2027 Surge Academy and Fellowship Application

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We are excited that you have decided to apply for the 2027 Surge Angels Cohort!

Before beginning your application, please ensure that you have reviewed the entirety of the 2027 Surge Angels Application Guide.

The online application is separated into several sections. Please complete each section carefully, review your information at the end, and submit your application when ready.

Keep in mind that:

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. Written responses to essay questions are required for this application. You can find the essay questions here.
You may save your progress at any time and return to complete your application later. To save, you will be prompted to enter your email address and create a password. You will receive an email confirmation once your progress is saved. When you are ready to return, simply use the same email and password to pick up where you left off.
You must click the 'Submit' button at the end to send your application to the Surge Institute team. Review your full application before submitting. Once submitted, changes cannot be made.

Note: If the venture includes more than one founder (up to three co-founders are allowed for this program), each co-founder must submit an independent application for Surge Angels.

Application Support

Need support? Join our virtual Office Hours!

Office Hour 1: October 6, 2026 (Zoom Link)
Office Hour 2: October 13, 2026 (Zoom Link)
Office Hour 3: October 20, 2026 (Zoom Link)

If you have questions about the application or need further support, please contact us at surgeprograms@surgeinstitute.org.

Surge Angels Eligibility

In order to start your application, please tell us confirm that you meet all Surge Angels eligibility criteria for both the candidate and the venture. More information can be found on the 2027 Surge Angels Application Guide.

Candidate Criteria

Please check all checkboxes for candidate criteria.

I, the candidate, am alum of a Surge fellowship program (Surge Chicago, Surge Academy, or The Leadership Collaborative) as of September 1, 2026.

I, the candidate, am the founder, co-founder, or leader of an early-stage venture.

I, the candidate, am based in the United States (program requires travel).If the venture includes more than one founder, each co-founder must independently meet all criteria above. Up to 3 founders can be on a team, and all founders must identify as Surge alumni.

Venture Criteria

Please check all checkboxes for venture criteria.

My venture's stated purpose aims to improve outcomes for Black, Latinx, and/or AAPI students, families, and communities.My venture is structured (or structuring) as a nonprofit or for-profit with an education-related or youth-serving mission.My venture is not an unmodified arm of an existing organization (independent spinoffs and new internal initiatives are acceptable).My venture is in operation for > 1 year, but has not yet achieved self-sustainability (e.g., pre-scale, operating below financial break-even, or unable to pay market-rate founder salariesMy venture is in development with a target launch by December 2027.

Candidate Information

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Preferred First Name

If your preferred name is the same as your legal first name, please rewrite it here. We will use this name for our records.

Primary Email

name@domain.com

Phone Number

(###)-###-####

Current Work Experience

Currently Employed Organization Name

Current Role Title

Please upload your resume here.

Please label file [FirstName][LastName][Resume]

Venture Information

Please complete this section for the organization/venture idea you will be bringing to Surge Angels.

Organization Name/Venture

Does your venture include any co-founder(s)?

What stage is your venture currently in?

URL to Organization/Venture Artifact

Please share a website, deck, or one-pager that outlines your venture/dream)

In one sentence, describe what your venture does and who it serves.

Co-founders

Reminder: If the venture includes more than one founder (up to three co-founders are allowed for this program), each co-founder must submit an independent application for Surge Angels.

How many total founders for your venture? (including yourself)

Add Co-founder

First Name

Last Name

Essay Questions

Potential for Impact

What problem are you solving, for whom, and how do you know it's real? Describe the evidence of need or demand you've seen — from direct experience, early conversations, or, if applicable, existing traction.

Word Count: ≤150 words

Who else is already working on this problem, and what will your venture do differently or better?

Word Count: ≤100 words

If your venture succeeds, what specifically will be different for students or communities in 2-3 years — and how will you know? Name at least one metric.

Word Count: ≤100 words

Idea / Venture Development

What have you already done to test or build this — pilots, prototypes, conversations with intended users, early partnerships? What did you learn, and what changed as a result?

Word Count: ≤150 words

[Pre-Launched Ventures] When do you expect to launch, and what has to be true for that timeline to hold?

Word Count: ≤100 words

[Launched Ventures] When do you expect to transition to full-time, and what has to be true for that timeline to hold?

Word Count: ≤100 words

What would need to be true — financially and personally — for you to fully commit to this venture through the program and beyond?

Word Count: ≤100 words

Purpose, Passion & Support

What personal experience or expertise is driving you toward this specific problem?

Word Count: ≤100 words

Tell us about a time you got hard feedback or had to pivot an idea. What did you do with it?

Word Count: ≤100 words

Who do you currently lean on for support in this work — mentors, peers, advisors, community? What's missing that you'd want more of?

Word Count: ≤100 words

Review and Submit Application

Acknowledment

By submitting this application, you attest that both you are aware of the time and attendance requirements of the program outlined in the Surge Angels 2027 Application Guide and that, should you be selected for the Surge Angels, you commit to reserving and honoring all program dates and the time commitment required in order to get the most out of the program.

Enter your full name below to indicate your commitment.

Full Name

Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

Before You Submit Your Application

Please review and agree to the following:

I, the candidate, verify that I meet all of the candidate and venture criteria needed to apply to Surge Angels.I, the candidate, have read the 2027 Angels Application Guide in its entirety and agree to all terms outlined if selected for the program. I, the candidate, have reviewed my application in full and verified that all information in my application is current and accurate.

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