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in·no·va·tor

/ˈinəˌvādər/
noun

  • A person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products or makes changes to something already established
  • A person who is willing to pivot and think inside and outside of the box
  • A person who is comfortable with uncertainty and risk-taking
  • A person who is a doer, thinker, and visionary

Applications for Cohort 2 will open on April 25, 2025.
Sign up here to receive an email when they re-open!

To be eligible for Breakthrough, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Teams must consist of three (3) individuals who are at least 18 years old and based in the U.S.

    Team members can come from different organizations.

  • Teams must have an innovation that:

    • Is based in the U.S.; 
    • Aims to improve adolescent health and well-being, with the goal of advancing adolescent sexual and reproductive health; 
    • Has moved beyond the idea stage and can be demonstrated and shared with us (i.e., have a prototype); 
    • Has been designed with youth or the intended audience (i.e., “end users”); and 
    • Has incorporated feedback from youth or the intended audience (i.e., “end users”) 
  • Teams must have access to young people and be willing to engage them during their time in Breakthrough to help inform the refinement of their innovation.

  • All three team members must be committed to participating in the 10-month program, starting in August 2025 and ending in May 2026.

    See Expectations of Teams

  • Teams must have the ability/mechanism to receive funding (i.e., be able to submit a W-9 and ACH form).

If you don’t meet all these criteria, we still encourage you to apply! The Breakthrough Accelerator is committed to finding non-traditional innovators and recognizes that sometimes the people who could most benefit from an accelerator might not assume they should apply.