Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027: Full-Time Climate Innovation Fellowship and Funding for Global Innovators

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows program is a global opportunity designed to accelerate early-stage climate technology innovation and help scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals develop solutions capable of addressing some of the world’s most difficult climate challenges. The program is part of Breakthrough Energy Discovery, the early-stage innovation arm of Breakthrough Energy, which supports climate technologies from discovery through development and toward commercialization. 

For the 2027 Cohort 7, the program is seeking applications for its Innovator Fellowship, while Business Fellows and Explorers are considered through different recruitment or application processes. The Innovator Fellowship is a full-time, one-year commitment intended for innovators developing very early-stage climate technologies with significant potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions or address climate adaptation.

Applications for the Innovator Fellowship begin with a Concept Paper and preliminary information, with submissions accepted until November 2, 2026. Successful applicants will progress through additional stages before the 2027 cohort begins in September 2027.

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What Is the Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program?

Breakthrough Energy was founded in 2015 as a global organization focused on accelerating the transition toward a clean-energy future. Its work addresses climate challenges through technology, policy, markets, investment, philanthropy, and other initiatives.

The organization focuses on reducing emissions from five major areas:

• Manufacturing
• Electricity
• Agriculture
• Transportation
• Buildings

Breakthrough Energy Discovery serves as the organization’s early-stage innovation platform. It focuses specifically on pre-venture climate technologies and supports innovators through funding, technical assistance, networks, and other resources.

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows program is designed to address barriers that often prevent promising climate technologies from progressing beyond the earliest stages of development.

The program provides support to scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and business professionals working to transform breakthrough climate technologies into scalable solutions.

Each year, the program supports two principal categories of Fellows:

1. Innovator Fellows – scientists, engineers, and innovators developing breakthrough climate technologies.
2. Business Fellows – experienced business professionals who help Innovator Fellows commercialize their technologies.

There is also an Explorer Program, which provides funding for even earlier-stage research and technology development.

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Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027 Application Deadline

The key deadline for the 2027 Innovator Fellowship is:

Application deadline: November 2, 2026

Applicants begin by submitting a Concept Paper and preliminary information. Selected Concept Papers progress to the full application stage, after which shortlisted applicants may be invited for a Deep-Dive interview.

The Cohort 7 program begins in September 2027.

The timeline is specifically applicable to the Innovator Fellowship. Business Fellows and Explorers follow different recruitment or selection timelines.

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Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program Pathways

The program offers several pathways depending on the stage and nature of the applicant’s work.

1. Innovator Fellowship

The Innovator Fellowship is the flagship pathway.

It is intended for very early-stage climate technology companies and innovators who need technical de-risking, commercialization support, and resources to move their technology toward market.

The Fellowship is a full-time, one-year program focused on helping innovators achieve important technical and commercialization milestones.

Innovator projects typically:

• Are at Technology Readiness Level 1–4.
• Have demonstrated the potential to reduce or capture greenhouse-gas emissions at scale.
• Typically have raised less than $2 million in dilutive funding.
• Must be legally incorporated before the program begins in September 2027.

Applicants do not have to have incorporated a company at the time of application. However, selected Innovator Fellows must have an incorporated company before the September 2027 program start date.

The program generally targets innovators who are prepared to devote their professional efforts to developing and scaling their climate technology.

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2. Business Fellowship

The Business Fellowship is designed for experienced professionals who can help climate technology innovators move their technologies toward commercialization.

Business Fellows work alongside Innovator Fellows and may contribute to areas such as:

• Go-to-market strategies
• Customer discovery
• Business models
• Market development
• Technology commercialization
• Industry strategy
• Rapid scale-up
• Business development

The program is aimed at professionals with significant experience in relevant business and technology environments, particularly those with experience accelerating hardware technologies toward market and applicable experience in the climate sector.

Unlike the Innovator application process, Business Fellows are currently recruited on an as-needed basis. Breakthrough Energy identifies gaps in business expertise among its Innovator teams and may reach out to potential candidates through its Interest Form or network.

Business Fellows receive:

• An industry-competitive living stipend
• The freedom to work anywhere globally
• Access to industry experts and leading organizations
• Opportunities to contribute to the commercialization of early-stage climate technologies
• Access to mentors, policy experts, investors, technologists, government entities, and industry partners.

The Business Fellowship is also a full-time commitment.

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3. Explorer Program

The Explorer Program is intended for technologies that are even earlier in development than those targeted by the Innovator Fellowship.

Explorers typically work on high-risk, novel climate technologies in university laboratories or research institutions. They may continue working in their existing academic or research positions while developing their technology.

Explorer projects generally fall within Technology Readiness Level 0–2.

This makes the Explorer pathway particularly relevant to researchers who have an early-stage technological concept that requires further technical exploration before it is ready to become a commercial venture.

Explorers receive approximately:

• $50,000–$250,000 in funding
• Support for laboratory and office space
• Equipment and supplies
• Technical consultants
• Personnel
• Access to Breakthrough Energy’s network
• Access to mentors, policy experts, investors, technologists, and government entities
• Opportunities to attend selected Breakthrough Energy events

Explorers generally work with the program for approximately one year.

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Who Can Apply for the Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program?

Breakthrough Energy Fellows is a global program and accepts applications from around the world. The program states that its communication and curriculum are currently conducted in English.

The eligibility requirements depend on the particular pathway.

Innovator Fellowship Eligibility

Innovator applicants are generally expected to be developing a very early-stage hard-tech climate company or technology.

Key criteria include:

Technology Readiness Level

Successful Innovator applicants typically have technologies at TRL 1–4.

The program is looking for technologies that have moved beyond purely theoretical research and have supporting data demonstrating progress toward practical application.

Climate Impact

The technology should have the potential, at scale, to reduce or capture at least 500 million tons of greenhouse-gas emissions per year, or meaningfully address climate adaptation.

Funding Stage

Innovator projects typically have raised less than $2 million in dilutive funding.

This includes investment through equity, notes, and SAFEs, while grant funding does not count toward the same limit.

Company Incorporation

Applicants do not have to already have a company when they apply.

However, successful Innovator Fellows must have a legally incorporated company before the Fellowship begins in September 2027.

Full-Time Commitment

Innovator Fellows are expected to devote themselves full-time to developing and scaling their startup.

They should not have external employment, consulting commitments, or enrollment in academic programs outside their startup company during the Fellowship.

Professors, faculty members, and full-time researchers can apply, but they cannot remain in their existing positions while serving as Innovator Fellows. Those who need to maintain their current research positions may instead be better suited to the Explorer pathway.

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What Technologies Does Breakthrough Energy Look For?

Breakthrough Energy is looking for breakthrough climate technologies, rather than incremental improvements to existing solutions.

The technology should have the potential to make a major difference in greenhouse-gas reduction or climate adaptation when deployed at scale.

The program’s focus encompasses five major areas:

1. Manufacturing
2. Electricity
3. Transportation
4. Food and Agriculture
5. Buildings

However, applicants are not restricted exclusively to these categories. Breakthrough Energy also welcomes high-impact technologies in other areas when they meet the program’s emissions-impact threshold.

The organization emphasizes innovations that represent a step-change improvement over incumbent technologies rather than technologies that merely make incremental improvements.

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What Funding Does the Innovator Fellowship Provide?

Selected Innovator Fellows can receive up to $500,000 in catalytic investment through a SAFE.

The funding can support research and development expenses associated with achieving defined technical milestones.

Eligible uses can include:

• Laboratory space
• Office space
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Technical consultants
• Staffing
• Other research and development expenses

The program does more than provide financial resources. Fellows also receive active support intended to help reduce technical and commercialization risks.

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Other Benefits of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program

In addition to funding, Innovator Fellows receive access to a broad support ecosystem.

Benefits include:

Active Technology Project Management

Breakthrough Energy works alongside Fellows to help manage technology projects, reduce failure risks, and accelerate progress toward defined milestones.

Global Network

Fellows gain access to a network involving professionals and organizations across:

• Business
• Policy
• Government
• Technology
• Finance

Mentorship and Curriculum

The Fellowship includes curriculum and one-on-one mentorship intended to help Fellows develop new skills and strengthen their ability to build and commercialize their technologies.

In-Kind Support

Significant in-kind support may also be provided in areas such as:

• Communications
• Policy
• Legal matters
• Techno-economics
• Recruitment

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Is the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship Fully Remote?

Applicants do not have to relocate to participate.

Innovator Fellows can remain in their current location, although the program may organize periodic in-person events and collaboration opportunities. Fellows may receive financial resources to help offset travel costs associated with the program.

The same general arrangement applies to Business Fellows and Explorers, with no mandatory relocation requirement stated for those pathways.

However, applicants should distinguish between location flexibility and time commitment. Innovator and Business Fellow positions are full-time commitments.

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Can International Applicants Apply?

Yes.

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows program explicitly accepts applicants from around the world. This means applicants do not have to be citizens of the United States or another specific country to participate.

The program currently conducts its communications and curriculum in English.

International applicants should therefore ensure they can participate effectively in an English-language program.

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Can Applicants Apply as a Team?

Yes.

Innovator applicants who have co-founders are encouraged to apply together as a team.

However, teams should submit only one application per team, and applicants are discouraged from creating a team solely for the purpose of applying to the Fellowship.

Applicants who have already established a company may also apply.

Those who have not yet formed a company may apply as well, provided that selected Innovator Fellows incorporate their company before the program begins.

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How Are Innovator Fellowship Applications Evaluated?

Innovator Fellowship applications are reviewed by technical experts.

The main evaluation criteria include:

1. Technical innovation and feasibility
2. Breakthrough potential
3. Project plan

During the selection process, applicants may be invited to participate in a virtual or in-person meeting. Applications also undergo business and legal due diligence, and applicants may be asked to provide additional information.

This means applicants should be prepared to clearly explain both the technology itself and the plan for developing it.

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Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027 Application Process

For the Innovator Fellowship, the application process consists of several stages.

Step 1: Submit a Concept Paper

Applicants first submit a Concept Paper and preliminary information.

The deadline for the 2027 Cohort 7 Concept Paper is:

November 2, 2026

Step 2: Full Application

Applicants whose Concept Papers are selected will be invited to submit a more comprehensive Full Applicationcontaining additional information.

Step 3: Deep-Dive Interview

Selected Full Applications will progress to a Deep-Dive interview session.

Step 4: Selection

Fellows are expected to be selected in mid-2027.

Step 5: Fellowship Begins

The Cohort 7 Fellowship begins in September 2027.

The Innovator Fellowship itself involves 12 months of advancing key technical milestones, followed by approximately three additional months dedicated to close-out and evaluation.

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What Happens During the Fellowship?

The Fellowship is structured around the development and commercialization of climate technologies.

Innovator Fellows are expected to:

• Participate actively in Fellowship events.
• Work collaboratively with other Fellows.
• Provide progress updates to program staff.
• Participate in technology management meetings.
• Track progress against technical milestones.
• Participate in formal reviews.
• Provide periodic reporting.
• Engage professionally with the broader Breakthrough Energy community. Pasted text

Active Technology Management is an important part of the program. This includes monthly meetings with the program team to review milestones and budgets, a formal semi-annual review, and periodic reporting.

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What Happens After the Fellowship?

After completing the program, Fellows become part of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows alumni community.

Alumni continue to have access to:

• The resource portal
• Curriculum
• Events
• Mentors
• Resources through the Breakthrough Energy Network

Breakthrough Energy also works with Fellows during the program to identify an appropriate path for their technology venture after the Fellowship. The organization anticipates that many Fellows will pursue commercialization and fundraising following the program.

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Southeast Asia Innovator Fellowship

Breakthrough Energy also operates a regional partnership focused on Southeast Asia.

The Southeast Asia Innovator Fellowship was established through a partnership with Enterprise Singapore and Temasek to advance early-stage climate technology companies in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region.

SEA Innovators remain part of the global cohort and have access to the same core:

• Curriculum
• Network opportunities
• Technology management guidance
• Company-building support

They also receive access to local resources and commercialization mentorship in Singapore.

Applicants based in Southeast Asia participate through the SEA program while remaining connected to the wider global Fellows ecosystem.

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Weston Breakthrough Fellowship

Another regional pathway is the Weston Breakthrough Fellowship, a partnership between Wittington Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Discovery.

This initiative supports early-stage Canadian innovators, initially with a focus on agriculture.

Canadian innovators working on early-stage climate technologies can apply through the regular cohort application. There are no additional special forms or submission requirements outside the standard cohort application.

Selected Weston Breakthrough Fellows can receive a combined total of $500,000 in funding from the participating organizations.

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Explorer Program Funding and Requirements

The Explorer Program is particularly relevant to researchers who are working on climate technology that is still at a very early stage.

Explorers may remain employed by their existing institutions while working on their projects.

The program seeks technologies at Technology Readiness Level 0–2, making it earlier-stage than the Innovator Fellowship.

Explorer funding is approximately $50,000–$250,000 and can support:

• Laboratory space
• Office space
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Technical consultants
• Personnel

Explorers also gain access to the Breakthrough Energy network and selected events.

The funding period is approximately one year, with milestones and deadlines established between the Explorer and the Breakthrough Energy Fellows team.

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Important Considerations Before Applying

Prospective applicants should carefully assess which Fellowship pathway corresponds to the maturity of their technology.

Innovator Fellowship

Consider this pathway if you:

• Have an early-stage climate technology.
• Are around TRL 1–4.
• Have supporting data.
• Are pursuing commercialization.
• Are prepared to work full-time on the venture.
• Have typically raised less than $2 million in dilutive investment.

Explorer Program

Consider the Explorer pathway if you:

• Are working on a very early-stage technology.
• Are around TRL 0–2.
• Are still conducting research or proof-of-concept development.
• Need to retain your current academic or research position.
• Need funding to advance the technology before commercialization.

Business Fellowship

This pathway is intended for experienced business professionals who can help Innovator Fellows with commercialization, market development, customer discovery, business strategy, and related activities.

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Important Warning for Applicants

Breakthrough Energy warns applicants about scams and phishing attempts.

According to the program information, Breakthrough Energy does not conduct official business through social mediaand will not ask applicants to make payments using cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Applicants should therefore exercise caution when receiving unsolicited messages claiming to represent the organization.

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Key Details at a Glance

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The Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027 program provides funding, technical support, mentorship, commercialization assistance, and access to a global network for innovators working on high-impact climate technologies. The program is particularly focused on breakthrough technologies capable of addressing large-scale greenhouse-gas emissions and climate adaptation challenges.

The Innovator Fellowship is designed for early-stage climate technology ventures that are ready to move toward commercialization, while the Explorer Program supports even earlier-stage research and the Business Fellowshipconnects experienced business professionals with technology innovators.

For applicants interested in the 2027 Innovator Fellowship, the most important date to remember is November 2, 2026, which is the deadline for submitting the initial Concept Paper. The Cohort 7 program is scheduled to begin in September 2027.

Apply for the Breakthrough Energy Fellows 2027 Program

 

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