Camelback Ventures Fellowship 2026 | Funding & Support for Early-Stage Social Entrepreneurs

Camelback Ventures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering early-stage founders who are committed to tackling systemic inequities — especially those affecting education and communities that have been historically under-resourced. One of its flagship opportunities is the Camelback Fellowship, a highly competitive accelerator program that provides capital, coaching, community, and curriculum support to social impact entrepreneurs.

About the Camelback Fellowship

The Camelback Fellowship is a 16-week hybrid accelerator designed for early-stage leaders and founders whose ventures address inequities in areas such as education, technology, health & wellness, workforce readiness, community development, and more. Since 2015, Camelback has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs, many of whom are people of colour and women/non-binary founders, helping them scale their ventures and increase their impact.

What You Get as a Fellow

Selected fellows receive a suite of equity-free support, including:

• Capital Support: Typically around $40,000 to $50,000 to accelerate venture growth.
• 1:1 Coaching: Personalized guidance from experienced mentors and expert leaders.
• Connections: Access to investors, partners, customers, and strategic advisors.
• Community: A cohort of like-minded changemakers and a broader alumni network.
• Curriculum: Training tailored to entrepreneurial skills such as leadership, pitching, budgeting, hiring, and stakeholder management.
• Events & Summit Access: Invitations to in-person gatherings that deepen community and expand networks.

Who Should Apply

The Fellowship is tailored for founders who:

• Are 18 years or older and residing in the United States or U.S. Territories.
• Serve as a Founder, Co-founder, CEO, or Executive Director of their venture.
• Lead ventures with a deep mission connection to solving equity challenges in education or technology sectors, or broader tech-driven solutions that benefit under-resourced communities.
• Have ventures where more than half the beneficiaries or customers are in the United States and the idea originates with the founding team.

Fellows are not required to relocate; the program is designed around participants staying connected to their communities while engaging with the cohort and content virtually and through occasional in-person components.

Application Process & Timeline

The Fellowship application typically includes two key stages:

1. Written & Video Submission: Applicants answer written questions and submit 1–2 short videos, including a 3-minute pitch that highlights their vision, venture, and impact goals.
2. Virtual Interview: Finalists participate in a 75-minute online interview where founders discuss their leadership approach, market understanding, venture strategy, and impact potential.

About 7% of applicants usually advance to the finalist stage, and all applicants may receive feedback to support future development. Up to 20 fellows are selected per cycle.

For the 2026 cycle, the application period is open until March 2, 2026, and interested founders are encouraged to subscribe to updates and begin drafting responses early.

Why It Matters

The Camelback Fellowship equips founders not just with funding, but with the tools, connections, and community needed to drive systemic change and amplify long-term social impact. Participating founders benefit from leadership development, network expansion, and ongoing relationships that help them scale both their ventures and influence.