The mission
Our year-long, first of its kind Fellowship Program for BIPOC entrepreneurs and women board candidates helps founders of early-stage companies grow and scale, and helps women advance for-profit board careers. We are breaking the systemic barriers that contribute to the inequities in the startup ecosystem and company boardrooms.
Ann McPherson, Elevating Grace Foundation | Stephanie Kwong, Rapid Rewire | Nancy Soni, PathMatch | Ebonique Boyd, Budget Collector | Adero Miwo, FairFare | Traci Keen, Mate Fertility | Monita Sun, Happy Tummy Asia | Amar Agasaveeran, Recut | Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw, First and Last PR | Celena Green, ProsperWorks | Eddie Lin, NexusEdge Education | Rahama Wright, Shea Yeleen | Gina Shi, Munchrooms | Tori Bell, Inclusion Unpacked | Irma Cedeno, Diafano | Allison Owen, Sweet Logic | Eleanor Brown, DiversiBoard | Marie Smith, Data 360 | Camille McGirt, EXTA | Jessica Estrada, HUE for Every Man | Tara Zedayko, DIG Labs | Ranmu (maggie) Xue, Us Two Tea | Deepali Vyas, Fearless+ | Jennifer White, The MJW Group | TaJuanna M. Taylor, Bootstrap Dreams | Stephanie Tan, NOOCI | Natasha Norie Standard, Norie Shoe Co. | Braxton Davis, Metric Mate | Jackleen Samuel, Resilient Healthcare | Sanna Gaspard, Rubitection | Sharon Jackson Wilder, Indigo Mid-Atlantic | Rabia Malik, JENNAbra | Andres Izquieta, Chiki Chiki Boom Boom | Tyshawn Bryant, Green Regimen | Tuba Erbil, RebelBase | Kimone Napier, Hire Breakthrough | Mariam Ispahani, Sonali Bioplastics | Toshe Ayo-Ariyo, UInclude | Zena Nelson, HolistiCann
A program designed to grow your career or company, and connect with a community of BIPOC founders and board candidates, on a schedule that works for you
Enjoy high-quality live and on-demand virtual programs and resources designed to accelerate your career or business including our Board Boot Camp, expert workshops, and access to additional educational programming.
Post board opportunities, recruit for, and be matched to, diverse advisors and directors; search for and be matched to over 700+ potential board opportunities. Recruit for executive positions.
Mentor Matching Program: Fellows are matched for curated 1:1s with other fellows and experts to support goals and aspirations.
Board Boot Camp: Learn how to best build out your advisory and governing boards and land your ideal board seat at a startup.
Bespoke workshops with experts to help scale your company while maintaining financial health.
Application Opens
Application Closes
50 Fellows Selected
Up to 120 Board Candidate Nominees Approved
Mentor Matching Program
Board Opportunities Go Live
Bespoke Board Boot Camp
Workshops & Events
The Fourth Floor (soon to be The Fourth Effect) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (“UBS”) will select up to fifty (50) BIPOC Fellows to represent their early stage start-ups from applicants who are legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia. Each participating start-up will also have the opportunity to nominate up to two (2) women for Board Candidate Membership at The Fourth Floor (soon to be The Fourth Effect). The Organizers will approve up to 120 Board Candidate nominees to participate in the Fellowship. Each Fellow will participate in a one-year fellowship which includes:
Applications can be submitted online only no later than September 15, 2022, at 11:59:59 PM ET. Incomplete applications are not valid.
No. Applying to the program is free.
You must have a deck or description of your start-up to apply.
You must already be in operation to apply.
You must own the largest or equal stake in your business.
No, we only allow one entrepreneur per business to apply.
No, your company must be registered and operated in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and United States territories.
No, we will not accept products for consideration with the application. However, we encourage you to photograph your product and send it as part of the application.
The Fourth Floor (soon to be The Fourth Effect) may open up applications for future Fellowship programs. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when the next application period begins and other events and resources for BIPOC entrepreneurs
No. The Fellowship is open only to individuals who have received a personal nomination from a participating BIPOC-led start-up and/or the Organizers, and who has been approved by the Organizers as having met the criteria for Board Candidate Membership at The Fourth Floor (soon to be The Fourth Effect).
We are unable to discuss applications before, during or after the application period.
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Learn more about what we can do for you or your company
Thanks to you, we’ve outgrown the Floor and become an Effect.
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