Applications for Cohort 5 of our Innovator and Explorer programs are open until December 2, 2024. During this period, candidates will submit a Concept Paper along with initial details. This first phase is the same for both Innovators and Explorers. Candidates will be informed about the next steps in late 2024 or early 2025, and the Cohort 5 program will officially start in September 2025.

Business Fellows will be selected on an as-needed basis. If you're interested, please complete our interest form to be notified when the opportunity to apply for the Business Fellowship becomes available.

Program Overview

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows (BEF) program offers three competitive tracks:

- Innovator Fellowship: This is the flagship program, designed to accelerate the development of promising early-stage climate technologies. Innovators dedicate themselves full-time to commercializing their climate innovations. Typically, Innovator projects have raised less than $2,000,000 in dilutive funding and are legally incorporated before the program begins in September 2025.

- Business Fellowship: This is a full-time program for experienced business professionals who support Innovators in bringing their climate technologies to market. Business Fellows are recruited as needed to complement the Innovators' scientific expertise.

- Explorer Program: Explorers receive part-time funding to develop breakthrough climate solutions that are earlier in stage and carry higher technical risks. These projects are usually housed in a university lab or research institution, under the supervision of professors, faculty, or researchers who maintain their current roles.

For more details, check out our programs or visit the BE Fellows homepage.

Technology Focus Areas

The program targets technologies that can, at scale, reduce or capture at least 500 million tons of greenhouse gases annually or address climate change adaptation. We welcome groundbreaking innovations across various technology sectors that meet these criteria, particularly those that represent a significant leap forward rather than incremental improvements.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is December 2, 2024.