Deadline: April 9, 2022
Applications for the MENA Halcyon/AWS Intensive Fellowship 2022 are now open. The first of its kind, Halcyon is excited to launch their fully in-region intensive for the MENA region, thanks to the support of the State Department and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
This fellowship will bring together inspiring founders from across the Middle East and North Africa for cross-border collaboration, and network and venture development.
Halcyon is the community supporting impact-driven businesses and their founders through space, community, and access. Their programs offer fellowships for impact-driven founders and funding vehicles to help them scale their ventures.
Benefits
While Intensive programming is tailored to the cohort, a few things are a given:
- $25,000 USD in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing credits
- Additional technical support from AWS
- Access to a world-class network of mentors and advisors
- Bespoke training on key business skills and elements
- Join a world-wide community of impact-driven entrepreneurs
- Pro-bono legal advice
- $3,000 USD travel stipend per venture
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2022 MENA Halcyon/AWS Intensive Fellowship, you:
- Must live in and have your venture based in the Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) Region. Your venture may be focusing on any business sector, as long as it is an early-stage impact-driven venture (i.e. prioritizes social and/or environmental good along with business success)
- Must be the CEO and/or hold primary decision-making power in the growth and strategic vision for the venture’s development and management
- Must be able to make a full-time commitment to work on the venture during the residency phase (June 26, 2022 – June 30, 2022)
- Must be able to travel within the MENA region to attend the in region residency (June 26, 2022- June 30, 2022 / Location to be announced soon!)
- Must be fluent in English
- Must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program
- You may apply on your own or with up to one Co-Founder who meets the above eligibility requirements.
- Must be willing to contribute to the growth and development of Halcyon’s fellow community
To be eligible for the 2022 MENA Halcyon/AWS Intensive Fellowship, your venture:
- Must be an original idea of the applicant(s)
- Must be early stage (you are too far along to benefit from Halcyon’s fellowships if your venture is earning $500,000 USD in annual recurring revenue)
- Must be an independent or autonomous venture that is not under the direction of an existing organization
- Must have plans for a sustainable business model to generate revenue by selling a core product or service
- Must be a for-profit or hybrid venture with the core mission is to create measurable social and/or environmental change
- May not be a 501(c)(3) non-profit venture
Selection Criteria
- Impact. Successful applicants demonstrate a significant impact as a core part of their venture. They look for impact both in terms of how impactful the core product or service is, and how scalable is the model to spread this impact.
- Problem/Solution. Does your venture identify a real and pressing problem and propose a viable solution? Strong applications effectively and narrowly define a pain point and outline a solution that addresses the pain point.
- Sustainability. They are looking for innovative social ventures that sell a core product or service to achieve impact.
- Execution. The application is the first introduction; get off on the right foot. Successful applicants have a big vision but also pay careful attention to detail.
- Innovation. How is your solution to a problem different from current solutions? What sets you apart? They value audacious ideas that disrupt the status quo and move the needle on 21st century challenges. Think big!
- Talent. Do you have what it takes to lead your venture to success? Strong applicants exhibit characteristics of extraordinary leadership: vision, intelligence, resilience, and follow-through.
Application
Applications for the 2022 MENA Halcyon/AWS Intensive Fellowship is open until April 9, 2022.
For more information, visit Halcyon.
