Researcher to Entrepreneur: Meet the Founders Fellows
Founders Fellowship
An immersive startup experience for individuals with an advanced STEM degree

Founders Fellowship
This 12-month experiential program offers hands-on startup experience for those with an advanced STEM degree to transform concepts into a business reality.
Selected participants receive a $50K stipend and access to the Science Center's robust network of industry experts, investors, and entrepreneurs in addition to facilities at CIC Labs + Innovation Campus in Philadelphia.
Program Structure
The Fellowship includes in-person lectures, online workshops, and facilitated meetings with startups that is delivered over 12 months in two phases: Immersive Learning and Active Building.
MONTHS 1 - 6
Immersive Learning
Fellows are embedded with startups to learn from and provide direct support to the founders, in addition to serving as a Venture Associate for Capital initiatives.
MONTH 1
Technology and Market Assessment
MONTH 2
IP Protection and Management
MONTH 3
Raising Capital and Negotiation
MONTH 4
Valuations and Deal Screening
MONTH 5
Commercialization
MONTH 6
Marketing and Corporate Management
months 7 - 12
Active Building
Fellows apply lessons learned from the Immersive Learning phase to transform their business concepts into a business reality. Fellows explore capital and private investment and develop a path to market.
Deliverables
- SBIR/STTR application
- Company legal structure definition
- IP option or license agreement execution
- Due diligence package development
- Customer discovery for prototype development
- Fundraising and partner development cultivation
Our 2022-2023 Fellows
Sponsored by CIC Philadelphia


Program FAQs
