Program · Fellowship
Breakthrough Energy Fellows
Breakthrough Energy Fellows is Breakthrough Energy's fellowship offering catalytic funding and support for climate technology innovators.
- Application state
- Accepting
Overview
What Breakthrough Energy Fellows offers
What Breakthrough Energy Fellows is
Breakthrough Energy Fellows is a global climate-technology fellowship under Breakthrough Energy Discovery, designed to help scientists, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs move early-stage climate technologies from discovery toward commercialization.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Fellowship
- Host organization
- Breakthrough Energy
- Last reviewed
- June 12, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Investment
- $500,000
- Price
- Unknown
- Compensation
- Hybrid
Compensation and economics
Up to $500,000 in catalytic investment, $500,000+ in in-kind support (mentorship, lab/office space, equipment, staffing), direct mentorship from industry experts, access to Breakthrough Energy's network of investors and corporate partners, technical consultation, and business development support.
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
Breakthrough Energy Fellows aims to support the development of breakthrough climate technologies that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance climate adaptation. The program focuses on innovators who are not just making incremental improvements but are instead pursuing transformative solutions with the potential for large-scale impact.
Eligibility
For Innovator Fellows: world-leading scientists and engineers with critical climate technologies actively being commercialized; projects must be legally incorporated and have raised under $2M in dilutive funding. For Explorers: scientists in university labs or research institutions with early-stage proof-of-concept projects.
Selection approach
The program is by invitation only. Innovator Fellows must be world-leading scientists and engineers with critical climate technologies actively being commercialized; projects must be legally incorporated and have raised under $2M in dilutive funding. For Explorers, candidates should be scientists in university labs or research institutions with early-stage proof-of-concept projects.
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Climate & SustainabilityEnergyIndustrial & ManufacturingFood & AgricultureMobility & Transportation
- Regions
- Global
- Audience
- Founders · Operators · Researchers · Builders · Corporate Innovators
- Geographic eligibility
- Global
- Career stage
- Early Career · Mid Career · Senior · Executive
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- Remote
- Main location
- unknown
- Duration
- 52 weeks
- Cohort size
- 22
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Engagement
- Full Time
Delivery model
The program requires in-person participation.
Participation expectations
The program requires a full-time commitment from participants.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Admissions
- Open
- Application materials
- Written Statement · Interview
Published timeline
The program duration is 1 year for Innovator Fellows and varies by project stage for Explorers. The program starts in September 2026 with annual cohort selection.
Application considerations
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the potential impact of their technology and their commitment to commercialization.
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
Participants receive up to $500,000 in catalytic investment, $500,000+ in in-kind support (mentorship, lab/office space, equipment, staffing), direct mentorship from industry experts, access to Breakthrough Energy's network of investors and corporate partners, technical consultation, and business development support.
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
- Last recorded cohort
- September 11, 2025
Reported outcomes
The program has successfully launched multiple cohorts of innovators working on critical climate technology domains.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
Breakthrough Energy Fellows is published in Upseed as a fellowship program hosted by Breakthrough Energy. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
June 12, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.