Fledge

The story of Fledge begins with a realization by serial entrepreneur Michael "Luni" Libes. After two decades of building successful technology startups, Libes found himself mentoring graduates at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, a program dedicated to sustainable business. He observed a recurring struggle: passionate entrepreneurs with mission-driven ideas were failing to launch because they lacked the specific guidance and capital structures suited for "conscious companies." Traditional accelerators were too focused on tech unicorns, and traditional non-profits lacked the business rigor to scale impact. In 2012, Libes set out to fill this gap, launching Fledge in Seattle as a new kind of accelerator—one designed specifically for mission-driven, for-profit companies.

What started as a single program in the Pacific Northwest has evolved into a global network of conscious company accelerators and seed funds. Fledge's journey is defined by its innovative "revenue-based equity" investment model, which aligns the incentives of investors and founders without forcing the "exit or bust" mentality of Silicon Valley. Over the years, Fledge has expanded its footprint far beyond Seattle, establishing partnerships and programs in cities like Lima, Barcelona, and Nairobi. Today, the Fledge network has supported hundreds of "fledglings" from dozens of countries, tackling critical global issues such as poverty, hunger, and environmental sustainability. Through its intense, mentorship-driven programs and the "The Next Step" curriculum, Fledge continues to prove that it is possible to do good while doing business, fostering a worldwide wave of companies that improve lives while earning a profit.