THE FCAT FELLOWSHIP
for trailblazing STARTUP founders
THE FCAT FELLOWSHIP
FOR TRAILBLAZING STARTUP FOUNDERS
The FCAT Fellowship is an innovative program powered by the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology® (FCAT®) that offers motivated startup founders exceptional access to leading technology and support to help set their organizations up for success.
FCAT is dedicated to identifying emerging technologies that will shape our future. This fellowship aims to attract trailblazing, idea-igniting, and game-changing founders who are ready to turn their innovative ideas into thriving businesses. If you’re a passionate early-stage founder who embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience, and global vision, this is the opportunity for you.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Early Stage Startups
The program is geared towards early-stage, pre-seed startups building emerging technologies that change the way we work and live. - Disruptive Technologies
Selected startups will demonstrate a concrete vision to harness the power of technology to disrupt industries, solve real-world problems, and make a positive impact. - Grit & Determination
Fellowship participants have the grit to overcome life’s obstacles. They get a thrill from navigating unpredictable paths and embrace adversity as an opportunity to grow. They are trailblazers who are determined to turn big ideas into thriving businesses.
SOUND LIKE YOU AND YOUR STARTUP? APPLY TODAY
The FCAT Fellowship can accelerate your startup growth through curated programming, unparalleled resources, mentorship, and access to a thriving startup community.
Applications due May 9th, 2025
The FCAT Fellowship is an innovative program powered by the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology® (FCAT®) that offers motivated startup founders exceptional access to leading technology and support to help set their organizations up for success.
FCAT is dedicated to identifying emerging technologies that will shape our future. This fellowship aims to attract trailblazing, idea-igniting, and game-changing founders who are ready to turn their innovative ideas into thriving businesses. If you’re a passionate early-stage founder who embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience, and global vision, this is the opportunity for you.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Early Stage Startups
The program is geared towards early-stage, pre-seed startups building emerging technologies that change the way we work and live. - Disruptive Technologies
Selected startups will demonstrate a concrete vision to harness the power of technology to disrupt industries, solve real-world problems, and make a positive impact. - Grit & Determination
Fellowship participants have the grit to overcome life’s obstacles. They get a thrill from navigating unpredictable paths and embrace adversity as an opportunity to grow. They are trailblazers who are determined to turn big ideas into thriving businesses.
SOUND LIKE YOU AND YOUR STARTUP? APPLY TODAY
The FCAT Fellowship can accelerate your startup growth through curated programming, unparalleled resources, mentorship, and access to a thriving startup community.
Applications due May 9th, 2025
WHAT TO EXPECT
- The Fellowship Program — Benefit from a 10-week program designed to move your startup forward, complete with weekly in-person immersive workshops, mentorship, online curriculum, and unique experiences driven by technology pioneers and leaders
- AU Residency — Receive a 12-month, All-access Coworking membership at American Underground; this includes access to workspace, meeting rooms, member-exclusive events, and additional mentor hours.
- The Cohort — Build your business alongside a cohort of founders positioned to support and cheer you on well beyond the core program. Startup life can be an isolating journey, but it doesn’t have to be.
- Mentorship — Receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from other founders, selected business experts, coaches, leaders, and the FCAT Fellowship team.
- Business Resources — Access numerous business resources to help you build — business experts, website developers, cloud credits, discounts on foundational business platforms, priority access to tech conferences, and more.
- Founders Showcase — Show off all your hard work and celebrate as the program culminates in a startup Demo Day with cash prizes!
WHAT TO EXPECT
- The Fellowship Program — Benefit from a 10-week program designed to move your startup forward, complete with weekly in-person immersive workshops, mentorship, online curriculum, and unique experiences driven by technology pioneers and leaders
- AU Residency — Receive a 12-month, All-access Coworking membership at American Underground; this includes access to workspace, meeting rooms, member-exclusive events, and additional mentor hours.
- The Cohort — Build your business alongside a cohort of founders positioned to support and cheer you on well beyond the core program. Startup life can be an isolating journey, but it doesn’t have to be.
- Mentorship — Receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from other founders, selected business experts, coaches, leaders, and the FCAT Fellowship team.
- Business Resources — Access numerous business resources to help you build — business experts, website developers, cloud credits, discounts on foundational business platforms, priority access to tech conferences, and more.
- Founders Showcase — Show off all your hard work and celebrate as the program culminates in a startup Demo Day with cash prizes!
INFO AND FAQS
When and where is the program?
The program runs from June 3rd and through August 13th at American Underground in Durham, NC. The program balances virtual and asynchronous work with weekly, in-person, day-long sessions.
What are the in-person expectations?
In-person attendance at each session is an expectation of the program. Specific in-person dates are:
- June 3, 4, 5 – Grep-A-Palooza (ticket included)
- June 11 / 18 / 25
- July 8 / 9 / 10 / 16 / 23 / 30
- August 6 / 12 / 13
Who is eligible to participate?
The program is open to startup founders delivering forward-looking technologies and serving the next generation of customers. Companies must be located in the U.S., and an original founding member of the company must be present for weekly sessions.
Can I bring my team?
No, each startup may only send one original founder, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get your co-founder(s) involved.
What kinds of startups are eligible?
The FCAT Fellowship is focused on emerging technology startups with a product focus or core competency in one of the following areas: AI, Fintech, Blockchain, AR / VR, CleanTech / GreenTech, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Advanced Analytics, Quantum Computing, and/or Cloud Computing.
The program is geared towards early stage, pre-seed startups. To be selected, your startup must have an outline of an MVP and have started the customer discovery process.
Does it cost anything to participate?
There is no fee to participate in this program. On in-person days, the AU team will provide meals and exclusive activities for founders. However, participants are responsible for any travel costs related to Fellowship activities unless otherwise noted.
What kinds of programming should I expect?
Programming for each week will be designed around a particular set of skills and concepts. Expect to dive deep into multiple areas, including how to tell your story, conduct customer discovery, validation, scale sales, and address all things funding.
What else is on the schedule?
After a full day of in-person workshops, participants can expect events that will help connect them with their fellow founders, allows them to explore the Triangle, engage with the larger startup ecosystem, and connect with leading tech founders and execs.
Is there post-program support?
Yes! All founders that participate in the FCAT Fellowship will receive a 12-month, All-access coworking membership at American Underground in Durham, NC. This membership includes access to workspaces, meeting rooms, member-exclusive events, mentorship, and an engaged community of like-minded founders.
What is FCAT?
Since 1999, the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology has served as an innovative technology resource for Fidelity Investments. FCAT research and development teams evaluate and track important trends in technology, identifying those that will matter most to Fidelity over the coming years. FCAT is a catalyst for breakthrough achievements, developing and bringing new capabilities and products to scale and building effective tools and systems that support millions of individual and institutional customers. Every day, FCAT teams lay the foundation for Fidelity’s future, one experiment at a time. For more information, visit https://fcatalyst.com/.
Fidelity Center for Applied Technology® (FCAT®) does not endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the services or products offered by third-party companies who may offer support and may be accessible to Fellowship participants. The inclusion of third-party companies in the FCAT Fellowship Program does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by FCAT. Fidelity is not affiliated with any third-party featured on this site.