EWOR Appointed San Francisco Leadership Team
The startup fellowship expanded its regional presence following a 237% increase in US-based applications.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Startups
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EWOR, a founder fellowship that accepts 0.1% of applicants, has appointed a new leadership team in San Francisco. This expansion follows a 237% surge in U.S. fellowship applications over the past year.
Why it matters
The leadership expansion is designed to support a growing number of U.S.-based applicants while addressing the opportunity gap for founders regardless of their location. It reflects a strategic effort to formalize regional support for early-stage entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem.
Fellows receive up to $600,000 in capital and weekly 1:1 mentorship, with this year's cohorts raising an average of $10 million. Additionally, 25% of recent joiners have successfully raised capital at nine-figure valuations within the past 6 months.
The players
Charles Ferguson
A member of the San Francisco leadership team who previously sold his software company FrontPage to Microsoft in 1996.
Katie Madding
A leader on the newly appointed San Francisco team tasked with supporting the growing fellowship applicant pool.
Gigi Brett
A member of the San Francisco leadership team who relocated to the city to help manage the organization's regional growth.
The details
The fellowship provides founders with access to a talent and customer network through a virtual-first support model tailored to individual development paths. EWOR operates without a relocation requirement, allowing founders to access support and mentorship while remaining in their current locations. The organization aims to maintain this flexibility while scaling its localized leadership infrastructure to support the rising volume of domestic applicants.
Timeline
1996: Charles Ferguson sold FrontPage to Microsoft.
2008: The global financial crisis occurred.
2021: AppLovin purchased Adjust for $1 billion.
Past 6 months: 25% of joiners raised at nine-figure valuations.
Past 12 months: US applications to EWOR rose 237%.
The Tech Race
The fellowship expansion tracks the recent trend of heightened U.S. demand for alternative startup incubation paths. It serves to secure the organization's position against global accelerator programs that have historically dominated the market for early-stage capital and mentorship.
Founders applying to the fellowship now have access to a dedicated regional leadership team in San Francisco, though the virtual-first support model remains available to all accepted participants regardless of location. The program continues to offer up to $600,000 in capital to the 0.1% of applicants who are accepted.
The takeaway
The growth of the fellowship highlights a shift toward high-valuation outcomes for early-stage participants, with a quarter of recent fellows achieving nine-figure valuations. Prospective founders should monitor future fellowship cohort announcements to gauge if the $10 million average funding rate continues as the program expands in the U.S.
Further reading
For more on the current environment for new companies, visit the Startups section.
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