The In/Tend Incubator Hub is a fun, 7-month program that helps teams of three use human-centered design to create solutions for real-world challenges in teen sexual and reproductive health.

Participants will enjoy a guided journey with coaching, expert advice, and a supportive community. The program mixes mentorship, resources, and hands-on experience to spark creativity and make a real difference.

The Incubator program starts in October 2024 and ends in May 2025. Active time in the program is about 7 months; there are at least 3 weeks of time off for teams and program staff during holidays, such as Thanksgiving and the winter season.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

• October 7, 2024 – Program Starts
• Late 2024 – In-Person Workshop #1
• Early 2025 – In-Person Workshop #2
• By May 30, 2025 – Program Ends

The Incubator program will require intensive and dedicated work throughout the 7 months. This means that we want all teams to be fully engaged with the program and not treat it as something they squeeze in on the side.

We aim to create an exciting virtual environment with some in-person meetups to boost teamwork and creativity. The Incubator program will mostly be online, but you’ll have at least 2 chances to meet in-person with your cohort. In-person event locations will be as centrally located as possible for ease of travel.

Selected teams will receive up to $90,000 in funding to prototype and test their ideas. As part of the application, teams must fill out a budget template. We acknowledge that you might not know how your funds will be used at this time. You will have the opportunity to make changes if selected as part of the cohort, but you need to provide at least some budgetary information based on what you know so far.

Guidance will be given on how the funding should be allocated in the template, including the following:

• Teams can only charge up to 10% of the total funding for indirect costs.
• Funds must cover travel and accommodation for the whole team to attend two in-person events, each lasting four days.
• Additionally, funds should be used to provide appropriate incentives or payments to end-users who will help test and inform your ideas.

Funding will be given in three installments: $25,000 at the start of the program, $45,000 four months into the project, and $20,000 in the final month of the project. The second and third installments will be provided based on satisfactory progress according to the plan developed with your coaches at the beginning of the program.

Applications are carefully reviewed by an independent selection committee. This committee is made up of experts in innovation and adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

To provide all teams with a dedicated, equitable, and timely review by our selection committee, we must limit the number of submissions to 50. We understand that this is an uncommon application process, and in the spirit of innovation and transparency, we welcome any feedback on this process. To help all teams prepare, we offer an application preview period, so everyone has an equal chance to get ready and submit their application quickly.

The Selection Committee will be evaluating applications based on:

• Team Cohesion: How effectively does the team convey their values, roles, and work style? Are individual strengths, areas of growth, and contributions clearly detailed?
• Support: What does the team want to learn from this experience? What type of support does the team anticipate needing during the In/Tend Incubator program?
• Motivation: What excites the team about participating in the In/Tend Incubator Hub?
• Challenge: How well does the team describe the challenge they wish to address during their time with In/Tend? What is their connection to this challenge?
• Creativity and Adaptability: To what extent does the response showcase the team’s ability to think innovatively and adapt to unforeseen challenges? Are they open to pivoting their approach to problem-solving?
• Outstanding Qualities: What unique qualities set the team apart from others?
• Preferred Selection Criteria: We also consider any preferred criteria, such as representation from historically underserved and underrepresented populations, such as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with different abilities, neurodivergent people, immigrant and/or refugee populations, and/or young people ages 18 to 24

The Selection Committee will be looking for applications that creatively illustrate who the team is and how they effectively work together. We are seeking teams who embody the potential for innovation and show the promise of putting it into action if given the opportunity. Teams who meet any of the preferred criteria will also be given extra consideration if the overall application is qualified.

The Selection Committee aims to select teams that demonstrate a genuine passion for their challenge, clear and cohesive communication, strong team dynamics, creativity and adaptability in problem-solving, and alignment with the goals and values of the In/Tend Incubator Hub, which envisions a world that affirms and celebrates every young person for who they are and ensures that they have the agency, opportunity, and equitable access to prioritize their bodies, relationships, and futures.