Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027 for Climate Technology Innovators Worldwide (Up to $500,000 Funding)

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Applications are open for Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027. Breakthrough Energy Fellows Cohort 7 2027 offers global climate innovators funding, mentorship and commercialization support, including up to $500,000 for eligible early-stage technologies.

Breakthrough Energy Fellows is part of Breakthrough Energy Discovery. The program is designed to tackle early-stage barriers to climate technology innovation, accelerating discovery and increasing the number of technologies working toward commercialization. By providing scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs with research funding and hands-on support, our program ensures projects resources and support to advance to the next stages of development.

Each year, the program selects and funds two types of Breakthrough Energy Fellows: Innovator Fellows – world leading scientists, engineers, and innovators – and Business Fellows – visionary builders, industry experts, and entrepreneurs – to commercialize breakthrough decarbonization technologies.

Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program Stages

Breakthrough Energy Fellows is part of Breakthrough Energy Discovery, our platform dedicated to advancing pre-venture, early-stage clean tech innovation. BE Fellows offers three highly competitive pathways:

Innovator Fellowship: Our flagship program, the Innovator Fellowship, is designed to accelerate the development of promising early-stage climate technologies. The Fellowship is a full-time, one-year commitment for innovators committed to commercializing their climate technology. Typically, Innovator projects have raised less than $2M in dilutive funding and must be legally incorporated prior to program start date of September 2027.
Business Fellowship: The Business Fellowship is also a full-time program, designed for experienced business professionals. Business Fellows support Innovators in their technology commercialization efforts, complementing the scientific expertise of our Innovators. These exceptional business experts are recruited on an as-needed basis.
Explorers: Explorers receive funding for applied research projects that are earlier stage, higher technical risk, and novel breakthroughs. Explorers are typically in a university lab or research entity and are overseen by professors, faculty members, or researchers who are advancing proof-of-concept ideas that require further technical exploration before spinning out of the institution.

1. Innovator Fellowship

The Innovator Fellowship is designed for early-stage climate technology startups and researchers who are ready to move innovative technologies toward commercialization.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

Open to applicants worldwide.
Technologies should generally be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1–4.
Companies typically must have raised less than $2 million in investment funding, excluding grants.
Applicants must establish a legal entity before the programme begins.
Fellows must commit full-time to developing their startups.

Funding and Benefits

Selected Innovator Fellows can receive:

Up to $500,000 in catalytic investment through a SAFE.
Technical project management support.
Commercialization assistance.
Mentorship and training.
Business development guidance.
Access to investors, policymakers and industry specialists.

The Fellowship provides approximately 12 months of development support, followed by around three months of close-out and evaluation

2. Explorer Program

The Explorer Program supports earlier-stage climate technology innovations, particularly projects originating from universities and research institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is open to researchers and innovators worldwide whose technologies are generally at TRL 0–2.
Projects should demonstrate substantial potential to contribute to climate impact.

Funding and Benefits

Participants can receive approximately $50,000–$250,000 in grant funding.
Support may be used for areas including:
- Research
- Equipment
- Personnel
- Technical development
Participants can also benefit from mentorship, industry connections and selected programme events, as well as assistance in progressing their technologies toward commercialization.

Explorer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during 2027.

3. Business Fellowship

The Business Fellowship is aimed at experienced professionals who can help Innovator Fellows develop and commercialize their technologies.
Professionals worldwide with expertise in areas such as business development, commercialization, markets and technology scaling may be considered.
Business Fellows are expected to commit full-time to supporting Innovator teams.
Benefits include an industry-competitive living stipend, professional development opportunities, global networking and access to leading climate technology organizations and experts.
Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute directly to commercial strategies for breakthrough climate technologies.

Breakthrough Energy Fellows Focus Areas

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program supports innovations across a range of high-impact sectors, including:

Energy & Environment
- Clean energy, emissions reduction and carbon management technologies.
DeepTech
- Advanced scientific and engineering innovations with significant climate potential.
Manufacturing & Materials
- Sustainable industrial processes and low-carbon materials.
Mobility & Logistics
- Clean transportation and low-emission mobility solutions.
Agriculture & Food
- Innovations supporting sustainable agriculture and food production.
Real Estate & PropTech
- Energy-efficient buildings and sustainable construction technologies.

Innovations outside these categories may also qualify where they demonstrate substantial greenhouse gas reduction potential.

Who Can Apply?

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program is particularly relevant for:

Climate technology startups
Scientists and researchers
University-based innovators
Early-stage entrepreneurs
DeepTech innovators
Clean energy developers
Sustainable agriculture innovators
Climate-focused engineers
Manufacturing and materials innovators
Clean mobility entrepreneurs
Experienced business and commercialization professionals

The programme welcomes applicants internationally, while all communication and curriculum are delivered in English.

How To Apply for Breakthrough Energy Fellows

Step 1: Submitting a Concept Paper and preliminary information – applications accepted through November 2, 2026
Step 2: Selected Concept Papers will be asked to submit a Full Application with additional information
Step 3: Selected Full Applications will be invited to participate in a Deep-Dive interview session
Step 4: The Cohort 7 program begins in September 2027

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Application Deadline: 2 November 2026.