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WBL Fellows Program Overview

Discover all that the WBL Fellows Program has to offer! See below for program eligibility, FAQs, timelines, mission, and more.

Join a roster of dedicated, innovative startup leaders.

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Who is Eligible to Apply?

The WBL Fellows Program cohort is open for women founders, co-founders, or CEOs of healthcare start-ups. The WBL Fellows Program is the next stage for your business after incubation, initial funding rounds, and early-stage, more “traditional” business accelerators.

To be eligible for the Fellows Program, an applicant and her company must meet all five of the following criteria:

  • The applicant must be a woman founder, co-founder, or CEO of a company, and this must be her full-time role;
  • The company must be privately owned, no later than Series B;
  • The company should have a product either on the market or ready for market that is solving a current challenge in the healthcare or life sciences industry (please note that advisory or consulting companies are not eligible);
  • The company and applicant must be positioned to benefit from networking, business introductions, and other assistance that WBL members can provide. (In other words, the company is sophisticated enough to need relationships and contacts, and not in an incubator or purely fundraising stage); and
  • Company is funded and viable through at least May 2027.

Priority will be given to current WBL members who apply.

Experience 6 months of connection, collaboration, and inspiration.

May/June 2026

Applicant Review and Interviews

July 2026

Fellows Cohort Selected and Announced

October 2026

Virtual Program Kickoff

November 2026

In-Person Orientation and HLTH Reception

Fall/Winter 2026/7

Mentoring and Advising Begins

January 2027

Virtual Spotlight Series

March 2027

WBL Summit (San Diego, CA)

April 2027

Program Concludes

Fellows Program Impact Review

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The WBL Fellows Program is for women-led startups running innovative and scalable ventures.
  • It is structured as a natural “next step” after business incubation, initial funding rounds, early-stage business accelerators, or for those who are in the process of commercializing and need a relationship boost.
  • Companies should be solving a current challenge in the health care or life sciences industry — improving our industry and changing the lives of patients or customers.
  • The company must be privately owned, and no later than Series B.
  • The company must have been founded within the last 5 years and feature a woman as founder, co-founder, or CEO.
  • Products should be on the market or ready for market and solve a current challenge in the healthcare industry.
  • Considerations will be made for pharma and life sciences companies founded more than 5 years ago that are still no later than Series B.

We anticipate having 8-10 Fellows in each program cohort.

Applications will be reviewed and scored by a Selection Committee made up of current WBL members who represent a variety of areas within the startup and healthcare industry.

Our application timeline:

  • Application Opens — May 18, 2026
  • Application Deadline — June 3, 2026
  • Applicant Review — May and June 2026
  • Cohort Decision and Announcement — Mid July 2026

There is no application fee or participation fee. Fellows are responsible for their own travel and hotel costs related to attending the 2 mandatory in-person events (2026 orientation/reception and the 2027 WBL Annual Summit).

Our program wouldn't be possible without the help of WBL members.

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"This is a group that says yes to taking the call, making the connection, and offering support without hesitation. That kind of generosity is rare and powerful."
Lyndsey Garbi
Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Blueberry Pediatrics, and 2025 WBL Fellow

Our program is built on principles that matter.

Our Mission

To invest WBL’s most powerful asset — relationship capital — into organizations with talented, innovative, and diverse women leaders at the helm to increase their likelihood of success.

We will facilitate warm, enthusiastic introductions and create powerful business relationships resulting in:

  • revenue-generating opportunities,

  • enhanced leadership skills,

  • increased access to capital, and

  • expanded networks with access to customers and talent.

This program will increase the influence and power of women in our healthcare system and prepare extraordinary women to break barriers and tackle the most complex healthcare challenges.

Our Vision

We envision a healthcare industry where the abnormally low investment funding gap for women founders is closed.

We want more women to have access to capital and to relationships that further their missions. More women in healthcare leadership results in a more resilient, innovative healthcare industry and a healthier world.

Our Values

Authenticity. Supportive, enthusiastic relationships that create revenue-generating impact, trusted mentorship, honest feedback, wisdom, and connections that last a lifetime. 

Boldness. We must work together to solve the biggest, baddest problems in healthcare.

Inclusivity. By valuing and respecting a wide variety of perspectives, we attract the best and brightest to create better business outcomes and competitive advantages.