Camelback Ventures, a national leader in advancing opportunity through entrepreneurship, has unveiled its 16th Fellowship Cohort, marking a major evolution in its flagship program. This year, the organization is increasing its capital investment to $50,000 per venture, up from $40,000, reflecting a renewed focus on supporting under-resourced founders building solutions at the intersection of innovation and systems change.
The four-month Camelback Fellowship pairs catalytic capital with intensive coaching, peer learning, and curated content, creating an ecosystem designed to foster both venture and founder sustainability. Participants also gain lifelong access to Camelback’s national community of entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders, strengthening networks that extend far beyond the program.
“Entrepreneurs from underinvested communities are building in an environment that demands more and offers less,” said Shawna Young, CEO of Camelback Ventures. “Increasing our investment to $50,000 per Fellow is about meeting this moment with the resources founders actually need—so they can focus on impact, not survival.”
Camelback’s program is intentionally rigorous, blending cohort-based learning with venture-specific strategy and executive coaching. Fellows work across sectors ranging from AI-centered technology and workforce development to health accessibility, education, and financial services, particularly for communities historically excluded from traditional funding pathways.
“This Fellowship is about depth over speed,” said Elaine Atherton, chief program officer, in a press release. “Pairing increased capital with sharper program design, deeper coaching, and community cultivation honors both the ambition and the humanity of our Fellows.”
Since its inception, Camelback Ventures has invested over $10 million directly into entrepreneur-led ventures, cultivating one of the country’s most trusted founder communities. The 2026 Fellows represent a cross-section of cities and sectors tackling urgent social challenges—from early childhood development and food sustainability to healthcare innovation.
This year’s cohort includes founders such as Andrew Chang of Nunchi Health (Boston, MA), Anwar Douglas of Imperium Care (Los Angeles, CA), Brianna Baker of Justice for Black Girls (Arlington, VA), and Kwame Terra of bEHR Health Systems (New Orleans, LA), among others. Over the coming weeks, Camelback will share additional details about the full cohort of 20 trailblazing entrepreneurs.
Applications for the next Camelback Fellowship open in February 2026. For more information, visit www.camelbackventures.org.