EWOR Appointed New San Francisco Leadership Team
The startup fellowship expanded its regional presence following a 237% surge in interest from U.S. applicants.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Startups
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EWOR has appointed Charles Ferguson, Katie Madding, and Gigi Brett to its leadership team in San Francisco. This expansion follows a 237% increase in U.S. fellowship applications over the past year.
Why it matters
The leadership growth aims to accommodate the rising number of domestic applicants while fulfilling the organization's goal to support founders regardless of their location. The fellowship maintains a highly selective 0.1% acceptance rate for its program.
Selected fellows receive up to $600,000 in capital and report an average of $10 million raised this year. Additionally, 25% of recent participants have secured funding at nine-figure valuations within the last 6 months.
The players
Charles Ferguson
He is a member of the new San Francisco leadership team who previously sold FrontPage to Microsoft.
Katie Madding
She serves as a member of the newly appointed San Francisco leadership team at EWOR.
Gigi Brett
She joins the San Francisco leadership team after previously being based in Cape Town.
EWOR
This organization operates a selective startup fellowship that provides capital and mentorship to founders.
The details
The fellowship provides founders with weekly 1:1 mentorship and access to a robust talent and customer network through a virtual-first model. EWOR does not require participants to relocate, emphasizing support tailored to individual founder journeys.
Timeline
Charles Ferguson sold FrontPage to Microsoft in 1996.
The global financial crisis occurred in 2008.
AppLovin purchased Adjust for $1 billion in 2021.
25% of joiners raised at nine-figure valuations in the past 6 months.
U.S. applications to EWOR rose 237% in the past 12 months.
Market Landscape
The fellowship supports a competitive landscape where high-valuation exits remain a primary target for early-stage founders. This expansion helps EWOR maintain its position against rival incubators by providing direct access to the San Francisco venture ecosystem.
Local founders can expect increased regional support and mentorship opportunities through the expanded leadership team. Applicants should be aware that the program remains highly exclusive with a 0.1% acceptance rate.
The takeaway
Founders should focus on building scalable models that attract significant capital, as indicated by the high funding averages among fellowship participants. EWOR's virtual-first support suggests that high-level mentorship is increasingly accessible regardless of a founder's physical location.
Further reading
For more information on the current venture landscape, visit Startups.
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Would you prefer a founder fellowship over traditional venture capital funding for a new business?
