Deadline: May 3, 2026
Applications are open for the Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship 2026. Turn your bold ideas into a fundable venture that drives economic mobility. Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship helps early-stage founders move from idea to MVP through mentorship, research, and hands-on support.
They focus on five key areas that drive economic mobility and community resilience:
- Education: Empower learners at every stage with tools and programs that open doors to opportunity.
- Financial Empowerment: Bridge gaps for underbanked communities through innovative lending, saving and investment solutions.
- Health: Promote wellness and equitable care with products and services that put people’s well‑being first.
- Housing: Create stable, affordable living options that give families a place to thrive.
- Hunger & Jobs: Build pathways to food security and meaningful employment that uplift individuals and neighborhoods.
Benefits
- Join live sessions led by experienced founders and operators focused on research, validation, product, growth, and fundraising
- Tap into Blue Ridge Labs’ DIG community to pressure-test your idea, gather insights, and shape something people actually want to use
- Get 1:1 mentorship, group coaching, and hands-on help from engineers, designers, and product pros
- Get a $20,000 stipend so you can go heads-down on execution
- Co-work alongside other determined founders at the BRL Lab in Brooklyn for collaboration that fuels momentum
- Tap into Robin Hood’s powerful network by showcasing your work to leaders in tech, philanthropy, and policy
Eligibility
- They are looking for new or early‑stage founders who want to drive economic mobility and bring lived or learned experience with the challenges they’ll address.
- You don’t need to have started a company yet. They welcome applicants with strong insight into an impact area and the motivation to move from idea into action.
Application
Submit your idea summary and background through the application form by the deadline; they review all entries and notify Phase 1 fellows shortly thereafter.
For more information, visit Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship.
