Truist Foundation Fellowship

The Truist Foundation Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute, is a fully funded programme for small business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders building solutions that expand economic opportunity for underbanked and underserved communities. It runs for 16 weeks, from 2 March to 22 June 2027, and is open for applications now. It is not open to founders based in India.

What you get

• Venture and leadership development over 16 weeks, with mentorship
• A community stipend to organise a required Basecamp in your community
• An in-person Summit
• No programme fee, apart from possible travel and meals for in-person events

Who can apply

• Adults aged 18 or older
• Small business owners, nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs with proven results, running a business that is one to five years old with fewer than ten employees
• Engaged customers, measurable results and some financial traction
• Located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky or Ohio. Applications from outside these places are not considered.
• Able to commit to the full 16 weeks, about eight to ten hours a week, with live sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM US Eastern time

How selection works: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of 17 January 2027. Admissions reviews each application, then holds a 20-minute video interview, and confirms final selection and enrolment. Decisions are made by 20 February 2027.

How to apply: Complete the online application, which takes about 30 minutes, on the programme's application page.