Applications are now open for the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027, an alternative incubation programme supporting innovators and early-stage initiatives working to transform humanity’s relationship with nature and society.

Organised by Unearthodox, the Exploration Co-Lab is designed for changemakers addressing complex environmental and social challenges at their root. The programme seeks applicants whose work goes beyond short-term or incremental solutions and instead explores new systems, worldviews, relationships, and pathways for a more just, vibrant, and regenerative future.

Selected participants will receive CHF 10,000 in grant funding, a 10-month incubation journey, tailored non-financial support, peer learning, coaching, expert guidance, systems mapping, visibility opportunities, and access to a global community of innovators.

The programme will run from 1 March to 31 December 2027.

Application deadline: 16 November 2026.

What Is the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab?

The Exploration Co-Lab is an alternative incubator for what Unearthodox describes as “edge-walkers”—innovators whose work challenges conventional approaches and does not fit easily into traditional categories.

The programme is intended for people and initiatives exploring the deeper causes of nature-society challenges. Rather than focusing only on treating visible symptoms, the Co-Lab encourages participants to question the systems, assumptions, institutions, and relationships that have contributed to environmental and social problems.

The programme is particularly interested in work that:

• Reimagines the relationship between humans and the natural world.
• Challenges dominant systems based on commodification or exploitation.
• Questions anthropocentric assumptions.
• Examines the effects of coloniality and unequal systems.
• Develops new ways of thinking about ecological and social wellbeing.
• Builds more regenerative, equitable, and community-centred futures.
• Creates stronger relationships with the more-than-human world.
• Explores new approaches to systems change and collective transformation.

The Co-Lab recognises that deep systems change often requires time, experimentation, trust, reflection, relationships, and support for ideas that may initially appear unconventional or difficult to categorise.

Key Details About the Exploration Co-Lab 2027

• Programme: Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027
• Organiser: Unearthodox
• Opportunity type: Incubator and grant-supported fellowship-style programme
• Grant funding: CHF 10,000
• Programme duration: 10 months
• Programme dates: 1 March–31 December 2027
• Application period: 15 September–16 November 2026
• Application deadline: 16 November 2026
• Format: Primarily online
• Working language: English
• Geographic scope: Global
• Target applicants: Early-stage initiatives and innovators working at the intersection of environmental and societal change

What Does the Programme Offer?

The Exploration Co-Lab combines financial support, learning, coaching, community, visibility, and strategic development.

1. CHF 10,000 in Grant Funding

Selected initiatives will receive a grant of:

CHF 10,000

The funding is intended to help participants move their initiatives forward. Applicants should be able to explain how the grant will contribute to the development, testing, deepening, or transformation of their work.

The grant may help an initiative:

• Conduct further research.
• Test or refine a pilot.
• Engage communities.
• Develop new tools or approaches.
• Strengthen project implementation.
• Explore new pathways for systems change.
• Build partnerships.
• Develop a more sustainable operating model.
• Expand the initiative’s capacity to create impact.

Applicants should connect their proposed use of funds to the stage and needs of their initiative.

2. A 10-Month Incubation Journey

The programme offers a structured 10-month incubation journey beginning in March 2027 and ending in December 2027.

Participants will join a cohort of changemakers in an online environment focused on:

• Systems transformation.
• Collective learning.
• Collaboration.
• Connection.
• Experimentation.
• Changemaker wellbeing.
• Strategic development.
• Regenerative approaches to impact.

The incubation is designed to provide participants with space to think deeply, learn from others, and develop their work in a supportive environment.

3. Tailored Non-Financial Support

Participants will have access to a shared pool of non-financial support estimated at up to:

CHF 60,000 in value

This support is tailored to the needs of the cohort and may include:

• Peer learning.
• Shared exploration.
• Individual coaching.
• Expert guidance.
• Systems mapping.
• Futures thinking.
• Strategic positioning.
• Regenerative approaches to defining and measuring success.

The support is not necessarily provided as a cash award. Instead, it is intended to give participants access to knowledge, expertise, relationships, and tools that can help them develop their initiatives.

4. Peer Learning and Shared Exploration

Participants will become part of an interdisciplinary cohort of innovators working on complex challenges.

Peer learning may help participants:

• Exchange experiences.
• Learn from different approaches.
• Identify new possibilities.
• Reflect on challenges.
• Test assumptions.
• Build relationships with other changemakers.
• Discover potential collaborators.
• Develop a stronger understanding of systems change.

The Co-Lab values shared learning and collective problem-solving rather than competition between participants.

5. Individualised Coaching and Expert Guidance

The programme provides access to individualised coaching and expert guidance.

This support may help participants clarify:

• Their initiative’s purpose.
• The systems they are trying to influence.
• Their theory of change.
• Their strategic priorities.
• Their approach to collaboration.
• Their methods for measuring progress.
• Their long-term sustainability needs.

The specific support available may depend on the needs of each participant and the expertise within the programme’s wider network.

6. Systems Mapping and Futures Thinking

Participants will have opportunities to explore practical approaches such as systems mapping and futures thinking.

These approaches can help innovators understand:

• The relationships between different actors.
• The structures that maintain a problem.
• The assumptions underlying existing systems.
• Possible future scenarios.
• Points where change may be possible.
• The conditions required for an initiative to thrive.

This is especially relevant for applicants whose work addresses complex challenges that cannot be solved through a single intervention.

7. Strategic Positioning

The Co-Lab will also support participants in thinking about the strategic positioning of themselves and their initiatives.

This may include clarifying:

• What makes the initiative distinctive.
• Which audiences and partners need to understand the work.
• How the initiative can communicate its purpose.
• What networks could support its development.
• How the initiative can become more visible, findable, and fundable.

8. Regenerative Approaches to Measuring Success

Unearthodox encourages applicants and participants to think beyond conventional measures of growth and success.

The programme includes support for regenerative approaches to defining and measuring success. This may involve considering:

• Ecological wellbeing.
• Community resilience.
• Relationships.
• Equity.
• Long-term systems change.
• Collective capacity.
• Quality of participation.
• The sustainability of the work itself.

This approach recognises that meaningful change cannot always be captured through short-term numerical indicators alone.

9. Visibility and Amplification

Selected initiatives will be showcased through Unearthodox’s communication channels.

This may help participants become:

• More visible to relevant audiences.
• More discoverable by potential partners.
• More credible to prospective supporters.
• More connected to wider networks.
• More fundable over time.

Visibility and amplification are intended to help promising initiatives gain recognition and access to further opportunities.

10. Global Community and Collaboration

Participants will gain access to a global network of:

• Systems innovators.
• Mentors.
• Network weavers.
• Changemakers.
• Potential collaborators.
• People working on related environmental and social challenges.

Unearthodox describes this community as a space for belonging, mutual support, deep allyship, and collaboration.

Who Is the Exploration Co-Lab For?

The Exploration Co-Lab is open to people who share a commitment to reimagining systems for a:

• Just future.
• Vibrant future.
• Regenerative future.

The programme is intended for innovators who are willing to challenge conventional thinking and explore new possibilities with an engaged and interdisciplinary cohort.

Applicants should value:

• Participation.
• Trust.
• Empathy.
• Critical thinking.
• Creative thinking.
• Collective learning.
• Community engagement.
• Long-term change.
• Collaboration across disciplines and backgrounds.

The programme is particularly suitable for people who do not necessarily have a straightforward or conventional career or project journey, but who are actively working on meaningful environmental and societal transformation.

Eligibility and Stage of Initiative

Applicants should be working on an early-stage initiative at the intersection of environmental and societal change.

The initiative does not need to be fully developed or have every detail resolved. However, applicants must be beyond the basic idea stage.

Some groundwork should already exist, such as:

• Initial research.
• Early testing.
• A pilot project.
• Community engagement.
• An emerging intervention.
• A developing model or approach.
• Early evidence of a problem-solution relationship.

A concept that exists only on paper, without any research, testing, engagement, or practical development, may not be suitable for this call.

Initiative Development Stages Considered

Unearthodox recognises that initiatives may be at different stages of development. Applicants may identify with one of the following phases.

1. Testing

At the testing stage, an initiative may have limited resources and be exploring what works through direct engagement with:

• Communities.
• People affected by the issue.
• Local environments.
• Living systems.
• Relevant stakeholders.

The focus is on learning, experimentation, and understanding whether the proposed approach is appropriate.

2. Proving

At the proving stage, an initiative has a tangible proof of concept demonstrating that its central idea may work.

The applicant may be seeking support to:

• Continue testing.
• Refine the approach.
• Improve implementation.
• Collect evidence.
• Build momentum.
• Strengthen the model.

3. Deepening

At the deepening stage, the initiative has begun to demonstrate what it can make possible.

The applicant may now be ready to:

• Explore new pathways.
• Adapt the approach.
• Deepen community relationships.
• Strengthen systems understanding.
• Develop more meaningful impact.
• Expand the depth rather than simply the size of the work.

4. Pivoting

Some applicants may be leading more established initiatives that require a meaningful change in:

• Direction.
• Strategy.
• Approach.
• Operating model.
• Theory of change.
• Relationship with communities or ecosystems.

The Co-Lab may be suitable for initiatives that need to rethink their existing model in response to new learning or changing conditions.

5. Other Development Stages

Applicants who do not fit neatly into one of these categories are still encouraged to apply if their work aligns with the programme’s purpose.

They should explain their current stage of activity and describe what kind of support would help the initiative move forward.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Participation

Unearthodox welcomes underrepresented voices from the global majority and historically excluded communities.

The programme embraces diversity across:

• Age.
• Gender identity.
• Geographic location.
• Cultural background.
• Professional background.
• Lived experience.
• Social and community context.

As a Swiss-founded organisation, Unearthodox also seeks to deepen exchange between Swiss-based innovators and innovators from other parts of the world working on regeneration.

The organisation aims to include at least one Swiss-based initiative in each annual cohort. However, Swiss-based initiatives will be selected based on the strength and relevance of their work alongside other applicants.

The programme does not indicate that applicants must belong to a particular race, ethnicity, gender, or nationality. Instead, it expresses a particular welcome toward underrepresented and historically excluded communities.

Programme Language and Time-Zone Considerations

All programme activities are conducted in:

English

Regular online group calls are scheduled within the time range of:

UTC−6 to UTC+6

Applicants and participants located within these time zones may find it easier to participate synchronously in group sessions.

People outside these time zones may still consider applying, but they should assess whether they can participate effectively in the scheduled online activities.

What Counts as a Nature-Society Challenge?

Unearthodox defines nature-society challenges as issues arising from the ways human societies and natural systems interact.

These challenges may include:

• Climate change.
• Biodiversity loss.
• Habitat destruction.
• Environmental degradation.
• Unsustainable resource use.
• Human-centred systems that disregard other forms of life.
• Social inequalities connected to environmental systems.
• Extractive economic and institutional structures.
• Disconnection between people and the more-than-human world.

The Co-Lab is interested in initiatives that explore new possibilities at this intersection and seek to create conditions in which both people and living systems can thrive.

Questions Applicants Should Consider

Applicants should reflect on the deeper purpose and potential of their work.

Useful questions include:

1. What future is the initiative helping to create?
2. What kind of future is the initiative trying to move away from?
3. How does the initiative encourage people to see, act, connect, or live differently in relation to the more-than-human world?
4. How does the work challenge existing systems, assumptions, or norms?
5. How could the initiative help all life on Earth thrive together?
6. What conditions are needed for the work to flourish?
7. What deeper purpose connects the applicant with others working on similar challenges?
8. How are communities involved in shaping the work?
9. What has already been tested, learned, or developed?
10. What kind of support would make the greatest difference at this stage?

These questions can help applicants determine whether their initiative aligns with the programme’s focus on deep systems change.

Types of Work the Programme Is Looking For

The Exploration Co-Lab does not appear to be restricted to one specific sector or discipline.

Potentially relevant initiatives may work in areas such as:

• Environmental justice.
• Climate action.
• Biodiversity conservation.
• Regenerative agriculture.
• Ecological restoration.
• Community resilience.
• Alternative economic systems.
• Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge.
• Environmental education.
• Sustainable livelihoods.
• Social innovation.
• More-than-human relationships.
• Systems transformation.
• Food systems.
• Urban ecology.
• Environmental governance.
• Community-led conservation.
• Post-growth approaches.
• New models of collective wellbeing.

However, an initiative’s relevance will depend on whether it addresses the deeper relationship between nature and society and demonstrates a commitment to justice, regeneration, and systemic transformation.

Work That May Not Align With the Call

Unearthodox explains that the Exploration Co-Lab is not intended for projects that:

• Reinforce extractive or dominant systems.
• Prioritise profit, speed, or growth above purpose.
• Address only surface-level symptoms.
• Seek individual advantage without genuine collective learning.
• Lack meaningful interest in allyship.
• Focus exclusively on short-term outcomes without considering deeper conditions.
• Treat communities as passive recipients rather than active participants.

This does not mean that every applicant must reject all existing institutions or economic activity. Rather, the programme seeks initiatives that critically examine harmful systems and work toward more equitable and regenerative alternatives.

Application Timeline

The 2027 Exploration Co-Lab follows the timeline below:

Stage	Date
Applications open	15 September 2026
Application deadline	16 November 2026
Shortlisting and evaluation	17 November–11 December 2026
Applicant conversations/interviews	14–18 December 2026
Final selection with external jurors	5 January–4 February 2027
Participant notification and onboarding	5–28 February 2027
Incubation programme	1 March–31 December 2027

Applicants should submit their materials before the deadline and remain available for potential conversations or interviews during the stated selection period.

Learn More HERE.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should begin by reviewing the official applicant information document. The document includes:

• Application form preview.
• Eligibility information.
• Evaluation criteria.
• Frequently asked questions.
• Terms and conditions.
• Guidance based on previous applications.
• Additional application tips.

Applicants can access the Official Applicant Information Document.

Applications can be submitted through the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 application portal.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

1. Clearly Explain the Problem

Describe the nature-society challenge your initiative addresses.

Explain:

• Who or what is affected.
• Why the challenge exists.
• What systems or assumptions contribute to it.
• Why conventional solutions may be insufficient.
• Why the issue requires deeper transformation.

2. Demonstrate That You Are Beyond the Idea Stage

Provide evidence of groundwork, such as:

• Research.
• Pilot activities.
• Community engagement.
• Early testing.
• Partnerships.
• Initial results.
• Existing prototypes.
• Practical experimentation.

The initiative does not need to be fully mature, but the application should demonstrate that meaningful work has already begun.

3. Explain Your Approach to Systems Change

Describe how your initiative seeks to influence underlying systems rather than only treating symptoms.

You may discuss:

• Institutional structures.
• Cultural assumptions.
• Economic incentives.
• Power relationships.
• Environmental relationships.
• Community practices.
• Governance systems.
• Dominant narratives.
• Social norms.

4. Show Community Participation

Explain how the people most affected by the issue participate in:

• Identifying the problem.
• Designing the solution.
• Making decisions.
• Implementing activities.
• Evaluating progress.
• Adapting the initiative.

Community participation should be demonstrated through actual practices rather than presented only as a general principle.

5. Identify What You Need to Develop

Be specific about the support your initiative needs.

For example, you may need:

• Strategic guidance.
• Systems mapping.
• Research support.
• Community engagement resources.
• A new pilot.
• Partnership development.
• Coaching.
• A revised theory of change.
• New ways to measure impact.
• Time and space for reflection.

6. Explain How the CHF 10,000 Grant Will Be Used

Provide a realistic explanation of how the grant will contribute to the initiative.

Potential uses may include:

• Research and testing.
• Community activities.
• Materials.
• Travel connected to the project.
• Specialist support.
• Pilot implementation.
• Communications.
• Monitoring and learning.
• Project coordination.

Applicants should ensure that proposed expenditure is directly connected to the initiative’s development and intended outcomes.

7. Demonstrate Openness to Collective Learning

The Co-Lab is cohort-based. Applicants should show that they are willing to:

• Share learning.
• Receive feedback.
• Collaborate.
• Question assumptions.
• Learn from other disciplines.
• Participate in group activities.
• Contribute to a supportive community.

8. Consider Accessibility and Participation

Since the programme operates online and uses English, applicants should consider their ability to participate in group sessions and complete programme activities.

Those outside the UTC−6 to UTC+6 range should assess how they will manage time-zone differences.

Application Deadline

The application period runs from:

15 September 2026 to 16 November 2026

The official application deadline is:

16 November 2026

Applicants should not wait until the final day to submit. Reviewing the applicant information document and preparing a thoughtful application may require time, particularly for initiatives that need to gather evidence of community engagement, project development, and existing work.

Contact Information

For questions about the Exploration Co-Lab, applicants can contact:

Email: colab@unearthodox.org

For partnership-related enquiries, Unearthodox provides the following contact:

sofia.papadakaki@unearthodox.org

About Unearthodox

Unearthodox is an organisation focused on supporting unconventional approaches to environmental and social transformation.

Its work explores how innovation, relationships, systems change, regeneration, and collective learning can contribute to more just and sustainable futures.

The Exploration Co-Lab is part of this wider approach. It seeks to create a supportive environment for innovators whose work may be difficult to place within traditional funding or incubation structures.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab, 2027.

Conclusion

The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 is an opportunity for innovators and early-stage initiatives working on the deeper relationship between nature and society.

The programme offers a combination of CHF 10,000 in grant funding, a 10-month incubation journey, tailored coaching, expert guidance, peer learning, systems mapping, futures thinking, strategic positioning, visibility, and access to a global community of changemakers.

It is particularly suited to applicants whose work goes beyond incremental environmental or social interventions and seeks to challenge underlying systems, assumptions, and relationships. Initiatives should already have some groundwork in place through research, testing, pilot activities, or community engagement.

The programme welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and particularly encourages applications from underrepresented voices and historically excluded communities. Activities are conducted in English, with online group calls generally scheduled within UTC−6 to UTC+6.

Applications are open from 15 September to 16 November 2026. Interested applicants should review the official guidance, assess how their initiative aligns with the programme’s focus, and prepare a clear explanation of their work, community relevance, systems-change approach, development stage, and funding needs.

Apply for the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027

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