Empowering Fellow Founders to Succeed

As fellow founders, we're not just building businesses, we're building communities. By supporting and empowering each other, we can create a ripple effect of success that benefits everyone involved.

According to research, 70% of entrepreneurs rely on their networks for advice and guidance. By building strong relationships with fellow founders, we can tap into this collective wisdom and learn from each other's experiences.

Founders who have a strong support system in place are more likely to achieve their goals. In fact, a study found that 80% of successful entrepreneurs attribute their success to their network.

By investing in fellow founders, we're not just investing in their business, we're investing in their success and the success of the community as a whole.

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The Fellow Fund is designed to support student-led startups and first-time founders, providing them with investment and access to the Ripple Ventures network, platform, and resources such as templates, playbooks, partner discounts, and talent.

This fund aims to democratize access to capital for underrepresented founders who others might be hesitant to invest in due to their age, inexperience, or lack of industry connections.

Here are the key goals of the Fellow Fund:

This platform is a game-changer for those who might not have had the opportunity to access venture capital otherwise.

If you're interested in becoming a fellow founder, the first step is to submit an application through our online portal. The application process typically takes 2-3 weeks to complete.

We review applications based on the strength of your business idea, your team's experience and skills, and your ability to execute on your plan. A strong application will clearly outline your vision, goals, and milestones.

You'll need to provide detailed information about your business, including your product or service, target market, and financial projections. This will help us understand your potential for growth and impact.

We launched the Fellow Fund to help underrepresented students become venture-backed founders and venture capitalists. Over the past ~4 years, the RippleX Fellowship has helped nearly 300 students achieve this goal.

Our program focuses on providing education and community to underrepresented students, rather than asking them to find the coolest companies on campus. We simply ask students to come with questions, an open mind, and a positive attitude.

To date, our alumni fellows have raised over $50M in cumulative funding after going through our program. We've also helped place 30+ students into part-time or full-time roles in venture capital!

Here are some key benefits of our program:

To apply to the Fellowship, you'll need to come with questions, an open mind, and a positive attitude.

The Fellowship is open to underrepresented students who are looking to become venture-backed founders or venture capitalists.

You'll have the opportunity to learn from the RippleX Fellowship's 4-year experience, which has helped nearly 300 underrepresented students achieve at least 50% gender diversity and 90% ethnicity diversity.

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The application process is straightforward, and you can submit your email to schedule a meeting with the Fellows Fund team.

The team will help guide you through the process, which includes immersing yourself in the Immersive Learning phase to transform your business concepts into a business reality.

Here are some key steps you can expect to take:

These steps will help you expose your business to the aging market for your solutions in a practical and material way, position you for success in your commercialization efforts, and leverage government investment by increasing the likelihood of raising private capital.

We've worked hard to establish a reputation as a trusted platform for fellow founders, and it's amazing to see our efforts recognized by the industry. We've been named one of the top 10 platforms for startup funding.

Our platform has been featured in various publications, including TechCrunch and VentureBeat, highlighting our innovative approach to connecting founders with the resources they need. We've also been selected as a finalist for several awards, including the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award.

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Our team's dedication to supporting fellow founders has earned us a spot on the Forbes list of "Best Places to Work" in the startup industry. We're proud of this achievement, as it reflects our commitment to fostering a supportive community.

We're honored to have received recognition from the startup community, including a nomination for the Crunchie Award for Best Platform for Startups. This award acknowledges our efforts to make a meaningful impact on the startup ecosystem.

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The Polsky Center provides support to founders through various means. The Polsky Founders' Fund Fellowship (PF3) is one such initiative that offers fellowships to eligible applicants.

The fellowship is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program. This funding enables the Polsky Center to provide fellowships to a limited number of founders.

To be eligible for the PF3 fellowship, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to working on their startup full-time. This means devoting a minimum of 40 hours per week to their venture.

The fund fellow founders movement is having a significant impact on the startup ecosystem.

By providing financial support to fellow founders, fund fellow founders are helping to level the playing field for underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.

According to a study, 70% of fund fellow founders are female, which is a significant increase from the 20% of female founders in the traditional venture capital space.

This shift in demographics is leading to a more diverse range of startup ideas and perspectives, which can be a major asset for the economy.

Fund fellow founders are also helping to create a sense of community and support among founders, which can be a major factor in their success.

A survey found that 80% of fund fellow founders reported feeling more connected to their peers after joining the fund fellow founders movement.

This sense of community can help founders navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and provide a support system for times of need.

By investing in fellow founders, fund fellow founders are also helping to create a more sustainable and equitable startup ecosystem.

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As a founder, you're likely no stranger to hard work and long hours. Be prepared to put in the time to build a strong network of fellow founders.

Your network can be a valuable source of advice, support, and potential partnerships. Many founders have found success by tapping into the collective knowledge and expertise of their peers.

Don't be afraid to ask for help - it's a sign of strength, not weakness. In fact, 75% of successful founders have reported receiving valuable advice from their network.

Focus on building relationships with fellow founders who share your values and vision. This will help you build a strong support system that will help you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

By being open and transparent with your fellow founders, you can build trust and credibility. This can lead to new business opportunities and a stronger network of contacts.

In fact, a survey of successful founders found that 9 out of 10 reported that their network had helped them secure new business deals or partnerships.

The Fellow Fund offers a significant amount of capital to support student-led startups and underrepresented founders.

They provide $400,000 for 7% equity via a SAFE, which is a common investment structure.

This capital can be used to fuel the growth of your startup, and it's a great opportunity for first-time founders to get the funding they need.

In addition to the initial investment, the Fellow Fund also offers $600,000 in your next venture round.

This means you'll have access to a total of $1 million in funding, which can be a game-changer for your startup.

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