Future Founders Fellowship for Young Entrepreneurs

The Future Founders Fellowship is a year-long, growth-stage entrepreneurship program operated by Future Founders, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States. Since 2005, Future Founders has served over 47,000 youth through programs that build entrepreneurial mindsets and empower individuals to create their own opportunities. The Fellowship is considered a prestigious national program focused on investing in both the personal and professional development of emerging entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30. It supports company founders who are actively scaling their startups and committed to taking on a leadership role within their ventures. The program is industry agnostic and seeks applicants who are equity holders and decision-makers in their businesses. Candidates are typically at a stage where they are generating revenue or have taken in investment and are working full-time or preparing to work full-time on their ventures. Participation does not require current school enrollment and is available only to individuals who are residents of the U.S. and whose companies are headquartered in the U.S. Fellows are expected to demonstrate traction in their business and must be open to receiving feedback, taking action on guidance, and engaging in peer and mentor relationships. Structured as a mostly virtual experience, the Fellowship includes weekly Tuesday programming from 4 PM to 6 PM Central Time and requires attendance at two in-person retreats in Chicago. These are scheduled for April 30–May 3, 2025, and November 12–15, 2025. Program components include virtual workshops, mastermind sessions, peer groups, one-on-one mentoring, exposure opportunities, and monthly business updates. Additional activities include monthly staff check-ins, participation in a virtual mentor week, and access to Future Founders' online community, Heartbeat. Participation demands a minimum 80% attendance rate for monthly virtual events and the completion of required surveys and updates. Applications for the 2026 Fellowship opened in late 2025 and are due by February 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time. The application process requires a video submission and includes an interview phase in February 2026. The Fellowship itself will run from March 2026 to November 2026. Selected fellows must submit a one-time, fully refundable deposit of $225, which will be returned upon successful completion of the program. If this deposit is a barrier, alternative arrangements can be discussed directly with program staff. Participants benefit from extensive support including connections to mentors, access to entrepreneurship retreats, business exposure opportunities, and leadership development. Upon completion, fellows are eligible to participate in an alumni accelerator for up to three years. Future Founders does not charge program fees or take equity in participants’ companies, and the program is supported entirely by sponsorship. The program is explicitly designed to foster a strong national network of young founders who are committed to building businesses and supporting one another.