FINNOVATION Institute Fellowship Program Now Accepting Applications
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 7:53AM
Applications for the seventh cohort of the FINNOVATION Fellowship Program are now open and due by June 1, 2025. The program supports impact-driven, ‘early-stage’ entrepreneurs as they launch and lead sustainable and innovative businesses.
For its first six years, the FINNOVATION Fellowship was an intensive nine-month initiative for a select cohort of nine social business leaders in Minnesota. New in 2025, the program is changing to support more social entrepreneurs, especially those in the earliest stages of exploring a business idea.
For the 2025-26 cohort, the Fellowship program will be split into two distinct phases: the Discovery Module and the Fellows Module. The Discovery Module will accept up to 18 participants and, for three months, will focus on developing a deeper understanding of participants’ market opportunity and value proposition.
All Discovery Module participants are eligible to be considered for the Fellows Module. Up to nine participants will receive a $50,000 stipend and will work closely with the FINNOVATION Institute for six months to focus on their business's operational and strategic elements. This will result in a strong business plan and pitch as well as deeper work in leadership development.
Ideal Fellows are driven to be great leaders who can bridge the gap between social change and business and embrace the ups and downs of personal growth and entrepreneurship. “This program is a great opportunity for people with expertise in various sectors, but who aren’t sure how to start or grow a business,” says Connie Rutledge, Executive Director of the FINNOVATION Institute.
To learn more about the 2025/2026 Fellowship Program, apply, and learn about FINNOVATION Fellowship alums, please visit www.finnovationinstitute.org.
