Apply for the Hult Prize 2026 Impact Fellowship

The Hult Prize 2026 Impact Fellowship is now open for applications—an eight‑month, high‑intensity professional development programme designed for early‑career changemakers who want to shape the future of global impact entrepreneurship.

As the organisation behind the world’s largest impact startup competition, with 200,000+ annual participants, over 15,000 startups, 2,000+ campuses, and representation across 130+ countries, the Hult Prize offers fellows a rare inside view into how early‑stage impact ventures are built, evaluated, supported, and scaled.

Up to five fellows will be selected for the 2026 cohort.

This fellowship is not theoretical. You’ll learn by working directly with founders, reviewing real ventures, supporting global programs, and contributing to the systems that shape the next generation of impact leaders.

Why the Hult Prize Impact Fellowship?

The fellowship is built for early‑career individuals who want hands‑on exposure to:

Impact venture evaluation
Startup incubation and acceleration
Curriculum and program design
Impact measurement and sustainability
Community and ecosystem building

Over eight months, fellows build great skills, expand their global networks, and gain the experience necessary to move into roles such as VC analyst, startup operator, founder, impact researcher, or ecosystem builder.

Alumni of similar roles have gone on to exciting paths:

Gonzalo Martínez‑Schacht — VC and accelerator manager (LATAM)
Andrew Lao — VC analyst
Zain Samdani — startup founder
Kamolwan “Gift” Sahakitpinyo — researcher and lecturer

➡️ Note: Fellows must be fully available for the program and cannot hold any other Hult Prize role during the 2025–2026 cycle.

What Fellows Will Do

All fellows will:

Evaluate founders — assess startup applications, conduct interviews, and help determine which teams advance
Support early‑stage startups — help founders refine ideas, validate models, prepare pitches, and navigate early hurdles
Write high‑impact materials — briefs, dashboards, memos, and internal documents used by decision‑makers
Observe investment‑style discussions — learn how real early‑stage venture decisions are made
Collaborate across global teams — work with colleagues across continents in a fast‑moving, founder‑focused environment
Deliver a capstone project — a substantial output tied directly to Hult Prize systems

Specialised Fellowship Tracks

Fellows are placed into one of four tracks where they build deeper expertise.

1. Due Diligence & Venture Analysis

Responsibilities:

Analyse markets, financials, and startup traction
Evaluate investment readiness
Prepare briefs and due diligence reports

Ideal for those interested in VC, consulting, and financial analysis.

2. Curriculum & Learning Design

Responsibilities:

Help design learning journeys for founders
Support curriculum mapping and content organisation
Adapt sessions based on the founder’s needs and program goals

Perfect for candidates passionate about entrepreneurship education and program design.

3. Alumni & Community Relations

Responsibilities:

Strengthen connections with the global alumni network
Support community‑building events and initiatives
Activate alumni involvement across programs

Great for people who enjoy networking, events, and community strategy.

4. Impact Measurement & Sustainability

Responsibilities:

Track and evaluate environmental and social impact across ventures and internal operations
Analyse data, build dashboards, and create impact summaries

Ideal for those interested in ESG, sustainability, and impact evaluation.

UN Geneva Graduate Study Programme (GSP) 2026 | Fully Funded Summer Programme in Switzerland

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship is designed for early‑career professionals who:

Are fluent in English
Are passionate about startups, impact, innovation, or impact investing
Have some experience (formal or informal) in entrepreneurship, VC, finance, consulting, community building, or research
Can commit 20–30 hours/week from February–September 2026
Are available to travel to London between August and 5 September 2026
Thrive in fast‑paced, multicultural, remote environments
Learn quickly and are excited to work directly with founders

Hult Prize strongly encourages applications from underrepresented and overlooked communities, especially from:

Latin America
MENA
Sub‑Saharan Africa
Central & South Asia

Who This Fellowship Is Not For

Those seeking a full‑time job with fixed hours
Anyone who needs rigid schedules or consistent weekly workloads
People who prefer theoretical learning instead of hands‑on work
Individuals who require constant supervision
Those uncomfortable, challenging assumptions or having direct conversations
Anyone holding another Hult Prize role during the 2025–2026 cycle

What You’ll Gain

10+ Masterclasses on venture capital, impact measurement, startup psychology, storytelling, and more
200+ hours of hands‑on training evaluating and supporting early‑stage startups
1:1 mentorship from Hult Prize leaders and industry professionals
A paid fellowship with an estimated $475/month stipend* (distributed across program phases)
A fully funded trip to London for the Global Accelerator (flights, visas, housing, and meals covered)
Access to a global network across 130+ countries
A clear post‑fellowship pathway:
- Full scholarship for a Master’s at Hult International Business School (for high‑performing fellows)
- Warm introductions into VC, startups, impact orgs, and accelerators

*Stipend varies slightly by location.
*Length of London stay depends on performance and scheduling.
*Introductions do not guarantee job placement.

Program Timeline

Phase	Dates	Focus	Outcomes
1️⃣ Discover	Feb–Mar	Learn frameworks, observe investment decisions, review applications	Understand impact‑venture evaluation and begin startup assessments
2️⃣ Execute	Apr–May	Take on real responsibilities—interviews, due diligence, selection	Conduct interviews, submit DD briefs, and support early programming
3️⃣ Lead	Jun–Sep	Own founder‑facing work, run sessions, complete capstone	Lead sessions, publish portfolio pieces, and deliver the final project

Curriculum Structure

1. Masterclasses

Delivered across phases on topics such as:

Investment thesis development
Startup sourcing and screening
Impact leadership
Legal foundations for early‑stage investing
Impact measurement
Founder psychology
Financial modeling
Impact storytelling
Careers in impact

2. Mentorship

Each fellow receives:

A Hult Prize track mentor (weekly)
An industry mentor (bi‑monthly)

3. Hands‑On Projects & Capstone

Fellows will:

Review and score startup applications
Participate in founder interviews
Support Incubator and Accelerator operations
Produce due diligence memos, dashboards, and learning insights
Collaborate across venture, operations, impact, and community teams

Track‑specific capstones include:

Venture Analysis: Investment memos
Impact & Sustainability: Draft Impact Report
Community Relations: Alumni event
Curriculum: Demo day session in London

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Monitoring & Evaluation Internship

Selection Process

1️⃣ Application (form + motivation video + startup analysis)
2️⃣ Interview with Programs & People teams
3️⃣ Reference Checks & Offer
4️⃣ Start Date: 2 February 2026