New Aha! Fellowship Program Launched to Create More Opportunity in Tech

Every single person has value. That belief is core to how Aha! operates and why we do our best to always put people first. Over the last few years, we have contributed more than $250,000 to nonprofits through Aha! Cares, which encompasses our philanthropic efforts. It was created to support people's most basic needs — food, safety, and shelter. But recent events, which painfully revealed the breadth and depth of injustice, made us look harder at ourselves and to more thoughtfully consider what actions we should take to support social change.

Aha! Cares was missing a critical need, one that is as fundamental as food, safety, or shelter — opportunity.

So on June 22, we announced that we added opportunity to the three existing pillars of Aha! Cares. And we shared our plans to financially support social justice organizations, better educate ourselves, and launch a new fellowship program. The goal of the fellowship is to provide training and enhance the diversity of people in software, including those from historically underrepresented racial, ethnic, and disadvantaged groups.

We already offer advanced product management training through Aha! Academy. But we knew we could do more and that was where the idea for the fellowship came from. We wanted to share our knowledge, make a real impact, and create more opportunity. We spent the last month and a half researching the best way to design a program that is truly unique.

I am thrilled to share that we are seeking applications now through September 4 for the first Aha! fellowship program.

Let me share a little more about what makes this program so unique. It is a full-time and immersive practicum — eight weeks of online seminars led by our experts along with a small group project. Attendees will receive a monthly stipend of $4,200.

The program includes a mix of hands-on experience, peer collaboration, and mentorship for maximum skill-building. Our goal is to help prepare people to build, launch, and support innovative products. The curriculum is built around three key areas:

Entrepreneurship

Company-building fundamentals — from developing a business plan and model to defining strategic goals and initiatives.

Product management

Product development fundamentals — from developing customer empathy and building roadmaps to defining user journeys and reporting on key metrics.

Customer success

Customer support fundamentals — from conducting expert product demos to communicating effectively with customers.

I look forward to welcoming the first group of fellows and learning together.

We want this to be a sustainable program that creates real value for others. If you are not eligible or able to apply, you can help us by sharing the application with people you think would benefit from it or by posting it in online groups that promote professional development.