Applications are open for beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027/28, a two-year, part-time global fellowship for young eco-innovators aged 18 to 28 who are building solutions to environmental problems. Fellows receive training, venture coaching and one-to-one mentoring, and can win project scholarships of up to €15,000. The programme is run by The DO School Fellowships in Hamburg, Germany, and funded by Mercedes-Benz.
Deadline: 31 January 2027, 23:59 CET.
Eligible Countries
Only residents of these countries can apply in this round:
- Africa: Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
- Asia: India, Indonesia, Malaysia
- Americas: Mexico, United States
- Europe: 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, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom
You must live in an eligible country for most of each fellowship year (more than 9 months) and carry out your project there. Fellows may move between eligible countries, but not to a country outside the list.
About the beVisioneers Fellowship
beVisioneers was launched in 2023 to give young people the tools and resources to implement and scale environmental projects. It backs 250 founders each cohort. Applications are now open for Cohort 5.
The fellowship is part-time and hybrid, designed to fit around work or university. It needs at least 24 hours a month in the first year.
- Year 1 (Foundation Year): a 12-month innovation programme with online learning modules, Local Hub gatherings, Regional Summits, venture coaching and one-to-one mentoring, built around project milestones. The aim is to launch a market-tested prototype.
- Year 2 (Acceleration Year): fellows scale their ventures with deeper venture coaching, scaling mentors, skills workshops, global summits and network events.
- Alumni: fellows then join the beVisioneers Alumni Network of investors, accelerators, experts, climate scientists and partners.
Benefits
- Project scholarships of up to €15,000, available at the end of Year 1
- More project scholarships and a cost-of-living stipend in Year 2
- Travel, accommodation and expenses paid for key programme events
- Financial support for participation, such as a laptop or internet access, based on a needs assessment
- Regular venture coaching and one-to-one mentoring
- International travel opportunities to Regional Summits
- A global community of young environmental changemakers
Who Can Apply?
- Aged 18 to 28 on 31 January 2027. You are not eligible if you turn 29 on or before that date.
- A resident of one of the eligible countries listed above
- Good written and spoken English. No IELTS or TOEFL is required: English is assessed from your written answers and interview video.
- Strong commitment to positive environmental change, and an entrepreneurial spirit
- An existing planet-positive project, or a strong idea for one
- Not employed by Mercedes-Benz, and no parent or guardian employed by Mercedes-Benz
What stage should your project be at? beVisioneers is mainly looking for founders with a prototype or further: something built, tested and learned from. Idea-stage applicants can apply, but must show a deep understanding of the problem and evidence they have already started, such as research, early conversations or a rough test. Projects that are already financially sustainable are not accepted. You do not need any entrepreneurial experience or technical training.
Teams: fellows are selected individually, so every team member who wants to take part must apply separately.
How to Apply
- Check that you live in an eligible country and meet the age limit.
- Read the programme details on the official beVisioneers Fellowship page.
- Apply through the official application portal. The process includes written answers and a recorded video interview.
- Submit before 31 January 2027, 23:59 CET.
More Funding for Young Innovators
- Changemakers for Youth Programme 2027
- 100x Impact Accelerator 2027/28: £150,000 for Social Impact Ventures (closes 2 November 2026)
- 12 Tech and AI Funding Opportunities Open Now (October 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African countries are eligible for beVisioneers 2027/28?
Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Applicants must live in one of these countries, or another eligible country, during the fellowship.
Is beVisioneers fully funded?
The fellowship is free. Travel, accommodation and expenses are paid for key programme events, and fellows can win project scholarships of up to €15,000. Year 2 includes a cost-of-living stipend.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
No. Your English is assessed from your written application and your interview video.
Can I apply with just an idea?
Yes, but idea-stage applications are held to a high bar. beVisioneers mainly looks for founders who already have a prototype.
When is the deadline?
31 January 2027, 23:59 Central European Time.
