EWOR Names Oscar Winner Charles Ferguson to Lead San Francisco Push as US Applications Jump 237%

In the past two decades, founders outside of the United States have often wondered how to reach San Francisco. EWOR, a Berlin-based fellowship founded in 2021, has been advocating that talent is distributed evenly worldwide and opportunity is not. Consequently, it sends capital and mentors to founders regardless of their location.

Recently, however, the number of applications from US-based founders has skyrocketed. Applications from US-based founders surged by 237 percent, leading EWOR to announce plans for a San Francisco leadership team. Charles Ferguson, an Oscar-winning filmmaker who sold his first company to Microsoft, will lead the San Francisco push alongside Katie Madding and Gigi Brett.

EWOR's unique fellowship differs from traditional accelerators, as it does not require applicants to move or have a fixed curriculum. Each year, EWOR accepts about 35 founders out of over 35,000 applications. Each fellow receives up to €500,000, which includes €110,000 from the company and €390,000 from a dedicated investment fund, along with weekly one-on-one sessions with experienced founders.

The model is deliberately small, which is why a 237 percent rise in US demand for the fellowship is intriguing. Ferguson's background is remarkable, having founded Vermeer Technologies, shipped FrontPage at Microsoft, and becoming an early-stage investor. Madding and Brett bring their expertise in product development and investment, respectively.

Together, they address the needs of a specific type of founder who seeks a unicorn founder at their side and a significant investment. The success of EWOR's model is evident, with fellows raising an average of $10 million after Demo Day and a quarter of recent joiners securing nine-figure valuations in the past six months.