Other organizations focus on incubating ideas or projects. StartingBloc is a people incubator. We donʼt care if youʼre backpacking through Nepal or launching a start-up in Silicon Valley; we’ll help you get there. When you decide you want to quit the start-up and escape to an NGO in Brazil, weʼll help you get there. StartingBloc Fellows are Fellows for life, regardless of what they’re working on.

In joining the Fellowship, there are a few basic tenants that all accepted Candidates agree to. These are shared values that our community is founded on.

Hands down, it’s the other Fellows. We ask our Fellows every year, and they always give the same answer.

We hear stories of new best friends, roommates, mentors, and even of new romances (it happens!). Fellows inspire one another. While Fellows are often close with their classmates, as a Fellow you have access to a network of over 1,500 people across the world. This community will host you when you travel to a new city, offer valuable career advice, and celebrate your greatest successes with you.

Don’t take our word for it – email us with your current city and field of interest so that we can connect you to a Fellow directly.

Each day of the Institute has a different theme :: Goal Setting, Intrapreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Bridge-Building, and Sustainability.

Each day has a mix of speakers, workshops, and time to collaborate with other Candidates. Check out the agenda for LA ‘12. After an intense day of experiential learning we host a reception, where you’ll be able to relax with new friends.

Applications are housed entirely on the StartingBloc website. Youʼll be asked to submit a resume and two short (300 word) essays in addition to the usual bio-data. This year you can even choose to submit a 1min video or 10-slide presentation in lieu of traditional essays.

Applications for StartingBloc's 2012 Los Angeles Institute are now open! submit your application before October 20.

Yes, there is a fee of $35 to apply for the 2012 Institute classes. Similar to applying to a graduate program, this application fee covers the costs associated with StartingBloc's selection process. Every application is carefully read in full by at least two trained reviewers.

While we do not have an age minimum or limit, most accepted Fellows are college students (undergraduates) and young professionals (who have full-time work experience of less than 5 years). A smaller percentage of Fellows will be graduate students and professionals with more than 5 years of work experience. Since most StartingBloc Fellows attend their Institutes as undergraduate students or recent graduates, the curriculum is devoted to guiding promising leaders through the earliest stages of their careers.

Nope! Most candidates enter the Fellowship without ever having started a venture (and many never intend to). While we have many entrepreneurs in the Fellowship, we intentionally encourage intrapreneurs to apply. We consider intrapreneurs to be people who are leading positive shifts within an existing system or company. For example, one of our Fellows founded a pro-bono branch at the consulting firm that she works for.

In addition to entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, we welcome management consultants, lawyers, ballet dancers, and anyone else who wants to make a difference. StartingBloc is a people incubator, not a business incubator. Because of that, our focus is on the leadership potential of the individuals entering the Fellowship. We follow these leaders throughout their careers - whether they're working at companies or organizations, or starting their own.

Absolutely. The fact that a person has applied more than once certainly won't hurt his/her chances of being accepted to the Fellowship. In fact, the Admissions Committee often looks favorably on the dedication of someone who applies again.

StartingBloc is looking for budding social innovators to join the Fellowship. These leaders are in the early stages of their careers and are planning to utilize the knowledge, skills, and connections gained at the Institute to drastically multiply their personal impact. For a more detailed explanation, check out our admissions criteria.

All of the submissions will be considered equally. We offer the option to submit multimedia to allow applicants more flexibility; some people express themselves best in writing while others prefer speaking on camera.

This part of the application is our chance to get to know you. What is your passion? What makes you unique? Choose whatever medium you think will best represent your ideas. A quick hint: We see hundreds of applications… why are we going to remember yours?

You can also look over the specific application instructions for submitting multimedia.

The tuition for the 2012 Institutes will be $1,000. Tuition covers the costs of food, space, speakers, and receptions during the Institute. For more details, check out this simple version of our organizational budget. StartingBloc doesn't cover accommodations during the Institute, but will arrange for affordable housing. Check out our finances section for a budget template that can help you estimate the overall cost of attending the Institute.

All financial aid will be distributed on StartingBloc's sponsorship marketplace, which was launched in 2010. Accepted Candidates are ultimately responsible for fundraising their own tuition. For a step-by-step guide to getting it done, check out our sponsorship toolkit.

There are several financial aid opportunities available to Candidates; some are based on need and others on merit. We successfully piloted the sponsorship marketplace in 2010, and will use an improved version to distribute all financial aid. Please note: no other formats or appeals for financial aid will be accepted. Candidates can use a comprehensive toolkit for a step-by-step guide to raise their Institute tuition.

Our cancellation policy for the Institutes is as follows:

• More than 60 days prior: full refund
• 60 days prior: 50% refund
• 30 days prior: no refund

StartingBloc does not allow Fellows to defer their Fellowship opportunity except due to extreme medical reasons or family loss. Each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Fellowship Director.

StartingBloc does not allow deferrals to later Institutes. We would gladly welcome you at a future Institute, but you must go through the application process for the specific class that you would like to join. Please check the Institute dates and location to ensure they match your schedule.

StartingBloc partners are top MBA, policy, law, and other graduate programs interested in fostering social innovation. Our partners often ::

• Host sessions or receptions during the Institutes
• Designate special sessions to coach Fellows on their application processes
• Give scholarships or preferred admission to StartingBloc Fellows
• Waive Fellows' application fees to their programs

Not all partners offer the entire suite of services. Instead, each partner works with StartingBloc to offer one or more of the above to our Fellows.

Yes. Please visit the USCIS website for information on visas. Applicants requiring a visa are encouraged to apply as early as possible for the visa (and to the early decision round for their Institute of choice) to allow time for visa preparations. Please note that visa processing times vary in different countries and you may be required to visit the U.S. consulate in your country.

The Institute dates are as follows ::

Los Angeles // Thursday, February 16 – Monday, February 20, 2012
Boston // Thursday, May 24 – Monday, May 28, 2012
New York // August 2012

Each Institute will begin Thursday at approximately 10:00am and will end Monday evening at 6:00pm.

Yes. In order to become a StartingBloc Fellow, accepted Candidates must part participate in all sessions of the Institute.

Much of this information is already on our website . However, if you are unable to find the information you are looking for, please contact us at fellowship@startingbloc.org and we will get back to you within two business days.