Announcing: The Workers Lab 2024 Innovation Fund Fellowship

The Workers Lab is thrilled to announce the  2024 Innovation Fund Fellowship! This year, we are investing in ideas tackling Climate Justice and Generative AI  while prioritizing workers' needs to ensure that all workers are safe, healthy, secure, and have power. 

We are so excited to announce The Workers Lab  2024 Innovation Fund Fellowship!

This year’s application cycle opens on Monday, April 22, 2024, and closes on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM PT. Start your application HERE.  

We are offering fellowship opportunities on two topics:

• Climate Justice 
• Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

Workers across the country are being dramatically impacted by climate change and the emergence of AI. We are looking for innovators who are tackling these challenges in ways that help ensure more workers are safe, healthy, secure, and have power.

During the 5-month fellowship, you will:

• Receive training to scale your ideas and maximize your impact on workers
• Access mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals in the field
• Bring your ideas to life and set yourself up for larger investments
• Connect with a vibrant community of fellow entrepreneurs who support you
• Receive a monthly stipend 
• Participate in programming for 12 - 15 hours per month. 

At the end of the five-month fellowship, at least three final Innovation Fund winners will be selected to receive a larger investment of up to $200,000 in their idea and another full year of mentorship and support.

Do you have questions about the 2024 Innovation Fund?

Here’s What We’re Looking for on Climate Justice

Are you working on innovative projects that address climate change or environmental justice while prioritizing workers' needs and rights?

We’re interested in: 

• Climate solutions that promote quality work and support a green economy transition in modern and inclusive ways for all workers.
• Environmental justice initiatives that tackle the immediate needs of workers and their communities impacted by climate change.
• Other worker-centered climate ideas that are not included in the breakdown above.

What We’re Looking for on Gen AI

Do you have ideas about harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to enhance the working conditions and opportunities for workers?

We’re interested in: 

• AI solutions that empower workers and create equitable access to greater economic stability and opportunity, including ethical distribution and adoption.
• Leveraging AI to promote worker safety, health, security, and power. 
• Other worker-centered ideas leveraging AI that are not included in the breakdown above.

You should apply to the Innovation Fund if you:

• Are an innovator from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented among those who receive venture capital and startup funding, especially entrepreneurs who identify as women of color.
• Have lived experience in the issue area you are addressing. 
• Have an idea centered around making the ways our country serves workers more modern and inclusive. 
• Have plans for diversified future revenue streams that support long-term sustainability.
• Need startup capital and technical support, and have ambition for your ideas to be brought to scale.

We understand that bringing transformative ideas for and with workers to fruition requires investment which is why the Innovation Fund has invested $6.4 million in 86 innovators since 2014. 

Far too many worker-led ideas, especially those by entrepreneurs of color and women, never see the light of day since they historically receive only a tiny fraction of the early investment enjoyed by others. 

The Workers Lab is changing that. 

The ideas we invest in are collectively modernizing how our country serves workers and is inclusive, ensuring that all workers are safe, healthy, secure, and powerful.

Do you know someone who can benefit from this fellowship? Please consider sharing this opportunity with your networks by posting it on social media. 

Subscribe and visit the Innovation Fund page for more information on our upcoming 2024 Innovation Fund Fellowship.