VentureWell is excited to announce the launch of the VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship, a groundbreaking initiative designed to drive the growth of inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems across higher education campuses and regions. Building on the success of VentureWell’s Course & Program (C&P) Grants, which have supported a generation of changemakers nationwide, this fellowship aims to create even more substantial and lasting impacts by emphasizing partnerships between higher ed faculty and administration. The fellowship provides awardees with financial support, useful programming, and a supportive community of practice, so they can create broad systems to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Overview: A Transformative Fellowship Experience
The VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship offers a transformative, one-year experience that enhances campus innovation and entrepreneurship. It is designed to foster both in-class and out-of-class engagement and meaningfully impact the institutional culture. Teams of two will receive $35,000 in funding—comprising a $10,000 award and $7,500 in travel stipends per fellow—and will benefit from engaging with communities of practice during 12 months of immersive programming.
Benefits: Grow and Strengthen Your Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Develop Impactful Programs: Create courses, policies, and co-curricular programs to promote research and development (R&D) translation focused on environmental sustainability and inclusive innovation.
Receive Significant Funding: Obtain $35,000 in funding for teams of two (one must be faculty) from U.S.-based colleges and universities.
Build an Ecosystem Growth Plan: Formulate a STEM innovation & entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem growth plan to scale interventions in collaboration with university leadership and external partners.
Future Opportunities: Fellowship recipients will be eligible to apply for an additional two-year challenge grant to support further implementation of growth plans. More information will be available in 2025; applications will open in 2026.
Eligibility: An Emphasis on Inclusion
The fellowship is open to all accredited U.S. higher education institutions. Teams must consist of two applicants, including at least one faculty member. The second team member may be faculty, staff, or administrator. The program encourages applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), community colleges, and emerging research institutions (ERIs). Institutions must be VentureWell members to apply.
Impact: Building on a Legacy of Impactful Innovation
Since 1996, VentureWell has awarded nearly $21 million in funding through its faculty initiatives, including more than $15.2 million through C&P Grants. The VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship aims to continue this legacy of impactful innovation and sustainability.
Application Details
Request for Proposals (RFP) Opened: August 28, 2024
Info Sessions: September 12, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET & October 2, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET
Proposals Due: October 23, 2024
Fellows Announced: January 2025
Application Guidelines: Read the application guidelines.
Application: Apply now!
Contact and Additional Information
Sign up to receive updates on the VentureWell website. For questions, email Jaime Wood-Riley, senior program officer.