Program Overview

The eLab Fellowship is a unique program designed for entrepreneurs focused on transforming education and workforce development. Unlike traditional accelerators that concentrate on product-market fit and funding, eLab equips founders with the leadership skills and tools needed to build strong, resilient companies and thriving cultures. Fellows engage in a collaborative, low-pressure environment where they develop strategies for team leadership, employee recruitment, retention, and decision-making during uncertain times.

Through cohort sessions, eLab fellows learn from a community of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, while building essential social capital. The fellowship focuses on leadership, culture-building, and creating an empowering work environment that fosters sustainable growth and success.

eLab Journey Overview

Workshop Sessions

  • Purpose:

    • To learn how to effectively motivate and support your employees through coaching, helping them overcome challenges and reach their potential.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How coaching is centered around asking the right questions and guiding employees to discover solutions on their own.

    • Practical coaching techniques to address common managerial challenges.

    • How to create a supportive environment for employee growth and development.

    Results:

    • Ability to foster strong connections with your team and provide clarity during conversations.

    • Skill in identifying challenges, defining success, exploring options, and developing actionable plans (POA) for your direct reports.

    • Enhanced ability to inspire and empower your employees through coaching and personal development.

  • Purpose:

    • To learn how to deliver feedback that is specific, actionable, and inspiring to foster growth and improvement in your team.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How to start feedback conversations to reduce defensiveness and promote open dialogue.

    • Techniques for delivering data-driven, constructive feedback that sparks improvement.

    • How to turn feedback into a two-way conversation, building trust and improving communication with your direct reports.

    Results:

    • Mastery of giving specific, actionable, and motivating feedback that drives performance.

    • Ability to receive feedback effectively and encourage a feedback culture in your team.

    • Creation of an environment where giving and receiving feedback is normalized and expected, strengthening team dynamics.

  • Purpose:

    • To learn how to foster a motivating environment that engages and retains your team members by understanding key drivers of employee engagement.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • The importance of engagement as a core driver of employee motivation.

    • The five psychological drivers of motivation (CAMPS: Certainty, Autonomy, Meaning, Progress, Social Inclusion).

    • How to build an environment that nurtures these drivers, promoting higher engagement levels and overall job satisfaction.

    Results:

    • Ability to apply the CAMPS model to enhance employee engagement.

    • Development of an adaptive leadership mindset that is responsive to team needs.

    • A clear plan to improve team engagement, leading to increased motivation and retention.

  • Purpose:

    • To learn how to attract top talent to your organization and retain them by creating an environment that supports growth, engagement, and long-term success.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How to identify, attract, and hire individuals who are a great fit for your company’s culture and values.

    • Strategies for creating an appealing employee value proposition that attracts high-quality talent.

    • Techniques for offering career development opportunities that encourage employee retention.

    • How to foster a work environment that boosts employee satisfaction and loyalty.

    Results:

    • Ability to attract the right talent with a competitive and appealing offer.

    • Skills in implementing retention strategies that reduce turnover and enhance employee engagement.

    • A clear approach to employee development, creating growth opportunities that drive long-term retention.

    • The ability to create a work culture where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to stay with the organization.

Speaker Sessions

  • Purpose:
    To learn how to communicate your vision effectively to attract talent, customers, and investors

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How to articulate your company's vision, mission, and values in a way that captivates your audience.

    • Techniques for creating narratives that connect emotionally with potential talent, customers, and investors.

    • How to use storytelling to explain your product, its impact, and your company’s purpose, making it memorable and inspiring.

    Results:

    • Ability to communicate your company’s vision with clarity and passion, making it more attractive to key stakeholders.

    • Enhanced ability to inspire and motivate potential hires, customers, and investors through a well-crafted, engaging story.

    • Mastery of creating narratives that align with your company culture and mission, helping you stand out in a crowded market.

  • Purpose:
    To gain insight into the journey of successful entrepreneurs, learning how they built their businesses from the ground up, and how you can apply those lessons to your own venture.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • The key steps and decisions that transformed an idea into a successful business.

    • How entrepreneurs overcome challenges and pivot when necessary.

    • Strategies for scaling and sustaining growth in a competitive market.

    Results:

    • A clear understanding of what it takes to launch and grow a business.

    • Practical insights into resilience, adaptability, and innovation.

    • Inspiration to navigate obstacles and apply proven strategies to your own entrepreneurial journey.

  • Purpose:
    To learn about who is funding Edtech and what they are looking for, so you can successfully secure funding for your venture.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Key trends in Edtech investment and what investors are looking for in startups.

    • How to assess potential funding sources and align your business strategy with their expectations.

    Results:

    • A solid understanding of the Edtech investment landscape and who the key players are.

    • Knowledge of what investors are looking for, and how to address their concerns and interests.

    • Confidence in navigating the fundraising process, from pitching to securing financial support for growth.

Group Therapy Sessions

What it is:

Group “Therapy” Sessions are a unique feature of eLab’s Cohort programming. Being a founder—especially in the education and workforce development space—can be both challenging and isolating. These group therapy sessions provide the support that is often missing. In each session, small groups of fellows meet, and a different fellow takes the “hot seat” to share their challenges with empathetic peers. They receive both tactical feedback and emotional support.

Purpose:

To create a safe space for entrepreneurs to process and address their most pressing challenges.

Examples:

  • Fellows can present their pitch decks and ask for feedback from the group.

  • Fellows can share employee-related challenges and seek advice from their peers.

  • Other challenges can also be discussed, with the group offering insights and support.