NPR Announces 2021 How I Built This Fellowship Application

NPR is pleased to announce this year’s How I Built This Fellowship with Guy Raz, which offers an opportunity for one Fellow to receive a $50,000 grant for their business venture. Applicants can submit their application at summit.npr.org/fellows starting Monday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m. ET and closing at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 31st.

NPR’s How I Built This Fellowship is an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs with great business ideas to take their idea to the next level and to build connections, exchange ideas and draw inspiration from a growing network of professionals. The Fellowship aims to extend the spirit of How I Built This and further NPR’s mission to create a more informed and engaged public. Launched in 2018, the How I Built This Fellows program continues to create an impact by spotlighting and supporting a rising generation of entrepreneurs working toward building a better world. This year’s cohort of ten Fellows will participate in three weeks of educational programming to prepare them for NPR’s first pitch competition, the ’How I Built This Fellows Pitch Day.’ Entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

“We’ve heard from thousands of listeners over the years about how our podcast has inspired them to leap into the world of entrepreneurship. This year’s How I Built This Fellowship is our way of using our platform to help ignite the next generation of world-changing entrepreneurs,” said Guy Raz, host and creator of How I Built This.

Each Fellow will get an allotted time on NPR’s virtual stage to pitch their world-changing idea to the ’How I Built This Fellows Pitch Day’ panel of judges, which includes Guy Raz, Eric Ryan, Founder and CEO of method, Olly, and Welly; Jeni Britton Bauer, Founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams; Melissa Butler Founder and CEO of The Lip Bar; Payal Kadakia, Founder & Executive Chairman of ClassPass; and Tristan Walker, Founder and CEO of Walker & Company. Judges will offer feedback to each Fellow after the presentation and the winner will be revealed at a special, soon-to-be-announced How I Built This Summit. The winner will receive ongoing support, tell their story on various How I Built This platforms, and will be the recipient of the first HIBT Grant of $50,000.

NPR is proud to announce that the How I Built This Fellows program, including NPR grants to selected Fellows, is supported by GoDaddy.

“At GoDaddy, our mission is to empower the everyday entrepreneur making opportunity inclusive for all and we’re proud to be a sponsor of the How I Built This Fellows program,” said Melissa Schneider, VP Global Marketing Operations at GoDaddy. “Through our own initiatives, such as #OpenWeStand and Empower by GoDaddy, we provide tools and resources for small businesses. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs in underserved communities need help, and the Fellows program is another way to make an impact through education, networking and monetary assistance.”

How I Built This has been recognized by the New York Times, Inc, Fortune, the Washington Post, and was named one of the ten podcasts that shaped the last decade by Harper’s Bazaar. Raz has also been a featured guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon most recently in January 2020 and October of 2020. Guy Raz also published his first book last year, How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs.

Listen to How I Built This on NPR One and wherever podcasts are available.

About NPR

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