Funding

Fully Funded · Partial / Stipend · Grant

FellowshipHybrid

beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship

The DO School Fellowships gGmbH

Application Deadline

Closed · January 25, 2026

Reopens ~Jan 2027

Official Page

beVisioneers is a two-year environmental-innovation fellowship funded by Mercedes-Benz and run by The DO School Fellowships gGmbH. Its 12-month Foundation Year combines online learning with local meet-ups and regional events, followed by an Acceleration Year for developing eligible projects.

Applicants bring an early-stage planet-positive idea or project and develop it through training, mentoring, venture coaching and peer support. The current application cycle is closed, and the official site has not published an exact opening date for the next cycle.

Benefits & funding

  • Participation is free, and travel, accommodation and related expenses for key program events are covered.
  • Fellows receive mentoring, venture coaching, online learning, local gatherings, regional summits and expert support.
  • The FAQ states that every Year 1 Fellow receives a cost-of-living stipend, while economically disadvantaged Fellows may receive an online-access stipend after a needs assessment.
  • Project scholarships are earned through a separate selection process after Year 1. The FAQ lists awards of €2,000–€20,000, while the main program page separately advertises awards up to €15,000.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 18–28 years old when applying.
  • Applicants must reside in Europe, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States or Zimbabwe, live in an eligible country for more than nine months of each fellowship year, and implement the project there.
  • Applicants need working English and an existing early-stage planet-positive project or a strong idea for one; projects that are already financially sustainable are not accepted.
  • No previous entrepreneurial experience, technical expertise or formal qualification is required.
  • Applicants must not work for Mercedes-Benz and must not have a parent or guardian who works there.
  • The published rules impose a residence requirement but no nationality or gender restriction.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Age requirement

    18–28 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Register on the official application platform and sign in using the emailed instructions.
  2. 2
    Complete the written application and submit the required short video about the environmental challenge and proposed idea.
  3. 3
    If financial support is needed, complete the optional needs-assessment materials and provide the requested income and reference information.
  4. 4
    Shortlisted applicants complete a 15-minute online activity before final selection.

Program timeline

  1. Most recent application period opened

    September 15, 2025

  2. Most recent application deadline

    January 25, 2026

  3. Shortlisted applicants completed the online activity

    March 9–27, 2026

  4. The 12-month Foundation Year began

    June 2026

  5. Next cycle

    Exact application dates have not been published

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