Athan Fellowship
Mentorship, curriculum, community, and investment, structured for founders building for Muslim communities.
The Athan Fellowship is a selective program for founders building products and services for Muslim communities. Every Fellow gets mentorship from operators who've built in this space, a structured curriculum tailored to your market, and a network of founders on the same path. For the right fit, we invest, with a model designed for how your business actually works, not how a VC portfolio expects it to.
What Every Fellow Gets
Mentorship
Operators who've built and scaled businesses serving Muslim communities. They know the market, the customers, and the challenges.
Curriculum
Structured learning designed for Muslim-focused founders. From market validation to scaling strategy, tailored to your sector.
Community
A network of founders who understand your market. Share learnings, find collaborators, and grow alongside people building for the same communities.
Network Access
Connect with investors, partners, and industry leaders who understand and value your mission.
For the Right Fit: Investment
Investment that keeps you in control; buy back our stake from revenues over a patient schedule, or keep us as long-term partners sharing in dividends. No exit. No pressure.
Not every Fellow receives investment, and that's by design. We invest in founders where we see exceptional alignment between mission, market, and team.
Our diminishing equity model means you buy back our stake over time from revenues. No forced exits. No pressure to sell. Keep us as long-term partners sharing in dividends, or gradually buy back full ownership.
Who This Is For
Serving Muslim Communities
Building a product or service that serves Muslim communities
Early-Stage
From idea to early traction, if you have a clear vision, we want to hear from you
Values-Aligned
Committed to ethical, values-aligned business practices
Fully Dedicated
Ready to dedicate themselves to their venture
Program Details
Format
Virtual-first with in-person components in Makkah
Duration
Cohort-based (timeline TBD per cohort)
Stage
Pre-seed to seed stage founders
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next cohort?
We run cohort-based programs. Visit our Apply page or sign up for updates to be notified when the next cohort opens.
Do I need to relocate to Saudi Arabia?
No. The program is virtual-first, you can participate from anywhere in the world. That said, if you're interested in relocating to Saudi Arabia, we can help with that. Makkah and the broader Saudi ecosystem offer unique advantages for Muslim-serving businesses, and we're happy to support founders who want to explore that path.
Can I join if my startup isn't based in the Middle East?
Absolutely. We work with founders globally. Your business can be based anywhere, what matters is that you're building a product or service that serves Muslim communities.
Does every Fellow receive investment?
No. Every Fellow receives mentorship, curriculum, and community. Investment is offered to founders where we see exceptional alignment between mission, market, and team.
What are the equity terms?
We use a Sharia-compliant diminishing equity model. You buy back our stake over time from revenues; no forced exits, no VC-style growth expectations. If you prefer not to buy us out and meet certain conditions, we can remain as long-term partners sharing in dividends. The model is designed to fit your business, not the other way around. Full details are shared during the selection process.
What stage should my startup be at?
We work with founders from idea stage to early traction. If you have a clear vision for serving Muslim communities and the commitment to execute, we want to hear from you.
How long is the program?
Program duration varies by cohort. Each cohort is structured to give founders the time they need to validate, build, and grow, with ongoing support after the program ends.
What if I already have investors?
That's fine. We work alongside existing investors. What matters is that our terms and expectations are aligned with your business model and mission.
Is the program only for tech startups?
No. We support founders across all sectors serving Muslim communities, from consumer products and fashion to fintech, edtech, and services. If your business serves Muslim communities, we want to hear from you.
Ready to Build for Muslims?
Join a fellowship designed for founders who are building products and services that serve Muslim communities worldwide.