Blackbird Founders Fellowship
The Blackbird Founders Fellowship is a six-week program of Blackbird Alliance, in partnership with Grid110. Twelve founders will be selected for weekly cohort sessions, individualized coaching, a six-month Blackbird House membership, participation stipend, and a culminating Blackbird Alliance × Grid110 Founder Showcase & Pitch Competition awarding $15,000 in non-dilutive capital, including a top pitch prize of up to $10,000. Rooted in Blackbird's belief in the power of storytelling, the Fellowship helps founders strengthen their businesses and the stories they tell about what they're building — to customers, investors, partners, and community. All programming is in person in Culver City / Los Angeles.
ABOUT YOU
Email address
*
example@example.com
Name
*
First Name
Last Name
Pronouns
*
Mobile number
*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Title
*
Founder, Co-founder, Founder & CEO, etc.
LinkedIn profile URL
City, State where you are based
*
Your business does not need to be based in Los Angeles, but all fellowship programming is in person in Los Angeles.
Which best describes you?
*
Please Select
I am a woman of color founder
I am an ally or co-conspirator
Prefer not to say
For clarity, the phrase “Women of Color” shall mean individuals who identify as women and who identify as members of one or more racial or ethnic groups that have historically been underrepresented or subjected to discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, including, without limitation, individuals who identify as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latina, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern or North African, or as multiracial with one or more such backgrounds.
Optional demographic information
Please Select
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino/a/x
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Multiracial or Multiethnic
Prefer not to answer
What is your age range?
*
Please Select
Under 25
25–34
35–44
45–54
55–64
65+
Prefer not to answer
YOUR COMPANY
Company Name
*
Website
Primary Social Handle
Describe Your Company in One Sentence
*
Roughly 25 words. Tell us clearly what you're building, for whom, and why it matters.
Industry / Sector
*
Please Select
Consumer products / CPG
Food & beverage
Beauty & wellness
Fashion & textiles
Media & entertainment
Technology
Healthcare
Education
Professional services
Other
Year Founded
*
Legal Entity
*
Please Select
LLC
C-Corp
S-Corp
Sole proprietor
Not yet incorporated
Other
Are you working on this business full time?
*
Please Select
Yes, full time
Part time, moving to full time
Part time, alongside other work
How many people work on the business full time?
*
Please Select
Just me
2–3
4–6
7–10
More than 10
What problem are you solving, for whom, and what makes your approach different?
*
Why did you start this company? Tell us the story behind what you're building and the experiences or expertise you bring to it.
*
REVENUE AND CAPITAL
This Fellowship is built for founders with existing revenue of up to $1 million and up to $500,000 raised. Your figures are reviewed by the selection committee only and are never published.
Revenue over the last twelve months
*
Please Select
Pre-revenue
Under $50,000
$50,000–$150,000
$150,000–$350,000
$350,000–$600,000
Over $600,000
Trailing twelve-month revenue, exact figure
*
Numbers only, e.g. 184000. Enter 0 if pre-revenue.
Current monthly or annual recurring revenue, if applicable
Total outside capital raised to date
*
Please Select
None
Under $50,000
$50,000–$150,000
$150,000–$300,000
$300,000–$500,000
Over $500,000
Equity, convertible notes, SAFEs, venture debt. Do not count grants, competition prizes or your own money.
Where has that capital come from?
Which best describes your business's current financial position?
*
Please Select
Currently profitable/self-sustaining
Revenue covers most operating expenses
Currently operating at a loss and using existing cash/capital
Pre-revenue
Other
How many months of runway do you have?
*
Please Select
Under 3 months
3–6 months
6–12 months
Over 12 months
Profitable / self-sustaining
Do you anticipate seeking outside capital in the next 12 months?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Unsure
If yes, approximately how much capital do you expect to seek, and what would you use it for?
If you received $10,000 in non-dilutive funding today, how would you use it to move your business forward?
*
ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
These answers carry the most weight in selection. Be specific and be brief — roughly 150 words each is plenty.
Who is your primary customer, and what have you learned about them?
*
What traction are you proudest of? Give us the numbers.
*
Customers, revenue growth, retention, partnerships, distribution — whatever tells the truest story about momentum.
What is the biggest obstacle to your company's growth right now, and what would help you overcome it?
*
An honest answer here helps us more than a polished one.
Where do you want the business to be twelve months from now?
*
Be as specific as possible about the milestones you hope to reach—revenue, customers, distribution, team, product, fundraising, partnerships, or other measures that matter to your business.
What does growth look like for your company over the next three to five years?
*
How do you see the business expanding through customers, markets, products, revenue, team, distribution, or other opportunities?
Availability & Program Commitment
In-person attendance is a requirement of the Fellowship, not a preference. All six sessions are mandatory. Please check these dates against your calendar before answering. Dates and times include Wednesday, October 14th (2pm to 5pm), Wednesday, October 21st (2pm to 5pm), Wednesday, October 28th (2pm to 5pm), Thursday, November 5th (2pm to 5pm), Founder Showcase & Pitch Competition on Thursday November 12th (5:30pm to 8:30pm) and Closing session Monday, November 16th (2pm to 5pm). Please review the dates and times carefully before confirming your availability.
Can you attend Week #1 session on Wednesday October 14th from 2pm to 5pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Week #1: Founder Story, Narrative & Branding
Can you attend Week #2 session on Wednesday October 21st from 2pm to 5pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Week #2: Market Strategy & Growth
Can you attend Week #3 session on Wednesday October 28th from 2pm to 5pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Week #3: Capital Readiness
Can you attend Week #4 session on Thursday November 5th from 2pm to 5pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Week #4: The Art of the Pitch
Can you attend the Blackbird Alliance × Grid110 Founder Showcase & Pitch Competition on Thursday November 12th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Can you attend the Week #6 closing session on Monday November 16th from 2pm to 5pm?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
Week #6: Close Out & Reflections
Anything we should know about your availability?
Caregiving, travel, a fixed commitment — tell us and we will work with you where we can.
What do you most want from this Fellowship, and why is this the right time for you to participate?
*
Capital readiness, investor relationships, coaching, community, visibility, strengthening your narrative — tell us what would make this worth six weeks of your time.
What do you hope to contribute to the Fellowship?
*
This might include your experience, expertise, perspective, relationships, or how you show up for other founders.
A FEW LAST THINGS
This section sets the baseline for the outcomes we track with you over the following year.
Have you completed an accelerator or founder program before?
*
Please Select
Yes
No
If yes, which one?
Do you have a current pitch deck?
*
Please Select
Yes
In progress
No
Outcome Tracking
*
Please Select
I agree to participate in post-program outcome tracking
I would rather not
Blackbird Alliance follows fellows' progress for at least twelve months after the program. It is two short surveys and an optional conversation.
Link to your pitch deck or one-pager
A shareable Drive, Dropbox or DocSend link — please make sure it does not require a permission request.
How did you hear about the Fellowship?
*
Please Select
Blackbird House
Blackbird newsletter or social
A current or former fellow
A friend or colleague
An investor or funder
A mentor or advisor
An event, panel, or workshop
A partner organization
Search engine
Other
Are you comfortable sharing your name, likeness and/or story?
*
Please Select
Yes
Yes, with prior review of anything published
No
Attestation & Signature
Attestation
*
I confirm the information in this application is accurate and that I have read the eligibility rules
Applicant full name
*
Date
*
-
Month
-
Day
Year
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
Date
THANK YOU
Thank you for applying to the 2026 Blackbird Founders Fellowship Program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates may be asked to participate in virtual follow-up interviews. Applications will close on October 7th. Every applicant will hear from us no later than October 9th.
Submit Application
Submit Application
Should be Empty: