The Headstream Accelerator is an opportunity to become part of a movement dedicated to building inclusive technologies for young people.
Donor Name: Headstream
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of the Grant: Accelerator
Deadline: 05/08/2022
Size of the Grant: $40,000
Details:
Headstream is at the forefront of supporting entrepreneurs with digital innovations that transform the ways education, health, and social tech sectors prioritize the wellbeing of young people. They invite you to read on and apply if this sounds like you!
As part of the Accelerator, Headstream pairs entrepreneurs with a youth advisory board to help develop meaningful relationships to build better products that serve the needs of young people and empower them to be agents of change in the future. Headstream’s youth community is excited about entrepreneurship, social technologies, mental health, and working with innovators to promote youth wellbeing.
Headstream’s 2022 Accelerator creates a space for entrepreneurs to come together to co-create with youth, utilize alternative funding options, and deconstruct the unjust system that exists for BIPOC, LGBTQIA +, and multi-hyphenate individuals in the technology sector. No one is more equipped than you to build the next generation of digital places and experiences where all young people can thrive.
Funding Information
- The selected innovators will be invited to participate in the Headstream Accelerator and awarded a stipend of $40,000 to support their full participation in the program.
Eligibility Criteria
The Headstream Accelerator is open for anyone to apply. Successful applicants must have tech-based solutions that are focused on young people and their support systems in the U.S. Headstream is particularly interested in innovations targeting teenagers (13-19), but solutions for slightly younger (pre-teen) or older (college-aged youth) groups are eligible to apply. International applicants must be operating in the U.S. or have near-term plans to expand into the U.S. Responses from academics, companies, entrepreneurs, inventors, organizations, research institutions, national laboratories, government agencies, social enterprises, and funders are welcome. Innovations may be at the stage of a functional prototype, market-ready, or established. Headstream will not consider submissions that are theoretical designs or limited to ideas on paper.
Selection Criteria
A panel of experts including teens, technologists, investors, educators, and wellbeing specialists will evaluate the applicants using the following criteria:
- Transformative: Whether the innovation will make a significant contribution to creating positive digital places and experiences for marginalized young people in the sectors of social tech, digital health, or ed-tech.
- Inclusive: Whether the innovation is accessible and relevant for a diverse set of users; particular attention to inclusivity for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ young people.
- Scalable: Whether the idea is able to adapt to changing environments and needs from the community. Will this innovation resonate with young people and/or the caring adults in their lives? Is there a path towards reaching a large number of these key stakeholders?
- Market-Based: Whether the innovation will continue to serve the needs of historically underserved youth in a rapidly changing technology environment. Does the innovation have a sustainable and ethical business model?
- Leadership: Whether the innovation team has the potential and skill sets needed to develop a transformative solution. This may be demonstrated through both professional and lived experiences, including their creativity, understanding of youth needs, wellbeing, and technology, as it pertains to their innovation.
For more information, visit Headstream Accelerator.
