NEW ORLEANS (press release) — Camelback Ventures has announced the selection of its 16th Camelback Fellowship cohort, unveiling an expanded investment model that increases capital support to $50,000 per venture, up from $40,000.
The enhanced funding is a key component of Camelback’s four-month fellowship program, which is designed to support under-resourced entrepreneurs developing ventures focused on innovation and systems-level change. The 2026 cohort reflects the organization’s continued emphasis on pairing capital with structured programming to accelerate early-stage, impact-driven businesses.
The enhanced investment is a cornerstone of Camelback’s rigorous four-month Fellowship, designed to meet the urgent needs of under-resourced entrepreneurs building solutions at the intersection of innovation and systems change.
The increased capital investment underscores Camelback’s strategy to adapt its fellowship model to current economic conditions while emphasizing trust-based funding, leadership development, and long-term founder sustainability. In addition to capital support, fellows receive intensive coaching, curated programming, and ongoing access to Camelback’s national network of entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
“Entrepreneurs from underinvested communities are building in an environment that demands more and offers less,” said Shawna Young, CEO of Camelback Ventures. “At Camelback, building a new entrepreneurial blueprint means aligning our capital with the real cost of building enduring ventures. Increasing our investment to $50,000 per Fellow is about meeting this moment with the resources founders actually need—so they can focus on impact, not survival.”
A Fellowship Designed for the Realities Founders Face
Over four intensive months, Camelback Fellows participate in a cohort-based experience grounded in peer learning, executive coaching, and venture-specific strategy. The Fellowship supports founders across sectors including future of learning, AI-centered technology, new school models, workforce development, health accessibility, and financial services particularly for those historically excluded from traditional funding pathways.
Camelback’s model centers founders as whole leaders, recognizing that venture success is inseparable from personal sustainability, adaptive leadership, and community power-building.
“This Fellowship is intentionally rigorous because the work our founders are leading is complex,” said Elaine Atherton, Chief Program Officer at Camelback Ventures. “Our 2026 blueprint is about depth over speed—pairing increased capital with sharper program design, deeper coaching, and community cultivation that honors both the ambition and the humanity of our Fellows.”
Investing in What’s Next
Since launching its Fellowship, Camelback Ventures has invested $10 million dollars directly into entrepreneur-led ventures while cultivating one of the most trusted founder communities in the country. Fellowship Cohort 16 continues that legacy reinforcing Camelback’s belief that social impact entrepreneurship is essential infrastructure for the future.
Meet the 2026 Fellows
This year’s founders are tackling everything from food sustainability to early childhood development, healthcare access and beyond. They represent a cross-section of cities — from Boston to Chicago, Houston to New York — and sectors where bold ideas meet urgent needs. 2026 Camelback Fellows include:
- Andrew Chang, Founder of Nunchi Health (Boston, MA)
- Anwar Douglas, Founder of Imperium Care (Los Angeles, CA)
- Ayesha Kazi, Founder of ASL Aspire (Chicago, IL)
- Brianna Baker, Founder of Justice for Black Girls (Arlington, VA)
- Clement Townsend, Founder of Video Pro Learning (Chicago, IL)
- Dario Anaya, Founder of GetPupil Inc. (New York, NY)
- Ege Cakaloz, Founder of Talkido (Boston, MA)
- Ekua Hudson, Founder of Farms for Thought (Washington, DC)
- Gerald Raines, Founder of Culture Fix By Raines (Houston, TX)
- Grant Bennett, Founder of The Two-Six Project (Fayetteville, NC)
- Jeremy Sager, Founder of Novus SMART Academy (Smyrna, TN)
- Justin Steele, Founder of Kindora PBC (Oakland, CA)
- Kai Frazier, Founder of Kai XR (Birmingham, AL)
- Kammeran Tyree Giggers, Founder of RISE Arts Center (Baltimore, MD)
- Kwame Terra, Founder of bEHR Health Systems, Inc. (New Orleans, LA)
- Loren Colman, Founder of The Museum School of East Dallas (Dallas, TX)
- Paige Swanstein, Founder of Student Basic Needs Coalition (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Robert Fernandez, Founder of Cientifico Latino, Inc. (New York, NY)
- Sydney Montgomery, Founder of Barrier Breakers, LLC (Gaithersburg, MD)
- Toni Fisher, Founder of Innovative Leadership Academy (Houston, TX)
Additional details about the Fellows in Cohort 16 will be announced in the coming weeks.
the next Camelback Fellowship application opens in early February 2026. To learn more about the 2026 Camelback Fellows, visit the welcome blog.
To learn more about Camelback Ventures or the Camelback Fellowship, visit www.camelbackventures.org.
