In July 2025, John Cabot University entered into a strategic partnership with Refraction, a prominent innovation hub based in northern Virginia, to establish the Refraction Innovation Fellowship, a remote professional development program designed to provide JCU students with direct exposure to the U.S. startup ecosystem.
This initiative reflects JCU’s ongoing commitment to offering students transformative learning experiences that bridge academic study and real-world application. Through the fellowship, participants will engage in project-based work with early-stage ventures, contributing to areas such as marketing strategy, market analysis, digital content development, and business process optimization.
“Entrepreneurship thrives on curiosity, adaptability, and action — qualities we work to instill in every JCU student,” said JCU President Franco Pavoncello. “This partnership with Refraction offers our students a front-row seat to the fast-paced world of startups, while building the global awareness and cross-cultural skills essential to leading in today’s interconnected economy.”
The fellowship is open to students from all academic disciplines, beginning in their sophomore year, and is structured to run over the course of a full semester. Participants will collaborate remotely with Refraction’s network of founders and innovation leaders, gaining valuable insights into startup operations and entrepreneurial practices in the United States.
About Refraction
Refraction is an award-winning technology innovation hub located in the greater Washington, D.C. area. It works with both public and private sector partners, such as Amazon, Cox, Dominion Energy, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Virginia Tech, to support high-growth startups and foster job creation in the region. Over the past 11 years, Refraction has supported more than 500 companies, which have collectively raised over $1 billion in capital.
Learn more about the Refraction Innovation Fellowship and how to become a fellow.
