Program Overview

Funded by the Cisco Foundation, the Rural Innovation Builders Fellowship is a free, 12-week, hands-on experience for rural innovation leaders who want to launch, modernize, or refine startup accelerators and related support programs in their communities.

Whether you already run an accelerator, incubator, or entrepreneurship initiative, or are looking to design one from the ground up, this fellowship helps you integrate AI tools, digital systems, and proven frameworks so your programs become more scalable, data-driven, and impactful.

Instead of a traditional training series, the fellowship operates as a design lab. You will actively build, test, and improve the components of your local entrepreneurship initiative. Using CORI’s digital platforms, shared tools, and national mentor network, Fellows co-create adaptable, AI-enabled program models that expand opportunities for rural founders.

As CORI’s first national “build together” initiative for ecosystem leaders, the fellowship brings participants from across the country into a shared environment of experimentation and applied learning. You will move beyond theory and leave with tangible programs, workflows, and digital assets that strengthen your community’s startup pipeline.

Who It’s For

  • Rural leaders from Rural Innovation Network communities, including:
    • Economic development professionals.
    • Higher-ed and workforce development partners.
    • Coworking and innovation hub directors.
    • Nonprofit and community-based entrepreneurship advocates.
  • Participants ready to prototype or enhance a local accelerator, bootcamp, or mentorship initiative.
  • Individuals or small teams are welcome to apply.

We’ll select Fellows who are ready to experiment, build, and share progress throughout the studio experience.

What You Will Do

Over 12 weeks, Fellows will move through a studio-style design cycle to develop or refine a locally adaptable accelerator or startup program.

Each phase blends self-paced resources with collaborative sessions, guided mentorship, and real-time project work:

  • Phase 1 – Discover & Define (Weeks 1–3): Identify your community’s startup support gaps, define a clear problem statement, and design a prototype concept to address it.
  • Phase 2 – Design & Build (Weeks 4–8): Develop the core components of your accelerator model — curriculum outline, mentor engagement plan, AI-enabled tracking systems, and/or funding structure — with coaching from CORI and peers.
  • Phase 3 – Test & Refine (Weeks 9–12): Pilot your concept locally or through simulation, collect feedback, and refine your model for launch.

Example Projects:

  • Designing a 6-week local accelerator playbook or pilot workshop.
  • Creating mentor-management systems using CORI’s CRM templates.
  • Building automated onboarding or tracking workflows in Notion.
  • Developing funding, evaluation, or community partnership plans.

The program concludes in June 2026 with a Peer-to-Peer Program Shareout, where Fellows present their prototypes, lessons learned, and community impact roadmaps. Participants retain access to the learning library, community hub, and CORI mentorship network afterward.

What You’ll Get Out of It

  • Applied Fellowship Experience: Work hands-on to design, build, and test a real accelerator or startup-support model for your community.
  • Train-the-Trainer Tools: Access CORI’s modular accelerator curriculum, mentor management templates, and evaluation dashboards.
  • Peer Learning Network: Join a national cohort of rural innovation leaders co-creating programs and sharing best practices across regions.
  • Guided Mentorship: Receive 1:1 support from CORI’s entrepreneurship team and experts in program design, fundraising, and data tracking.
  • Digital Infrastructure: Use CORI’s MightyNetworks and Monday.com platforms to manage your projects, connect with peers, and visualize progress.
  • Sustainable Impact: Create a functional, locally grounded accelerator prototype and a roadmap to scale it sustainably.

Timeline

Submit Your Application

To apply, click here. You’ll answer a few short questions about your organization, community, and goals for developing or strengthening local startup support.

Questions? Contact: diego@ruralinnovation.us

Apply Now