The Enlight Fellowship is a fully-funded, 16-week entrepreneurial and leadership development program run by the Watson Institute (Boulder, Colorado) and supported by the Enlight Foundation. It is built for rising leaders creating solutions to youth mental wellbeing, with a cohort focused on impact in China and/or globally.
Fellows may be based anywhere in the world and combine weekly virtual workshops with a mandatory week-long in-person Immersive in either Denver, Colorado, or Shanghai, China. The program blends leadership training, business and financial coaching, mentorship, and a closing pitch Summit, plus access to the Watson network of investors and grantmakers.
Benefits & funding
- Fully-funded program: expert-led training, mentorship, coaching, and financial tools and frameworks
- Accommodation provided during the in-person Immersive
- A Basecamp community-development stipend (amount not published) to design and lead a one-day community workshop
- Pitch training and a slot at the virtual Summit; access to Watson’s investor and grantmaker networks
- No application fee
- Not covered: travel to the Immersive location and some meals during in-person programming
Eligibility
- Open to applicants worldwide; fellows may be based anywhere — no nationality restriction
- Minimum age 18
- Deeply committed to improving youth mental wellbeing, addressing it in China and/or globally
- Running a business or organization for 1–5 years, with fewer than 10 employees, engaged customers, measurable results, and some funding already secured
- Able to attend a mandatory week-long in-person Immersive (Denver or Shanghai) and commit to all 16 weeks, including weekly virtual workshops (Tuesday–Thursday)
- No formal degree requirement
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the online application (about 30 minutes) by the priority deadline; review continues on a rolling basis afterward until spots are filled.
- 2The Admissions Committee evaluates applications for innovation, scalability, and impact potential.
- 3Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview.
- 4Decisions are communicated by July 20, 2026; accepted applicants confirm enrollment, and the program begins August 17, 2026.
Program timeline
Priority application deadline
Jul 5, 2026
Decisions communicated
Jul 20, 2026
Program begins / Denver Immersive (Aug 17–21 and Aug 24–27)
Aug 17, 2026
Closing virtual Summit; program ends
Dec 18, 2026