The Future Founders Maker Fellowship (FFMF) is an entrepreneurship program designed for product design, skill-building, team-building, and mentoring. FFMF is committed to providing paid opportunities for marginalized individuals in the Greater Seattle area to learn valuable job skills in architecture engineering construction (AEC) and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Participants of the fellowship receive support and connections that underscore academic achievement, mentoring, and activities in a culturally relevant environment. To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must be City of Seattle residents aged 18-24, HS graduates or GED equivalent, and from historically underrepresented communities with a demonstrated interest in technology careers. Additionally, they must be able to work full-time for six months.
The FFMF program convenes at least three sessions per week, each lasting two hours. The program begins by listening to the participants' aspirations to create unique personal projects. Participants learn to design, develop, and deploy as teams, creating their own future, including sustainable and smart transportation, buildings, and, eventually, cities. As they iterate their prototypes, tackle design challenges, and develop their solutions, participants are transformed from absolute beginners to adept product design entrepreneurs. Through FFMF, participants gain valuable skills and connections, increasing their wages and employability while also increasing diversity and inclusion in the innovation economy.
The FFMF program convenes at least three sessions per week, each lasting two hours. The program begins by listening to the participants' aspirations to create unique personal projects. Participants learn to design, develop, and deploy as teams, creating their own future, including sustainable and smart transportation, buildings, and, eventually, cities. As they iterate their prototypes, tackle design challenges, and develop their solutions, participants are transformed from absolute beginners to adept product design entrepreneurs. Through FFMF, participants gain valuable skills and connections, increasing their wages and employability while also increasing diversity and inclusion in the innovation economy.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DESIGN PROTOTYPE THAT FFMF PARTICIPANTS HAVE CREATED, TEAM LYN HAS CREATED THIS CABLE CAR PROTOTYPE CALLED MAI-LYN