Applications are open for Legatum Center at MIT Foundry Fellowship 2021. The Legatum Center at MIT presents the Foundry Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind leadership program for Africa-based founders who have scaled innovation-driven companies and find themselves at an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journey. The Foundry is a place where Fellows reflect on their entrepreneurial journey, rethink their future leadership roles as entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders, and renew their commitment to building entrepreneurship and innovation-led ecosystems.

Launching in 2021, the Foundry Fellowship will bring together leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to bringing about change through entrepreneurship and are ready to build the leadership skills to carry them into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey.

Details

The Foundry Fellowship is a fully-funded six-month program. Fellows will complete an interactive curriculum designed to:

• Increase their leadership acumen;
• Explore pathways to impact as entrepreneurs, policymakers, thought leaders, and investors;
• Exchange practical knowledge with MIT faculty and students; and,
• Engage in multi-stakeholder networking opportunities in the MIT ecosystem.

Who can apply?

The Fellowship is open to entrepreneurs from Africa who have founded and scaled for-profit innovation-driven companies on the African continent, with a preference for entrepreneurs operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates should have a demonstrated history of impact, commitment, and concrete connection to the region and have already achieved considerable success with their ventures.

• Have founded and scaled a for-profit innovation-driven company* on the African continent, with a preference for founders of companies with operations in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda;.
• Applicants who have founded and scaled a company outside of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, or Uganda should have a demonstrated interest in supporting economic growth in at least one of the aforementioned seven countries.
• At an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journey and are considering the next phase.
• Prepared to dedicate time and space for their own self-discovery and leadership development to achieve the next milestone.
• Able to participate in regular online sessions and cohort activities, from September 2021 through March 2022 (note: additional time is required for readings and exercises).
• Are able to commit to a three-week in-person session in April 2022.
• Founders from the same company may apply, but each founder must complete a unique application. Each founder will be considered independent of a co-founder.
• MIT alumni and current degree candidates are welcome to apply.