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beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027 (Funded)

A two-year fellowship that turns young environmental ideas into real projects. beVisioneers — funded by Mercedes-Benz and run by The DO School Fellowships — gives 18–28-year-olds innovation training, 1:1 venture coaching and mentoring, a global peer network, and the chance to win project scholarships of up to €15,000. Cohort 5 is recruiting now, and applications close 31 January 2027.

31 Jan 2027 · 98 days to go Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By Mercedes-Benz × The DO School
Award
Project scholarships up to €15,000 Competitive project scholarships after year one; a needs-based cost-of-living stipend is available in the Acceleration Year, and travel, accommodation and expenses are covered for the Regional and Global Summits
Who it is for
Environmental innovators 18–28 Resident in an eligible country (India included) for the duration of the fellowship; good command of English; an environmental problem identified plus an existing project or a strong idea; committed to positive environmental change with an entrepreneurial mindset
Structure
Two years Year 1: intensive 12-month Foundation Year (minimum 24 hours/month) — online innovation training, Local Hub gatherings, Regional and Global Summits, 1:1 venture coaching and mentoring. Year 2: Acceleration Year to scale the venture
Cohort size
250 fellows Per the programme’s official LinkedIn announcement for Cohort 5 (2027). Older aggregator posts about “1000 fellows” refer to earlier cohorts’ targets, not the 2027 call
Countries
13 eligible EU countries, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Applicants must live in an eligible country for the fellowship duration and implement their project there

About the fellowship

beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship is a two-year programme that supports young people building solutions to environmental challenges. It is funded by Mercedes-Benz and designed and implemented by The DO School Fellowships; the programme launched in 2023 and the 2027 call is its fifth cohort.

The programme is built for early-stage eco-innovation — climate, sustainability, circular economy, clean energy, waste, biodiversity, agriculture, mobility and related areas — including projects that are still at the idea or prototype stage. Selection focuses on three things: genuine dedication to environmental change, an entrepreneurial mindset (persistence, resilience, determination), and a project that is genuinely planet-positive. Grades, degrees and money already raised are not the criteria.

Cohort note: the programme’s official LinkedIn announcement says Cohort 5 (2027) is looking for 250 fellows. Some aggregator pages mention “1000 fellows” — that figure comes from earlier cohorts’ messaging, not the 2027 call.

What fellows get

  • Project scholarships of up to €15,000 — competitive awards to develop fellows’ environmental projects after the first year.
  • Innovation training designed to fit around work or university, plus 1:1 venture coaching and 1:1 mentoring from experts.
  • Community and summits: three Local Hub gatherings with nearby fellows, Regional Summits and a Global Summit — with travel, accommodation and expenses covered.
  • Acceleration Year (year two): a needs-based cost-of-living stipend, support to scale the venture, and introductions to investors, accelerators and climate scientists.
  • Needs-based participation support: if a laptop or a stable internet connection stands between an applicant and the programme, the beVisioneers team can help.
  • The programme is hybrid (online learning plus in-person activities) and run in English.

Eligibility

  • Age: 18 to 28 years old at the time of applying (the programme states applicants must be 18–28 on the 31 January 2027 closing date).
  • Residency: resident in one of the eligible countries or territories for the duration of the fellowship, and the project must be implemented in that same country.
  • Eligible countries for 2027: European Union countries, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and Zimbabwe.
  • Language: a good command of English.
  • Project: an identified environmental problem you want to solve, with an existing project or a strong idea for a planet-positive project. No previous entrepreneurial experience or formal technical training is required.
  • Mindset: commitment to positive environmental change and a demonstrably entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Exclusions: you must not work for Mercedes-Benz, and must not have a parent or guardian who works there.

What the application involves

The application is built to understand your potential, not your background, and takes roughly 30–45 minutes:

  • Written section — personal details, the environmental problem and your solution, your progress so far, and your motivation.
  • Video component — a recorded video interview. Treat this as essential: earlier cohorts’ guidance states applications without the video are not considered.
  • Financial-support section (optional) — for applicants who need assistance to participate; financial assistance is also available during the application process itself if needed.
  • Your application can be saved and completed later on the portal.
  • No application fee is published for this programme.

How to apply

  1. Check eligibility — age, country of residence, English, and your environmental project or idea.
  2. Create an account on the official beVisioneers application portal and start the Cohort 5 application.
  3. Describe your environmental problem, your solution and the progress you have made — clearly and honestly.
  4. Record your video interview and upload it with the application.
  5. Submit before 31 January 2027 at 23:59:59 CET — that is 04:29 IST on 1 February.
  6. If shortlisted: complete the online activity in March 2027; selection runs through April 2027.

Published timeline: applications opened 21 September 2026 → deadline 31 January 2027 → shortlisted online activity March 2027 → selection April 2027 → Foundation Year begins June 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How many fellows are selected in 2027?

The programme’s official LinkedIn announcement says Cohort 5 is looking for 250 young people. Figures of “1000 fellows” seen on some older aggregator pages refer to earlier cohorts’ messaging, not the 2027 call.

Is the fellowship fully funded?

Summit participation is fully funded (travel, accommodation and expenses), and fellows can compete for project scholarships of up to €15,000 plus needs-based support in the Acceleration Year. There is no published monthly salary during the Foundation Year.

Can I apply from India?

Yes — India is explicitly on the 2027 eligible-country list, alongside EU countries, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the US and Zimbabwe.

Do I need a finished project to apply?

No. The programme targets early-stage eco-innovation, including projects at the idea or prototype stage. What matters is a real environmental problem and a genuine idea for solving it.

What is the age rule exactly?

You must be between 18 and 28 years old at the time of applying; the programme phrases it as 18–28 on the 31 January 2027 application closing date.

How much time does it take?

A minimum of 24 hours per month during the 12-month Foundation Year — designed to fit around work or university.

Do I need to speak German?

No. The programme is run in English; what matters is a good command of written and spoken English.

Who runs it?

Designed and implemented by The DO School Fellowships and funded by Mercedes-Benz. It is not a government programme.

Verified 19 Oct 2026 against the programme’s official site (bevisioneers.world), the official application portal (applications.bevisioneers.world — Cohort 5 application), the programme’s official LinkedIn (Cohort 5, 250 fellows, deadline 31 January 2027) and six independent opportunity trackers, all consistent on the 31 January 2027 23:59:59 CET deadline, the 21 September 2026 opening, project scholarships of up to €15,000, the 18–28 age window, the eligible-country list including India, and the Foundation-Year/Acceleration-Year structure. The 2027 call is Cohort 5 (not the “2026” label on the queue entry); the “1000 fellows” figure seen on some aggregators refers to earlier cohort messaging, not the 2027 call.

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