Athan Fellowship
A digital-first program with two tracks: Ventures, for revenue-generating founders, and Non-Profits, for mission-driven organizations, both built for the Halal Economy.
Two Tracks, One Fellowship
Choose the track that matches how your organization is structured
Ventures Track
For-profit founders building in the Halal Economy
Selection Criteria
- Already generating revenue, not a pre-revenue idea
- Clear, ethical business model with room to grow
- Founder fully dedicated to the venture
Program Structure
Cohort-based and digital-first: mentorship and curriculum throughout, ending in an investment decision for founders who are the right fit.
What's Included
- Mentorship & curriculum
- Founder community
- Investment for the right fit (Scale or Partnership Track)
Non-Profits Track
Non-profits operating in the Halal Economy
Selection Criteria
- Evaluated on readiness and impact, not revenue
- Clear mission and a plan to deliver on it
- Team fully dedicated to the organization
Program Structure
Cohort-based and digital-first: the same mentorship and curriculum as the Ventures Track, structured as training and coaching with no equity stake involved.
What's Included
- Mentorship & curriculum
- Founder community
- Training and coaching, no equity involved
What Every Fellow Gets
Mentorship
Mostly operators who've built and scaled businesses serving Muslim communities, plus proven entrepreneurs from other industries where the playbook is more mature. Either way, they've built before.
Curriculum
Structured learning designed for Muslim-serving 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
Applies to the Ventures Track. The Non-Profits Track is training and coaching, no equity involved.
Investment that matches your business, not the other way around.
Not every Fellow receives investment, and that's by design. Where we do invest, we use our Partnership Track: a Sharia-compliant diminishing Musharaka combined with revenue sharing.
Partnership Track
A diminishing Musharaka with revenue sharing
Buy back our stake from revenues at your pace, or keep us as long-term partners sharing in dividends. No forced exit, no pressure.
Who This Is For
Solving a Muslim-Specific Need
Building a for-profit venture or running a non-profit in the Halal Economy
Early-Stage, Already Earning
Ventures Track applicants should already be generating revenue. Non-Profits Track applicants are evaluated on readiness and impact instead
Values-Aligned
Committed to ethical, values-aligned business practices
Fully Dedicated
Ready to dedicate themselves to their venture
Program Details
Format
Digital-first, with in-person elements in Almadinah Almunawarah as the program grows
Duration
4 months per cohort
Stage
Early-stage and revenue-generating (Ventures Track); any stage for non-profits (Non-Profits Track)
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 digital-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. Almadinah Almunawarah 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 in the Halal Economy.
What's the difference between the Ventures Track and the Non-Profits Track?
The Ventures Track is for early-stage, revenue-generating founders: mentorship, curriculum, community, and investment for the right fit. The Non-Profits Track is for organizations doing similar work without a for-profit structure; it's training and coaching only, with no equity or investment component, since that's not how non-profits are set up.
Does every Fellow receive investment?
No. Every Fellow, in either track, receives mentorship, curriculum, and community. Investment is offered to Ventures Track founders where we see exceptional alignment between mission, market, and team.
What are the equity terms?
We invest through our Partnership Track: a Sharia-compliant diminishing Musharaka combined with revenue sharing. You buy back our stake over time from revenues, or remain long-term partners sharing in dividends. No forced exits. Full details are shared during the selection process.
What stage should my startup be at?
For the Ventures Track, we look for early-stage founders who are already generating revenue, not pre-revenue ideas. For the Non-Profits Track, we evaluate organizations on readiness and impact rather than revenue. If you have a clear vision for the Halal Economy and the commitment to execute, we want to hear from you.
How long is the program?
Each cohort runs for 4 months, 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 halal food or tech startups?
No, and that's a common misconception. The Halal Economy spans modest fashion, Islamic finance, hajj and umrah services, halal supply chains, matrimonial platforms, faith-based media, education, and the non-profits doing that same work. If that describes what you're building, we want to hear from you.
Ready to Build for Muslims?
Join a fellowship built for Halal Economy founders and non-profits, on whichever track fits.