below are the important thing eligibility necessities:
Who Should Apply?
- Entrepreneurs or Community Leaders: You have to be main or concerned in a enterprise that focuses on rising transportation entry, constructing cellular options, or offering mobility-based providers.
- Stage of Venture: Ideal candidates are in the ‘missing middle’ stage, that means your enterprise is past prototyping however nonetheless wants help to develop. You ought to have a confirmed product, traction, and measurable impression in each income and social impression.
- Commitment: You have to be out there to decide to the complete 16-week program, together with the 2-week digital immersive. Active participation is important for the success of this system.
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Geographical Focus: The fellowship is open to entrepreneurs and neighborhood leaders based mostly in the next nations:
- Brazil
- Germany
- Mexico
- Philippines
- Spain
- South Africa
- Thailand
- United Kingdom (together with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
- Vietnam
Demographics
- Applicants have to be 18 years or older.
Program Details
The Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship is a 16-week digital program that gives complete help that can assist you develop your mobility-focused enterprise. Here’s what you possibly can count on:
Program Dates and Structure
- Start Date: February twenty fourth, 2025
- End Date: June seventeenth, 2025
- Program Duration: 16 weeks
- Schedule: Weekly digital workshops held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 am – 10:30 am Mountain Time Zone.
- Immersive Experience: A 2-week digital Immersive beginning on February twenty fourth, 2025, requiring a time dedication of roughly 10-15 hours per week. This serves because the foundational expertise for the fellowship.
Key Program Features
- Basecamp: Each Fellow will host a 1-3 day Impact Workshop in their neighborhood. Basecamps assist Fellows showcase their ventures, obtain suggestions, and develop their community. These workshops present a hands-on method to exploring social impression by entrepreneurship.
- Venture Development Stipend: Fellows can earn as much as $6,000 in stipends based mostly on efficiency and impression in the course of the fellowship.
- Pitch Training & Summit: Fellows will refine their pitching expertise and current their ventures to native leaders, traders, and entrepreneurs on the Fellowship Summit.
How to Apply: Application Process
The application course of for the Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship is open on a rolling foundation. Follow the steps beneath to apply:
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Submit Your Application: Complete the on-line application kind. This ought to take about 45 minutes to fill out.
- Priority Deadline: January twelfth, 2025
- Rolling Review: Applications acquired after the precedence deadline shall be reviewed on a rolling foundation.
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First Round Review: The admissions crew will assess all purposes, trying for robust management qualities and scalable ventures which have a confirmed impression.
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Interview: Qualified candidates shall be invited for a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom interview to debate your motivations and enterprise in extra element.
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Final Selection: The Admissions Committee will assessment essentially the most promising candidates and choose the ultimate Fellows.
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Notification of Acceptance: All candidates shall be notified of their acceptance standing by February tenth, 2025.
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Confirm & Enroll: Once accepted, you will have to verify your participation and attend a “Meet the Cohort” webinar earlier than this system begins on February twenty seventh, 2025.
Important Dates
- Rolling Acceptance: Applications shall be reviewed constantly till spots are stuffed.
- Program Start Date: February twenty fourth, 2025
Find extra info here.
Fellowship Benefits
The Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship affords a variety of advantages, together with:
Venture Acceleration & Leadership Training
Fellows will interact in weekly expert-led workshops overlaying:
- Foundations of mobility ventures
- Metrics and information for progress
- Product-market match
- Funding methods
- Team administration
- Pitching for funding
Community & Network Building
The fellowship fosters robust relationships amongst a various cohort of entrepreneurs. Fellows will:
- Collaborate with friends, small enterprise homeowners, and nonprofit leaders.
- Engage with Watson Institute Alumni.
- Participate in self-organized Fellow occasions.
Mentorship & Collaboration
Fellows obtain mentorship from famend leaders and practitioners, together with:
- Preceptor Advisory Boards
- Impact Speaker Series
- Mentor Bonanza periods with trade leaders.
Basecamp: Pay It Forward in Your Community
As part of the fellowship, every Fellow will host a Basecamp occasion, which is a 1-3 day workshop in their neighborhood. These occasions assist Fellows speed up their impression, construct neighborhood, and interact native members. Each Basecamp is supported with a stipend, playbook, and crew help. Fellows may have the chance to host workshops, interact with native stakeholders, and obtain beneficial suggestions to additional their ventures.
The Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship affords a life-changing alternative for entrepreneurs and neighborhood leaders in the mobility area. With its knowledgeable steering, network-building alternatives, and an opportunity to make a long-lasting impression, this fellowship is a perfect platform for these seeking to scale their ventures and create constructive change in the world.
Apply right now and be a part of the subsequent cohort of leaders shaping the way forward for mobility!
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Ford Philanthropy Mobility Fellowship by Watson Institute – Fully Funded Virtual Program for Entrepreneurs in Mobility and Transportation
