As early stage investors, we found that hiring top talent was continuously a major challenge for our startups as they grew. Having worked with many first time founders, we also found that mentorship in the startup world was immensely lacking but incredibly needed. In launching Startup Shadowing at Soma Capital, we are creating a fellowship and startup incubation program to solve both challenges for current and aspiring founders.
Existing fellowships focus largely on hiring talent for later stage companies. But the type of person to thrive as the 500th engineer at a large technology company is quite different from the type of person who thrives in the uncertainty of the 0 to 1 phase of early stage startups. With Startup Shadowing at Soma Capital, we are launching a fellowship for the latter group, the future founders.
What do fellows do? What are the benefits of the program?
- work in engineering, product, business, and/or design fields as an intern with Soma Capital’s seed stage companies in industries ranging from enterprise to biotech to real estate to consumer
- participate in fellow specific programming, such as fireside chats, workshops, webinars, exclusive content, ask me anythings, and panels as a complement to their internship
- apply what they have learned through their internship to launching their own companies in Soma Capital’s startup incubation program
- get access to office hours and events as they build their businesses throughout the semester long, part time incubation program
- pitch to Soma Capital’s investment committee for potential funding at the end of the incubation program
- receive access to mentors in Soma Capital’s network (including our 230+ portfolio companies, co-investor networks, advisory board, and team) as they grow their business beyond the incubation program, regardless of pitch competition outcome
- support other founders on their campuses and in their local communities with the engagement of the Soma Capital team and network
- a life long entrepreneurial community of other fellows
Who is the fellowship for?
Any aspiring founders in graduate school, college, or high school.
When does the fellowship take place?
We have the summer 2020 batch starting in late June or early July. The corresponding incubation program is in the fall 2020.
We also have the fall 2020 batch starting in late August or early September. The corresponding incubation program is in Q1 2021.
Will this fellowship be remote?
Yes!
Is this a paid opportunity?
Yes!
What is the application timeline?
For the summer or fall batch, apply here by June 5th at 11:59 pm PST.
For the summer batch, finalists will be picked by June 15th, and portfolio companies will share their decisions by June 22nd.
For the fall batch, applicants will hear by late July.
Other questions?
Check out our website and reach out to jessica@somacap.com!
We are excited to launch Startup Shadowing @ Soma Capital and are looking forward to supporting the entrepreneurs of the future!
Jessica Li, Amy Deng, and Anant Akash
