The Western Union Foundation Fellowship is a venture and leadership accelerator program for entrepreneurs and community leaders from and working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe. This virtual and global program is designed to equip these next-generation entrepreneurs and leaders with the skills and experience to increase access to economic opportunity, build valuable networks and resources, and transform their communities.
The Western Union Foundation Fellowship provides award-winning training, committed mentorship, and a powerful community of peers to equip Fellows with the tools and knowledge they need to support their venture’s continued development and impact.
Some of the practical entrepreneurial & leadership centric workshops include:
- Team Management for Impactful Organizations
- Data & Metrics
- Marketing & Personal Branding
- Impact Focused Sales
A diverse cohort of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofit founders will form partnerships, collaborations, and further their growth and impact during and after the program. Community building activities include:
- Engagement with Watson Institute alumni
- Self-organized Fellow meet-ups
- Basecamp training and events
Fellows are provided with multiple mentorship opportunities from business leaders, venture capitalists, and enterprise executives. Mentorship engagements include:
- Preceptor Advisory Board
- Impact Speaker Series
- Mentor Bonanza
Fellows 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.
Basecamps are 12 + hours of intensive workshops designed to help rising entrepreneurs from each of the Western Union Foundation Fellows’ communities to ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience. As a key deliverable of the Western Union Foundation Fellowship, all Fellows will facilitate a Basecamp event during their time in the program.
The Watson Institute team will facilitate training workshops, share the Watson Institute Basecamp curriculum and planning materials, and provide a stipend to help organize and facilitate this event. Fellows are empowered through their training to tailor the Basecamp structure and outcomes to their desired participant community.
Benefits
- Weekly virtual workshops with localized gatherings and events when possible. (6-8 hours per week time commitment)
- 2-week virtual Immersive. (20–25 hours per week time commitment)
- 2+ day workshops designed for Fellows’ communities to ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience.
- Culminating community event where Fellows pitch to local leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs.
- Seed funding of $45,000. (Distributed among selected Fellows based on progress and impact)
Eligibilities
- Must be an entrepreneur or community leader from and working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe.
- Must be leading an early-stage social impact venture or community initiative with a proven track record of impact, entrepreneurship, and leadership in their community.
- Must be looking for expert-led entrepreneurial training, access to funding opportunities, and a vast network of mentorship to accelerate own leadership skills and venture impact.
Note:
- Western Union Foundation define early-stage ventures as those that have a working prototype/ MVP product or service with active customers or beneficiaries and demonstrated impact and revenue.
- Applicants from or are working in the following countries will be given priority: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Uganda, United Kingdom, and United States.
Application Process
- Applications have to be made online using the Western Union Foundation Fellowship Application form. (Available on the apply link)
- The online application contains 4 short essay questions and should take about 45 minutes to complete.
Application Deadline: August 19, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
