He called it New Atlantis, a utopia fueled by relentless invention and discovery, where Merchants of Light united to shatter the limits of what's possible.
Almost 400 years later, The O'Shaughnessy Fellowships is on a mission to write the next chapter. We're hunting for the next generation of trailblazers - builders, researchers, and creatives like you, who will advance civilization.
Applications open January 1, 2026
Twelve Months of pure possibility. No equity. No corporate overlords. No thesis requirements. No committee approvals.
Just you, your vision, and the resources to make it real.
This is the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships & Grants: a one-year program that unites the world’s bravest souls and brightest minds to manifest the future humanity deserves.
In just three years, we’ve scoured over 160 countries to find and fund 84 extraordinary individuals. This has led to nine companies and non-profits, five documentaries, one sci-fi movie, one global #1 hit song, 2.2 billion views on YouTube, and numerous other scientific, artistic, and technological projects.
Fellows and Grantees turning “what if” into reality.
We're looking for:
Are you ready to leap into the unknown, discover what others haven't, and bring back knowledge that launches humanity forward?
If you're working on something that can radically transform the world, we want to hear from you.
O'Shaughnessy Fellows and Grantees come from every domain imaginable. Quantum computing. Documentary filmmaking. Endangered language preservation. Prosthetic engineering.
We're looking for:
Self-directed Tinkerers
You’ll get the capital, not a step-by-step instruction manual.You don't wait for things to happen. You make them happen. You've consistently taken initiative, built things without being told, and solved problems you weren't assigned.
Prolific Problem Solvers
You've done remarkable work — in any domain. Maybe it's published research, a viral project, or a solution you built for your community. You've already built something when nobody was watching or supporting you. Walls can't stop you.
Relentlessly Resourceful
You are relentlessly determined and resourceful, and exercise exceptional judgment, and MacGyver your way through obstacles with limited resources. You can get things done regardless of the funding you have. You always figure out a way
If you're nodding along to this, you're exactly who we're looking for.
2026
What to expect from the application process.
Stage 1 · Application Window
January 1 – April 30, 2026
After you submit the application form, we'll review on a rolling basis—so the earlier you apply, the sooner you hear back. Most applicants get an update within 30 days.
Stage 2 · Intro Calls with the Team
February 1 – May 30, 2026
Shortlisted applicants hop on a call with our team. This is your chance to think out loud, share your vision, and show us how you solve problems.
Stage 3 · Deeper Conversations
Through May 30, 2026
Meet more of the OSV team and extended network. Each conversation brings you closer to a decision. Final selections announced by June 1st, 2026.
The internet is more than just cat videos and strangers arguing. It’s a new world.
A teenage prodigy in rural Karnataka can now collaborate with a scientist in Kansas. A researcher in Mombasa can be funded by a visionary in Manhattan. Seven degrees of separation have collapsed into a single click.
The tools are in your hands. The only question is… what will you build?
Chart your own path
Credentialism is dying. The script is torn up. Nobody cares where you went to school anymore. They care what you’ve made, what you’ve discovered, what impossible thing you’ve somehow pulled off anyway. The question is not Where did you study? It is What have you done?
No debt. No dilution.
Getting started with something audacious is terrifying, especially when you have responsibilities, mouths to feed, rent to pay. Innovation requires the freedom to tinker, to fail spectacularly, to learn from new mistakes. All Fellows receive $100,000 equity-free to pursue their projects for the year. You keep 100% ownership.
Our network becomes your network
Extraordinary visions demand true believers. We can connect you directly to investors, partners, and mentors. You join a growing community of Fellows and Grantees, a group whose unique interests and skillsets can combine to create unimaginable breakthroughs. We’ve watched it happen.
Opening more doors.
Not everyone needs $100,000 to change the world. Maybe you just need a running start.
Alongside our 10 Fellowships, up to 20 exceptional individuals receive at-least $10,000 and access to OSV's network of founders, investors, and experts.
Every Fellowship applicant is automatically considered for the Grants program.
Paul Carter
An audio series that's more concept album than conversation.
I’ve always been inspired by the breadth of groundbreaking projects OSV backs. At a time when funding for arts projects and artists is shrinking, OSV is boldly supporting imaginative work that can shape tomorrow. I'm incredibly proud to be part of that. Thank you, Jim!
Jose Sabau
Perpetuo: The New Yorker for the Spanish-speaking world.
I hope one day people can look back at Perpetuo and see it as a turning point in the Spanish language. If that is the case, becoming part of the OSV community should be seen as a turning point for Perpetuo—one for which I shall be forever grateful.
Tommy Potter
Building a founder community through a content engine fueled by unforgettable experiences.
The O'Shaughnessy endorsement lets me double down on a belief I’ve always held: with the right people and the right energy, anything is possible. I'm excited to continue investing the time and money into those benefiting humanity.
Addy Cha
Enhancing mind and body capabilities to better understand reality.
The spontaneity and magic of our last few days together will go down as some of the best memories of my life. I think it literally changed my life.
Individuals who are looking for support in putting a dent in the universe. Our youngest applicant last year was 13, and the oldest was in their 70s. The fellowship is open to adults worldwide, regardless of their background.
No. The $100,000 Fellowship and $10,000 Grants are completely equity-free. You keep 100% ownership of your work. We want to support you, not own you.
No. The fellowships are aimed primarily at individuals. However, we do encourage you to start a company if you are able to.
If you’ve already started a startup or plan to raise outside investment to build a venture-scale company, please apply to Infinite Adventures - our venture capital arm, using the contact form.
Yes. You can work from anywhere in the world. We do not require you to relocate, though we may host optional gatherings for Fellows to meet.
There is only one application. Every applicant is automatically considered for both the $100,000 Fellowship and the $10,000 Grants.
No, you don’t have to quit your job, but we prefer candidates who are willing to go all in for one year, dedicating a minimum of 40 hours a week to their work during the Fellowships period and ideally north of 60 hours a week.
In the Hero's Journey, there's always a moment, the threshold. Behind: the ordinary world, the safe path, the life that makes sense to everyone else. Ahead: the great unknown, the adventure, the promise of transformation.
Are you ready to take the leap?
Applications close April 30, 2026
Program summary
Fellowships
10 × $100,000
Grants
Up to 20 × $10,000
Equity
0% taken
Reach
160+ countries
The O'Shaughnessy Fellowships & Grants · Supporting researchers, builders, and creatives who push civilization forward.
