Deadline: November 15, 2024
Applications are open for the Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Program 2025. Catalyst is a five-month incubator to grow early-stage organizations into full-fledged, sustainable organizations that tackle economic inequality. Teams receive a wide range of financial and non-financial support including a grant (nonprofits), investments (for-profits), guidance in refining product offerings and operating models, connections to mentors and talent, and a set of in-kind and discounted resources. In addition, they will also work from the Blue Ridge Labs co-working space.
At Catalyst, they are on a mission to support bold, impact-driven founders who are building tech solutions aimed at fighting poverty. Whether you’re focused on food security, healthcare, education, or financial stability, they are available to accelerate your venture to new heights.
Benefits
Select features of the program include:
- Up to $90,000 in funding ($40,000 10-12 ventures that are accepted and up to another $50,000 for the 3-5 top performing startups over the accelerator timeline).
- Access to the ‘Design Insight Group’ (DIG) to provide direct user research and feedback from communities closest to the problems effecting populations in poverty.
- Curriculum covering core business fundamentals including product development, fundraising, business operations, sales, legal, and impact measurement.
- In-house product development, design, and community building support.
- A network of donors and impact investors to support fundraising efforts.
Eligibility
- The program targets ventures that are less than 1-2 years old – post the “discovery” phase, but pre-acceleration.
- Strong applicants have developed and launched a small-scale version of their product and are ready to apply what they have learned through that process towards building a scalable platform.
- Preferred industries include: Social Impact, food waste, food security, Health Tech, health equity, Health/Healthcare, EdTech, Education, Fintech, Nonprofit.
Application
Applications will be received until November 15, 2024. No submission will be accepted after this deadline.
For more information, visit Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Program.
