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Black Girl Ventures Program

BGV PRESENTS

Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program

a totally unique 3-month leadership skills development program

(currently closed)
 

Black Girl Ventures Agent

APPLICATIONS CLOSE

(currently closed)
 

APPLICATIONS OPEN

YOU GET

$5,000
STIPEND

+ MORE BENEFITS

What is it?

The Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program by BGV is a totally unique 3-month leadership skills development program (with 2 cohorts in 2023) created specifically to expand the capacity of early-stage entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to strengthen the ecosystems of Black/Brown women founders!

 

BGV incubates Black/Brown woman-identifying founders and ecosystem builders across multiple local ecosystems as a means to amplify women leaders and to create an “each one, teach one” model for growing the long-term entrepreneurial knowledge and sustainability of underrepresented founders. Black Girl Ventures cultivates local leaders, who in-turn cultivate their community as a service to the greater good of creating equal opportunity to thrive at the intersection of being a Black/Brown woman and an entrepreneur. Together, we will create access to social and financial capital for Black and Brown Woman-Identifying Founders!

During the 3-month leadership skills development fellowship, Emerging Leaders Fellows will:

Be matched with a group of peers in their city
Receive business leadership training through the Jetpack for Leaders curriculum, a 3-month virtual skills development program facilitated by industry leaders
Host a local BGV Pitch competition in their city designed to create low barrier access to non-dilutive capital for other Black and Brown women.

These founders 
will then go on to access culturally-centered entrepreneurial education through the six-week JetPack Accelerator curriculum.

We will be
recruiting for
the next cohort 
as of June 12th, 2023.

Anchor 1

Qualifications

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must be:

Identify as a Black or Brown woman
Have a passion for empowering and building the ecosystems of Black and Brown women founders in your community!
Have the ability to commit to approximately 8 hours per month (4 hours through Jetpack for Leaders + 4 hours self-directed)
Anchor 2
Anchor 3

What you'll gain

  • You’ll receive a $5k stipend - plus in-kind resources to grow your business!
  • Leadership skills development training through the BGV Jetpack for Leaders curriculum
  • Lifetime membership to the BGV Connect platform: BGV Connect is Black Girl Ventures' online incubator for Black/Brown women founders. 
  • You’ll gain a network and visibility as a business leader in your city
  • You will have the opportunity to select 8-10 Black and Brown women founders to receive capital through the BGV Pitch Competition
  • You’ll have access to BGV’s expanding network of partners and capital providers
  • You will have the opportunity to facilitate BGV’s exclusive curriculum training for other women founders in your community
  • Black Girl Ventures co-branded swag from BGV and our sponsors!

How to apply

Complete the application form, meeting the eligibility criteria 
You’ll then receive an invitation to submit a short video introduction of you and your business
You’ll receive an email notification of a decision

FAQs

If I apply for the program, am I automatically admitted? 
 
Enrollment is limited. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Information submitted will not be released for other purposes and cannot be returned to the applicant. 

How many cohorts will there be?


In 2023, there will be 2 cohorts. Cohort 1 will be April-June. Cohort 2 will be August-October.

How many founders will be selected for the program?

7-10 founders selected for each cohort across 3 cities (Houston, Austin, and NYC).

Do I have to be a resident of a specific city to apply to the fellowship?
 
Currently, this opportunity is only available to residents of the following cities: Houston, Austin, and NYC - but we’re growing quickly and hope to offer opportunities in more cities in the new future!

I applied for the program, now what?
 
Stay tuned for more info. If you have questions email fellowship@blackgirlventures.org.
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