WSU-E8 Fellowship Program
E8 Fellowship Program in partnership with Washington State University
E8 is a growing community of angel investors and supporters committed to advancing clean technologies in promising, early-stage companies from across North America and even overseas. Our member-investors and entrepreneurs unite in a dual, common purpose – the pursuit of profit and scalable market solutions that also directly support environmental health and address climate change. E8 offers its community quality cleantech deal flow, as well as collective due diligence and unique networking and educational opportunities. Learn more at www.e8angels.com
We seek Fellows with experience in technical fields to support our cleantech investment community and activities during the Fall semester. Your participation offers direct access to companies and technologies, learning opportunities in early-stage finance and due diligence, networking with investors and entrepreneurs and partners, and experience in team collaboration. Overall, the E8 Fellowship is a chance to, through the early stage and collaborative pitching and investment process, see first-hand the scope and questions that must be explored when evaluating business investments in clean-technology opportunities.
Roles and Responsibilities for Fellows
Pre-screen company applications. Fellows support the Screening Committee and its Chairperson by briefly assessing the applications submitted each month to E8 against a rubric.
Screening takes place the first half of the month; requires 1-2 hours per month.
Attend Member Meetings in-person or via web conference. Successfully screened companies are invited to attend Member meetings and pitch their business plan. This gives Fellows opportunities to explore innovative technologies and directly engage with entrepreneurs and investors. These meetings take place in Seattle or Bellevue the fourth Thursday of the month, with a web conference option.
Fellows must attend at least 3 meetings each semester that are pitch meetings (2.5 hours in length) or subsequent follow-up meetings after the pitch to gauge member interest before deciding on whether to pursue further due diligence.
Due diligence team support. Contingent upon sufficient member interest, companies are invited to a follow-up meeting and formal due diligence process. Deal teams are created during this process and led by a member-investor serving as a Deal Lead. For approximately 3-5 weeks, deal teams dive deeper into critical elements of entrepreneur proposals including technological readiness, competition, go-to-market strategies, intellectual property, management, and more. Fellows are directed to conduct research in specific areas and expected to offer objective commentary on their findings.
Deal team calls are typically held on a weekly basis and can last up to an hour. Fellows are required to participate in 1 – 2 due diligence teams, with 6-15 hours total commitment to each team.
Meeting Dates and Timelines
Fellows must attend at least 3 meetings each semester that are pitch meetings or subsequent follow-up meetings.
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 9 | Application deadline | |
| August 10 – 15 | Applications will be reviewed by E8 members and supporters | |
| August 16 | Applicants will be contacted, only Fellows will be invited to the Orientation & Training | |
| August 20 | 12 - 3pm Room TBA | E8 Fellowship Orientation & Training |
| September 3 | 9:15am – 12:30pm | Screening Call |
| September 26 | 11:45am – 2:30pm | Member Meeting |
| October 1 | 9:15am – 12:30pm | Screening Call |
| October 2 | 8:15am – 1:45pm | Follow-up Meeting |
| October 24 | 11:45am – 2:30pm | Member Meeting |
| October 30 | 8:15am – 1:45pm | Follow-up Meeting |
| November 5 | 9:15am – 12:30pm | Screening Call |
| November 21 | 11:45am – 2:30pm | Member Meeting |
| November 26 | 8:15am – 1:45pm | Follow-up Meeting |
Compensation
Fellows who participate in meetings and are active on deal teams will receive $500 for their participation at the end of the semester. Apply to become an E8 Fellow!
Have Questions?
Please contact Dr. Scott Steiger, Associate Director of the Office of Commercialization, commercialization@wsu.edu using “E8 Fellowship Program Inquiry” in the subject line.
Applicant Requirements
Fellows must be a graduate student or a postdoctoral researcher. The program is open to individuals from all academic backgrounds. Preferred applicants will have prior experience with general scientific research in areas of agriculture, business, accounting and finance, computer science, economics, engineering, chemistry, life science, and/or physics.