MEDIA RELEASE: Make Startups launches Fellowship for Entrepreneurial Support Organizations & Economic Developers

[2 JAN 2024] — Make Startups is thrilled to issue their call for applications for the organization’s inaugural Make Startups Executive Fellowship.  This flagship program was seeded with a $50,000 grant from the Ecosystem Building Leadership Network (EBLN) Field Advancement Fund awarded in November, 2023. The application window will open January 5th and close February 4th.  

The Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) is a six-month initiative designed to train ecosystem builders and economic developers for the work required to access federal workforce funding for entrepreneurial training programs in their communities and states. Over the course of 6 months, the MSEF program will work with 12 Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) executives nationally, helping them convene local industry councils and industry-recognized credentials eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding.  Make Startups will provide training, technical resources, and access to their proprietary CoFounderOS technology platform. This platform specifically will enable ESO leaders to integrate measurement and evaluation plans into their programs, showcasing the impact of entrepreneurial training on the local economy. The fellowship will also equip participants to advocate for policies that support entrepreneurial pursuits at local, state, and national levels.

Grace Belangia, Cofounder of Make Startups, expressed her enthusiasm for the program launch, saying, "We are confident this initiative will equip leaders in our field with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact for entrepreneurs and their local ecosystems. We are truly excited to launch the Make Startups Executive Fellowship this spring with plans to scale in the fall of 2024, and we are deeply grateful to both EBLN and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their generous support."

Julie Heath, Interim EBLB Co-Chair, stated, “Our network is committed to advancing entrepreneurship ecosystem building as a valued practice, a trusted profession, and a pathway for economic health and community wellbeing. We believe that initiatives like the MSEF program are pivotal in achieving this goal.” Jim Woodell, Interim EBLN Co-Chair, added “We are proud to partner with Make Startups and support their innovative work in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems.”

For more information about Make Startups and the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) program, please visit MakeStartups.com/fellowship

About Make Startups:

Make Startups is a dynamic organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through a range of programs and initiatives, Make Startups empowers startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to succeed, innovate, and contribute to economic growth.

Sponsorships & Media Inquiries:

Grace Belangia, CoFounder

partner@makestartups.com