Johns Hopkins University and Medicine Ward Infinity (JHWI)

Suppose you're a D.C.-based founder or venture leader working to make a difference in those investment areas. In that case, we urge you to read further to learn about the accelerator, its eligibility criteria, and the application process.
Johns Hopkins University and Medicine Ward Infinity (JHWI)

Fall 2025 Application Instructions & Application

If you believe your venture and team meet all the criteria above, we are thrilled to invite you to apply to Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity! You are one step closer to joining a fellowship of visionary entrepreneurs driven by a passion for creating sustainable, business-driven solutions to address the most pressing health and wealth disparities and economic challenges faced by under-invested communities in D.C. and beyond.

We are looking for teams who exemplify the following qualities:

Passionate	Feel strongly about a health issue they wish to solve, have firsthand experience or expertise, and have ideas on what to do.
Tech-enlightened	The team has a deep understanding of the value and role of technology in today's businesses and society, understands, is committed to and actively seeks to harness its potential for its venture.
Open-minded	Value learning and open to including new ideas, viewpoints, ways of thinking and being.
Coachable	Strong listening skills. Open to iterating or pivoting based on feedback from residents, advisors, mentors, and coaches.
Collaborative	All team members contribute to the cohort and team's success and work through challenges constructively.
Gritty	Relentlessly pursuing the development of their venture and the service it offers the community.

III. APPLICATION GUIDE

This comprehensive guide is designed to help founders develop their applications for the accelerator.

The online application portal will close on July 8.

APPLICATION PREWORK

We strongly suggest you begin organizing your team, identifying necessary information, and planning your responses to essay and video prompts in advance of the June 2 application opening date.

In preparation for the application, your team will want to clearly, concisely, and compellingly identify:
- The Problem, Solution, and Potential Impact
  
  o What problem (health, wealth, or environmental disparities) are you addressing?
  
  o What solution have you developed?
  
  o What changes will your venture bring to the community when you are successful?
  
  o Who will these changes impact? Who are you trying to serve?
- Value Proposition: What is the specific value your product or service brings to its customers and the community?
- Ideal Customers: Who might be paying for your product or services? (This may be different from the people you are trying to impact.)
  
  Once you have clearly thought through and articulated these key components of your venture, the application will take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
DEEP DIVE: WHO THIS ACCELERATOR IS FOR:

This accelerator is designed for teams that want to address health, sustainability, and technology equity disparities in Washington, D.C., and beyond. They must have expertise or experience with the specific issue, have ideas on how to address it, and need help refining and developing their solution as they move towards product-market fit.

Founders must already have incorporated an organization that is pursuing relevant work in one of the interest areas or working towards incorporation prior to the start of the fall cohort. Teams that are incorporated must be for-profit social enterprises or nonprofits with a mission to solve problems in or using health, health technology, sustainability, mental health, or food and nutrition.

Additionally, teams must demonstrate previous work and/or have a connection to the D.C. community. The intention of the program is to provide Washington, D.C., leaders and residents with input into changes that affect their communities. If your venture's leaders do not reside in DC's 5 -8 Wards, they must be able to demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to these communities.

The team must have 2 to 4 members who bring subject matter expertise, business experience, and a technology interest. They should have a variety of skill sets such as experience in health, operations, communications, outreach, marketing/business development, project management, design, finance, law, technology, or other skills relevant to the team's problem and solution (e.g. former chef/nutritionist, psychologist, social worker, patient advocate, environmental wildlife biologist, etc.). We are not explicitly requiring these areas of expertise, but rather are looking for teams with a complementary combination of expertise and experience. We are also looking for teams who have a history of working together or who have a compelling case for why their new team formation is viable.

II. Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity Fellowship

ACCELERATOR LOGISTICS:
- Fellowship Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center (HBC) 555 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC.
- Session Frequency: Most sessions are held in person three times per month on Monday evenings in downtown Washington, D.C., with occasional sessions on Zoom. Each evening includes an optional Investing in the Age of AI workshop from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, followed by a required venture development workshop from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
- 2025 Fall Fellowship Size: 8-10 teams
- Team Size: A CEO/Founder 2-4 participating team members with a variety of complementary roles and skills (solo entrepreneurs will not be considered)
- Duration: 16 Weeks (August 2025 – January 2026)
  o Mandatory In-person Foundations Kickoff: Friday Welcome Reception. Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 9 – 3:00 PM
- Time Commitment: Founder/CEO must attend all sessions; the entire team will engage for an estimated minimum 4-10 hours per week including sessions and independent work that is designed to accelerate your venture
ACCELERATOR CONTENT:

Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity demands much of you, and it will give you many opportunities in return. These include:
- Opportunity for $10 - $25K in Non-dilutive Funding upon acceptance
- Intensive Business Basics (venture development, business models, revenue strategies, pitching)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competence Development with AI Professors and Technical Support
- Business Coaching with a highly successful business coach assigned to your team only
- Johns Hopkins Graduate students to provide technical and research support
- Leadership Coaching and Development
- Team building
- Network-building + Mentorship
- Interactive Workshops on public health, human-centered design, innovation, legal basics (including patents and trademarks), communications, the health and wellness ecosystem, and more
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

To be eligible for the 2025 Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity fellowship, teams must:
- Be intentional and committed to developing a health or environmental solution aligned with Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity’s investment areas and addressing challenges in Washington, D.C.
- Be structured as one of the following organization types defined below:
  - A nonprofit business is one that qualifies for tax-exempt status by the IRS because its mission and purpose are to further a social cause and provide a public benefit. Nonprofits are granted 501(c)(3) by the IRS.
  - A social enterprise is a mission driven for-profit business that addresses an unmet need or solves a social or environmental problem through a market-driven approach. It is structured as an LLC, B Corp or C Corp.
  - A venture working towards one of the two above-incorporated structures -- that will have or applied for 501(c)(3), LLC, C Corp, or Benefit Corporation status prior to the start of the fall fellowship.
- Consist of a team with a variety of skill sets and responsibilities where
  - At least one Founder/CEO/Executive Director in a current top-level leadership role must live in Washington, D.C.
  - 2-4 team members, including the founder and current CEO, will attend all workshops and sessions from August 22 to January 26.
  - Team members have an understanding of how relevant technology software supports their venture/business.
- Demonstrate they have revenue/funding and/pilot customers/ or paying customers, whether they are nonprofit or for-profit.
I. WHAT IS JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY + MEDICINE WARD INFINITY?

Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity is the Johns Hopkins University + Medicine (JHUM) fellowship-based impact innovation and entrepreneurship accelerator, sponsored by the University's Office of Government, Community, and Economic Partnerships, serving Washington, D.C.'s historically underinvested communities. We resource entrepreneurial teams (ventures) whose mission is to scale for-profit and non-profit organizations that have solutions to improve health, wellness, and environmental sustainability outcomes, and catalyze community
vibrancy. We provide ventures (teams of 2-4) non-dilutive funding and success capital in a 16-week accelerator that is both supportive and challenging.

Please note: The Johns Hopkins Ward Infinity (JHWI) accelerator does not accept solo entrepreneurs; ventures must have at least two committed team members. Affiliation with Johns Hopkins University is not required for eligibility.

Our 2025 Interest and Investment Areas include the following:
- Health System Accessibility: Using new strategies and technology to enhance individual and community access to healthcare
- Healthy Environments: Shape healthy, sustainable, and safe places where residents live, travel, work and play
- Environmental Sustainability - Climate Action: Business approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Nutrition and Food Systems: Increasing access to and availability of nutritious food
- Health Technology: Use the power of technology to solve and scale solutions for improved health
- Emotional Wellbeing: Strengthening community bonds and enhancing emotional health
  
  We currently invest in fellows and ventures focused on improving health, sustainable environments, and creating prosperity, with an emphasis on DC’s underinvested communities.
Hi! We're excited you're here.

We can't wait to hear all about your solution on advancing health and wealth in Washington, D.C.! Tell us about your team, what moves you, and give us some proof points to back up your statements.

Here's what you'll need:
- Organization contact information, purpose, and business license (if applicable)
- Team contact info, each person's superpower and resume, and a summary of you how know each other
- Answers to a few questions to help us understand your business
- A short video to make this a bit more fun
- If you used AI to assist with this application, please indicate which tool(s) you used and the extent of their contribution.
Your information will only be shared with the application committee and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine staff.
- Please provide contact details about your business.
- Name of applying ventures   Answer*
  Mailing address   Answer*
  Phone number    Answer*
  Website Address   Answer*
  E-mail Address   Answer*
  City and State Incorporated   Answer*
  Year incorporated   Answer*
  Employer's Identification Number   Answer*
- What is the legal structure of the business?*
  
  Nonprofit 501(c)(3)LLCC CorpBenefit CorporationIn process towards 501(c)(3)In process towards LLCIn process towards C CorpIn process towards Benefit Corporation
- What is the business's vision and mission? (Word limit 100) *
- What does your business do? What is your product/service? (Word limit 100) *
- Please upload the organization's 2023 annual business registration certificate or valid business license.
  
  Cancelof
- Tell us about your team! You'll need at least 2 people on your team to participate in Ward Infinity. One team member in a leadership role must live in Washington, D.C., otherwise your team won't qualify.
- Name (First, Middle, Last)Answer*
  Organization   Answer
  Job Title    Answer
  Home Address   Answer
  Phone Number   Answer
  Email Address   Answer
  Principal DC Ward   Answer
- In 1 sentence, describe what makes this person unique and how that quality will bring value to the team: *
- Upload Resume
  
  Cancelof
- Please attach one written reference for your team, from a client or partner/stakeholder:
  
  Cancelof
- Name (First, Middle, Last)Answer*
  Organization   Answer
  Job Title    Answer
  Home Address   Answer
  Phone Number   Answer
  Email Address   Answer
  Principal DC Ward   Answer
- In 1 sentence, describe what makes this person unique and how that quality will bring value to the team: *
- Upload Resume
  
  Cancelof
- Name (First, Middle, Last)Answer
  Organization   Answer
  Job Title    Answer
  Home Address   Answer
  Phone Number   Answer
  Email Address   Answer
  Principal DC Ward   Answer
- In 1 sentence, describe what makes this person unique and how that quality will bring value to the team:
- Upload Resume
  
  Cancelof
- Name (First, Middle, Last)Answer
  Organization   Answer
  Job Title    Answer
  Home Address   Answer
  Phone Number   Answer
  Email Address   Answer
  Principal DC Ward   Answer
- In 1 sentence, describe what makes this person unique and how that quality will bring value to the team:
- Upload Resume
  
  Cancelof
- Describe your team's experience with building trust in your community. (Limit 200 words)*
- Your Team's Historical Relationship- How long has your team worked together and in what capacity? What makes your team great? (Limit to 200 words)*
- Which of the following areas are you innovating in? (Select all that apply and rank #1 )
  
  Health System Accessibility: Using technology to enhance access to healthcareHealthy Environments: Solutions for healthier living, working, and travel spacesClimate Action: Business approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptationNutrition: Increasing access to and availability of nutritious foodCommunity Capacity Building: Empowering under-resourced communities to access better health servicesEmotional Wellbeing: Strengthening community bonds and enhancing emotional health
- Rank 1*
- 1. The Problem: a.) What problem is your team is addressing? b.) How do you know this is a problem? (i) Who have you talked to? (ii) What research have you done? (iii) What data have you gathered and analyzed?*
  (Limit 100 words)
- 2. Customers and Users: a.) Who are you trying to serve? b.) Have you talked to the community you're trying to impact? If so, what have you learned from them?*
  (Limit 50 words)
- 3. The solution: a.) What product or service have you developed and for whom? b.) What is the specific value your product or service brings to its customers and the community?*
  (Limit 50 words)
- 4. The value proposition: a.) What is the specific value your product or service brings to its customers and the community?*
  (Limit 50 words)
- 5. Customers + Revenue: a.) Do you have current paying customers? (i)Describe briefly who they are (individuals, businesses, government, etc.)? (ii) What do they pay? b.) How much revenue did you have in 2024? (i) How much revenue do you have so far in 2025?*
  (Limit 50 words)
- 6. How does your venture currently use technology? If you don't use any now, how do you see technology supporting your venture in the future? *
  (Limit 50 words)
- 7. At the end of this program, what does success look like for your solution? a.) What changes will your venture bring to the community when you are successful? b.) What are your goals for success for your business?*
  (Limit 50 words)
- We want to get to know your team even better! Please include a link to a 3-minute video to introduce your team and product/service.
  
  No more than 3 minutes. No edits or fancy music or titles required. Focus on telling us about you and your team. Tell us:
  - The problem your team is solving and how the team is connected to this problem
  - An elevator pitch for your product/service
  - Who's on your team and what makes the group special
  - Your vision for how the world will be different if your idea comes to fruition
  Tips - There are many different free platforms available for video recording and link sharing. Whichever platform you choose, please ensure you enable link sharing so we can view it. You don't have to make your video publicly searchable.
  
  Suggested platforms: YouTube, Loom, Vimeo, etc.
- Paste link Here
- Did you use any AI tools to assist with completing this application?
  Why We’re Asking About AI At JHWI? We believe technology, including AI, will shape how ventures grow and solve problems. We're asking this question simply to understand how applicants are engaging with these tools. Your response will not impact your eligibility or evaluation. It’s about learning how incoming founders think, build, and work.
- How did you hear about the JHWI fellowship?
  
  JHWI Direct EmailSocial MediaNewsletterWord of Mouth / ReferralPast ApplicantOther
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