Description

Calling all innovators in the MENA! If you are a profitable startup building scalable solutions tackling challenges related to Health, Climate, or EquityTech in the Middle East & North Africa, then te Halycon MENA Fellowship is for you. Accepted fellows will get $10,000 USD in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing credits among other things.

Halcyon accelerates the impact-driven future of business. We believe there's a competitive advantage to having a social mission in your DNA, and that impact-driven businesses represent a powerful opportunity to drive equity and inclusivity in the workplace and society.

Halcyon is the community supporting impact-driven businesses and their founders through space, community, and access. Our programs offer fellowships for impact-driven founders and funding vehicles to help them scale their ventures.

Eligibility

Our fellowships are open to MVP-stage impact-driven founders. Additional program-specific eligibility is listed below under “Programs and Format”.

Halcyon defines “impact-driven” as a for-profit, scalable company where impact forms a non-negotiable part of the business model. The startup’s impact drives meaningful and measurable progress towards one (or several) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“MVP-stage” is defined as having a workable, or saleable version of your business concept. 

Benefits Halcyon Fellows receive training in: Investment Readiness, Business Fundamentals, Impact, and Leadership, and other program-specific benefits.

Halcyon’s Fellowships for startups are free, with no fee or equity stake required.

Programs and Format

Halcyon is accepting applications for four fellowship programs:

Climate Fellowship is open to founders from across the USA and the world who are developing a for-profit venture addressing climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Programming is delivered primarily in-person through: 

• 1 Virtual Program Kickoff Meeting      

• 8 week long, in-person residency (Washington, DC) 

Health Fellowship is open to founders from across the USA and the world who are developing a for-profit venture leveraging technology to reduce barriers to quality, affordable healthcare and to improve physical and mental healthcare outcomes. Programming is delivered primarily in-person through: 

• 1 Virtual Program Kickoff Meeting      

• 8 week long, in-person residency (Washington, DC)

Future Builders Fellowship is open to Black and Latinx women and non-binary founders across the USA who are developing a for-profit company tackling pressing challenges in Health, Climate, and EquityTech. Programming is delivered in ahybrid modality with both virtual and in-person sessions: 

• 1 Virtual Program Kickoff Meeting      

• 4 Virtual Program Meeting Days 

• 1 week in-person residency in Washington, DC 

• 1 week in-person residency in other U.S. city (specific location to be announced)

MENA Fellowship is open to for-profit companies in the Middle East & North Africa building scalable solutions that are tackling challenges related to Health, Climate, or EquityTech in the region. Programming is delivered in hybrid modality with participants engaging in both virtual and in-person sessions: 

• 1 Virtual Program Kickoff Meeting      

• 4 Virtual Program Meeting Days

• 1 week in-person residency in Washington, DC 

• 1 week in-person residency in the MENA Region (specific country to be announced)

Application Tips

Halcyon’s application is an opportunity for the selection committee to learn more about you, your venture, and your vision for impact. The committee reviews each application using Halcyon’s four criteria: impact, scalability, innovation, and talent.

Halcyon uses one application for the four fellowships we are currently recruiting for, when you complete your application you will select which program you would like to apply for. To support as many founders as possible, founders may only apply to complete ONE fellowship. 

Halcyon was founded with the mission to support the brightest and most committed impact-driven founders, regardless of background and previous access to resources.

You are not required to upload additional content, but this is a wonderful way to bring your application to life and can include: Pitch Deck (up to 15 slides), a Business Model Canvas, and/or a short, informal video (no more than 3 minutes) of you discussing your venture/vision. At Halcyon, we love supporting founders with a clear vision, strong ambition, and the drive to create dramatic positive influence.

You have until Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11:59pm US Eastern Time to complete your application. The entire Halcyon Team is sending you luck and thank you for your interest in our Fellowships!

Find application form here