Bank of Montreal (BMO) Fellowship 2025 (Fully-funded)

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About Bank of Montreal (BMO) Fellowship

It offers award-winning training in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and leadership to help advance their environmental sustainability focused ventures and actively contribute to solving their communities' most pressing challenges. 

This Fellowship is specifically intended for individuals from historically underserved communities who possess lived experience with the challenges they are determined to address. The BMO Fellowship powered by Watson Institute will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap to guide the growth and scalability of your work and impact. You will gain the skills to construct and refine your pitch and you'll have the opportunity to present it at the high-profile Summit event. Additionally, you will facilitate an impactful workshop and training session (known as a Basecamp) in your community for your stakeholders, backed by a stipend, playbook, and team support to bring your vision to life.

• School: Watson Institute

Benefits of Bank of Montreal (BMO) Fellowship

• Fellows have the potential to receive a venture development stipend of up to $6,000, contingent on their active participation in the program, leading a Basecamp, and successfully completing the workshop-related checkpoint assignments (eligibility requirements may vary depending on the Fellowship). In addition, all Fellows are eligible to receive a $1,000 stipend to support the implementation of their Basecamp.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Fellowship Requirements

• You are a BIPOC, woman, or Indigenous entrepreneur or a community leader deeply committed to creating sustainable, scalable impact. Ideally, your venture is in the space of environmental sustainability. You have an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and are driven to grow as an effective leader.
• You are an impact-driven entrepreneur with proven products, traction, and revenue. This Fellowship targets those in the 'missing middle stage-entrepreneurs who have moved beyond prototyping but need support to grow. You lead a sustainability-focused social impact venture or community endeavor in its initial stages, showcasing a history of making a difference. Ideal candidates have demonstrated impact in their communities and are in the Problem- Solution Fit or Product-Market Fit stages, with engaged customers and measurable outcomes in both impact and revenue.
• You are able to commit to the 16-week program including a 2-week virtual immersive. They prioritize individuals who are fully committed to actively participating in the entire program. At the heart of the program is a strong sense of community, and its success hinges on the active engagement and enthusiasm of all participants, who are eager to both learn and share.
• While BMO is located across North America, preference will be given to applicants from:
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• New Mexico
• You seek expert-guided entrepreneurial training, a supportive community for feedback, a broad mentor network to enhance your leadership, and opportunities to challenge yourself by leading a Basecamp event and other initiatives that benefit your venture and community.
• Adults 18 or Older.

Application Date and Process

1. Applications Submitted: Complete the online application. This application should take approximately 45 minutes to fill out. The priority deadline for application submissions is February 2nd, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis thereafter until the spots are filled.

2. First Round Review: Our Admissions Committee diligently reviews all applications, seeking entrepreneurs who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and ventures that are both innovative and scalable. Applications received after the deadline will be assessed on a rolling basis as needed.

3. Interview: Qualified applicants will receive invitations for a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom interview. This interview allows us to delve deeper into your motivations for pursuing the Fellowship and to gain a better understanding of your venture.

4. Admissions Committee Review: The most promising applicant profiles will be shared with our external Admissions Committee for their final review and selection.

5. Acceptances Announced: Notifications of acceptance will be sent out no later than February 17th, 2025.

6. Fellows Confirm & Enroll: The final step to complete your enrollment is to confirm your commitment to the program. Upon confirmation, you will receive an invitation to participate in a “Meet the Cohort Webinar” event leading up to the program’s commencement. The program begins on March 3rd, 2025.

Application Deadline

02 February, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

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