beVisioneers Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027/28 for Young Innovators

beVisioneers is a two-year fellowship for young people building environmental projects, funded by Mercedes-Benz and run by The DO School Fellowships. Most of it happens online, with local hub meetings and regional summits, so Fellows keep living and working at home while they develop their venture.

Who can apply

This admissions round accepts residents of a fixed list of countries. In Africa that means Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe; residents of other African countries are not considered this time. Applicants must be between 18 and 28 years old on the closing date. The programme runs in English, and English is assessed through the written answers and a recorded interview video rather than a test certificate.

What the fellowship offers

The first year is a 12-month intensive that asks for at least 24 hours a month: online innovation training, venture coaching and one-to-one mentoring, aimed at launching a market-tested prototype. At the end of that year, Fellows can access project scholarships of up to EUR 15,000. In the second year, the Acceleration Year, they receive further project funding and a cost-of-living stipend while scaling the project.

Deadline

Applications for the 2027/28 fellowship year close on 31 January 2027 at 23:59 Central European Time. The age limit is measured on that date: an applicant who turns 29 before or on 31 January 2027 is no longer eligible, so candidates close to the limit should not wait for the next round.