Info Session: 2026 Blue Ridge Labs Founder Fellowship
About Event
Hear from the team behind Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship. We’ll answer all of your questions about the program roadmap, application, and eligibility requirements.
Who should attend?
The Fellowship is designed for new founders who have an idea for a social impact venture–and lived experience–in education, housing, health, hunger, jobs, or financial empowerment.
About the Founder Fellowship
The Fellowship is structured into two progressive phases:
1. Explore & Test (Virtual Program)
Approximately 50 founders will explore their ideas through:
Weekly workshops on discovery, validation, and storytelling
Access to the Design Insight Group (DIG) community for user interviews and testing
Mentorship and feedback from experienced founders, technologists, and operators
2. Build Your MVP (In-Person in Brooklyn)
From the initial group, 25 founders will be invited to come together at the Blue Ridge Labs studio in Brooklyn to develop and grow their ventures with:
$20,000 stipend to support them over 10-12 weeks
Structured workshops on product, growth, and fundraising
Dedicated work time + collaboration with functional experts
Weekly onsite programming for accountability and community
Final showcase for our community of funders and partners
Applications are due Sunday, May 3, 2026.
About Robin Hood
BRL's Founder Fellowship is part of Robin Hood, the largest foundation focused on eradicating poverty in NYC. We believe in a future where poverty is no longer part of the story, and we’re working to make that vision a reality. Through innovation, community, and technology, we’re building pathways to opportunity and creating solutions that empower people to thrive.