Bringing together visionaries from low-income backgrounds

We are a growing community of entrepreneurs and investors from first-generation, low-income backgrounds dedicated to mutual support and expanding access to financial and social capital to all.


We get it.

Building a company is hard enough. Building a company when you’re from an under-resourced background even more so.

It’s no wonder that so few founders come from lower socio-economic backgrounds

You don’t have to do it alone.

Echelon Entrepreneur Fellowship

Priority deadline: May 17th, 2024

Our Flagship program brings together 12-15 early stage entrepreneurs from first-generation, low-income backgrounds for a day retreat in June where they will:

  • Build a support network of other founders from similar backgrounds

  • Attend workshops led by later stage FLI entrepreneurs

  • Meet first-gen investors from top VC firms

  • Free access to JP Morgan Global Share Cap Table Management and market research

We are industry agnostic and are open to all early-stage entrepreneurs from the idea stage to seed.

Fill out the form and we will send over the application to your email.

Bay Area Retreat: June 14th, 2024 3PM - 9PM

In partnership with JPMorgan Chase and Samvid Ventures

Questions? Interested in attending or becoming more involved? Email vietandynguyen523@gmail.com

“When I tried raising a pre-seed round, investors asked how much my friends and family had invested. When I said [they invested nothing], the investors passed saying I didn’t have skin in the game.

My parents work minimum wage jobs. I have to send them money, not the other way around.”

-FLI Entrepreneur