You’ve built the prototype. Maybe you’ve even got a few early users. So what’s the next step when you’re 22 and nobody hands out climate funding to people without a track record?
The beVisioneers Fellowship (officially beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship) is built for exactly that stage. It’s a free, two-year program for founders aged 18 to 28 who are working on environmental solutions. Cohort 5, the 2027/28 fellowship year, is open now.
Fellows get training, 1:1 mentoring, paid trips to international summits and a shot at project scholarships of up to €15,000. There’s no application fee and nothing to pay at any stage.
Quick Facts: beVisioneers Fellowship 2027
- Opportunity Type: Fellowship for young environmental innovators
- Host Organization: beVisioneers, funded by Mercedes-Benz
- Location: Hybrid – online learning plus in-person Local Hubs, Regional Summits and a Global Summit
- Duration: 2 years (12-month intensive, then an acceleration year)
- Time Commitment: At least 24 hours a month in year one
- Funding: Fully funded – project scholarships up to €15,000, a cost-of-living stipend in year two, and travel, accommodation and expenses covered for key events
- Application Fee: None
- Nationality: Albania, Andorra, Åland Islands, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe
- Age Limit: 18–28 on January 31, 2027
- Degree Required: None
- Language: Good spoken and written English
- Program Start: June 2027
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2027, 23:59:59 CET
What Is the beVisioneers Fellowship?
Think of it as a two-year climate accelerator that doesn’t ask for equity, a registered company or a polished pitch deck. Mercedes-Benz funds the program, and beVisioneers runs it as what it calls the world’s largest and most financially inclusive fellowship for young environmental innovators.
Each year, the beVisioneers Fellowship picks up to 250 founders across roughly 55 countries. The first year is about building: learning, testing and getting honest feedback. The second year is about scaling what works.
It runs alongside your studies or job. The learning is online and designed to fit around your schedule, and the in-person events are spread across the year rather than packed into one long residency.
Who Can Apply for the beVisioneers Fellowship?
You need to tick four boxes:
- Age: between 18 and 28 on January 31, 2027.
- Residence: you live in a participating country and stay there for more than nine months of the year.
- Project: you’re working on a solution to an environmental problem.
- English: you can work comfortably in written and spoken English.
The program prefers a working prototype or something further along, but it does consider exceptional ideas. Applications are individual, so if you’re part of a team, each co-founder applies separately.
One exclusion: you can’t apply if you work for Mercedes-Benz, or if a parent or guardian does.
Can Indian Students Apply?
Yes. India is on the list of participating countries. If you live in India and meet the age rule, you’re eligible to apply for the beVisioneers Fellowship, whether you’re a student, a working professional or a full-time founder.
What Does the beVisioneers Fellowship Cover?
This is where it earns the “fully funded” label. You don’t pay for training, events or travel.
Year 1: Build
- Online innovation training you can fit around work or university
- Three Local Hub gatherings with fellows near you
- International Regional Summits and a Global Summit, with travel, accommodation and expenses covered
- 1:1 venture coaching and 1:1 mentoring
- A chance to pitch for a project scholarship of up to €15,000
Year 2: Scale
The acceleration year adds a cost-of-living stipend and support to grow your venture, plus introductions to investors, accelerators, climate scientists and the alumni network.
There’s also needs-based support. If a laptop or a stable internet connection is the thing standing between you and the program, the beVisioneers team can help with that. It’s a small detail, but it tells you a lot about who this fellowship is really for.
How to Apply for the beVisioneers Fellowship 2027
- Check that your country is on the participating list on the official beVisioneers application page.
- Create an account on the beVisioneers portal and start the Cohort 5 application.
- Explain the environmental problem, your solution and the progress you’ve made so far.
- Submit before January 31, 2027, 23:59:59 CET. That’s 4:29 AM IST on February 1.
What the Selectors Look For
The official page names three things: real dedication to environmental change, an entrepreneurial mindset (persistence, resilience, determination) and a project that’s genuinely planet-positive.
Notice what’s missing from that list: grades, degrees and funding raised. That’s good news if you’re early.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Show the journey, not just the idea. What did you try, what failed and what did you change? That’s how you prove resilience.
- Put a number on the problem. Tonnes of waste, litres of water, households affected. Specifics beat big words.
- Be honest about your stage. A rough prototype with real feedback reads better than a perfect plan with no testing.
- Plan your 24 hours a month. Mention how you’ll fit the fellowship around your studies or job.
Why This One Stands Out
Most climate accelerators want a registered company and traction numbers. The beVisioneers Fellowship asks for commitment, a real environmental problem and something you’ve started building. That makes it one of the rare programs where a 20-year-old student and a 27-year-old founder compete on the same footing.
If you’re still exploring, browse more fully funded fellowships on Potenue, or look at our grants if you need money for an existing project.
FAQs
Is the beVisioneers Fellowship free?
Yes. There’s no application fee, and training, events and travel to key summits are covered.
Do I need a registered startup?
No. A prototype or further along is preferred, but exceptional ideas are considered too.
When does the fellowship start?
The 2027/28 cohort kicks off in June 2027.
What could your idea become with two years of backing behind it? Subscribe to Potenue so the next fully funded opportunity reaches you before the deadline does.
