Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Aug 12, 2026 – Aug 15, 2026

Fellowship•USA

Paradigm Fellowship

Paradigm

Application Deadline

Closed · June 8, 2026

Reopens ~Jun 2027

Official Page

The Paradigm Fellowship is a four-day retreat run by Paradigm, a technology investment firm founded in 2018 with offices in San Francisco, New York and Washington DC that backs work in crypto, AI, robotics and other frontier areas. Roughly 30 early-career technical builders gather in Northern California for firesides, whiteboarding sessions and open time to build alongside the Paradigm team. The 2026 edition is the fourth year of the program; the earlier rounds centred on crypto, and this one takes builders working in AI, robotics, energy, aerospace, bio, prediction markets and crypto. The 2025 cohort came from 10 countries and mixed undergraduates, dropouts, and people from OpenAI, SpaceX, Citadel and Kalshi. Past fellows have met cofounders, started companies, joined the Paradigm research team, and raised money from Paradigm and other investors. Applications for the 2026 round closed on 8 June 2026 and the retreat itself runs 12–15 August 2026.

Benefits & funding

  • Four days at the retreat in Northern California, 12–15 August 2026, with a cohort of about 30 people: firesides, whiteboarding sessions, and unstructured time to hack.
  • Paradigm covers travel, lodging and meals. Accepted fellows receive a stipend toward flights and the other costs of attending in person.
  • Direct time with the Paradigm team and with the rest of the cohort across every technical frontier the firm invests in.
  • Access to what the program leads to rather than a guaranteed outcome: alumni have found cofounders, launched companies, joined Paradigm’s research team, and raised from Paradigm and other investors.

Eligibility

  • Early in your career. Most fellows are in high school, in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are recent graduates or dropouts.
  • No strict age requirement is set.
  • No degree requirement — what is assessed is what the applicant has built, shipped or worked out, not the institution behind them.
  • Any technical field qualifies: AI, robotics, energy, aerospace, bio, prediction markets, crypto, or an area Paradigm has not listed.
  • Founding a company is not required. Students, researchers, engineers and traders all apply.
  • No nationality or residency restriction is stated. The 2025 cohort came from 10 countries.
  • Fellows attend in person in Northern California for the four days.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Apply through the online form on the fellowship page. For the 2026 round the form closed on 8 June 2026 at 11:59pm PST.
  2. 2
    Answer the application questions about what you have built, including a light “prove you’re not an AI” prompt that Paradigm treats as a vibe check rather than a technical test.
  3. 3
    Optionally add a reference from the Paradigm community — a portfolio founder, a past fellow, or a Paradigm team member — with their name, affiliation and your relationship to them. The form also has room to refer another builder.
  4. 4
    Paradigm reviews applications and reaches back about next steps, which may include an interview.
  5. 5
    Final decisions for the 2026 cohort were made by 1 July 2026.
  6. 6
    Accepted fellows travel to Northern California for 12–15 August. Questions go to fellowship@paradigm.xyz.

Program timeline

  1. 2026 Fellowship announced; applications open

    Apr 20, 2026

  2. Application deadline, 11:59pm PST

    Jun 8, 2026

  3. Final decisions on the 2026 cohort

    Jul 1, 2026

  4. Retreat begins in Northern California

    Aug 12, 2026

  5. Retreat ends

    Aug 15, 2026