The E8 Fellowship Program is seeking graduate students and post‑doctorates to apply for a chance to see first‑hand the scope and questions explored by angel investors when evaluating business investments in clean technology opportunities. Applications for the fall semester are due by Aug. 9.
The fellowship program offers direct access to companies and technologies, learning opportunities in early‑stage finance and due diligence, experience in team collaboration, and networking with investors, entrepreneurs and partners. Fellows who participate in meetings and are active on deal teams will also receive $500 for their participation at the end of the semester.
The program is open to individuals from all academic backgrounds. Preferred applicants will have prior experience with general scientific research areas in agriculture, business, accounting and finance, computer science, economics, engineering, chemistry, life science, and/or physics.
Fellows will support the screening committee and its chairperson by briefly assessing the applications for new business investments submitted each month to E8 against a rubric.
Successfully screened companies are invited to member meetings to pitch their business plan. These meetings will take place in Seattle and Bellevue the fourth Thursday of the month with a web conference option available to those who cannot travel. Fellows must attend at least three pitch meetings or subsequent follow‑up meetings each semester.
Contingent upon sufficient member interest, companies are invited to a follow‑up meeting and formal due diligence process. Deal teams are created during this process and led by a member-investor serving as a deal lead. For approximately 3–5 weeks, deal teams dive deeper into critical elements of entrepreneur proposals, including technological readiness, competition, go‑to‑market strategies, intellectual property, management, and more. Fellows are directed to conduct research in specific areas and expected to offer objective commentary on their findings. Fellows are required to participate in one or two due diligence teams.
All meetings will be available via web conference.
The E8 Fellowship Program is a partnership between Washington State University and E8, a growing community of angel investors and supporters committed to advancing clean technologies in promising, early-stage companies from across North America and overseas. Member-investors and entrepreneurs unite in a dual, common purpose – the pursuit of profit and scalable market solutions that also directly support environmental health and address climate change. Visit the E8 webpage for more information.
Applicants will need to submit a CV/resume and a 4,000 characters or less statement of interest. Visit the fellowship application website to apply.
