The beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship represents a transformative two-year hybrid initiative designed to equip emerging environmental leaders across more than 60 eligible countries and territories with the training, global networks, and funding needed to scale planet-positive ventures.
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Implemented by The DO School Fellowships and fully funded by Mercedes-Benz, the programme supports young innovators aged 18 to 28 through intensive venture coaching, regional and international summits, up to €15,000 in seed project scholarships, and living stipends during the acceleration phase.
With the application window currently active and strictly closing on January 31, 2027, at 23:59:59 Central European Time (CET), prospective applicants must act quickly to prepare a compelling submission. Below is a complete guide covering eligibility benchmarks, program benefits, venture tracks, and step-by-step instructions for submitting your application.
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beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | Germany |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Fully Funded — covers online innovation training, regional travel, 1:1 venture coaching, up to €15,000 in seed project scholarships, and living stipends |
| Funded by ⇒ | Mercedes-Benz (Designed & Implemented by The DO School Fellowships) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | 60 selected countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas (including India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria-adjacent regional hubs, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, US, Zimbabwe, and EU nations) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | January 31, 2027 — 23:59:59 CET |
About the beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship
The DO School Fellowships launched beVisioneers with funding from Mercedes-Benz to tackle global environmental challenges through youth-led innovation. The initiative operates as a two-year fellowship journey designed to transform early-stage concepts into market-tested, scalable solutions.
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As a participant, you’ll embark on two year fellowship journey. Starting with a 12-month intensive, requiring a minimum of 24 hours per month commitment, where you will gain skills, networks and knowledge to launch a market-tested prototype with access venture coaching, mentoring and project scholarships
You’ll gain access to:
- Innovation training through online modules
- Community-based Local Hub gatherings
- International travel opportunities to Regional Summits
- Regular access to venture coaches and 1:1 mentoring
- Expert and peer support to help you achieve your environmental leadership and project goals.
- At the end of the first year, you will be able to access project scholarships for up to €15,000 to advance your project’s development.
What the beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship Covers
The fellowship integrates financial backing directly into both phases of the two-year journey to remove economic barriers for innovators. Funding is divided into venture grants and living support:
- Foundation Year Project Scholarships: Fellows who complete core milestones during their first 12 months can unlock up to €15,000 in non-equity project funding to develop and market-test their prototypes.
- Cost-of-Living Financial Support: Economically disadvantaged fellows receive a monthly stipend calculated using the German minimum wage, adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in their home country. This compensates for 24+ hours of monthly work, includes a local public transit pass for attending Local Hub meetings, and adds a +10% buffer for currency conversion fees. In Year 1, economically disadvantaged fellows receive this from day one; others unlock it upon completing two major project milestones. All Advanced Fellows in Year 2 receive this stipend.
- Online Access Financial Support: Covers average monthly home internet costs for 12 months plus a one-time grant for essential hardware (mid-range laptop, camera, headset, or microphone). This is awarded once a fellow earns access to their Venture Coach and Mentor, with all expenditures verified via receipts.
- Travel and Summit Coverage: Expenses related to in-person Local Hub events and international travel to Regional Summits are covered by the programme.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the 2027 cohort, you must meet every condition outlined below:
- Age Limit: You must be between 18 and 28 years old on January 31, 2027. If you turn 29 or remain under 18 on or before this date, you are not eligible.
- Language Proficiency: You must have a strong command of spoken and written English, as all modules, interviews, and coaching sessions are conducted in English.
- Project Requirement: You must have identified a specific environmental problem and possess a concrete project idea or early-stage prototype to address it.
- Residency Requirement: You must reside in one of the approved territories: Albania, Andorra, Åland Islands, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, or Zimbabwe.
- Conflict of Interest Exclusions: You cannot apply if you, or one of your parents/guardians, are currently employed by Mercedes-Benz.
Required Documents
Completing the application takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes on the official portal. You must submit all three core components before the deadline:
- Written Application Form:
- Personal profile and contact information.
- Description of your environmental challenge and proposed project.
- Self-assessment test and statement of learning/financial needs.
- Clear scanned copy of your valid passport or national identity card.
- Recorded Video Interview: A mandatory 3-minute video response recorded directly inside the application platform detailing your project vision and personal motivation.
- Financial Support Application (Optional):
- Income Declaration: Details of your individual or household yearly income (including all monthly income sources).
- Two Professional References: Names and email addresses of two employed non-family members who can confirm your living situation electronically. References cannot be unemployed individuals or relatives.
How to Apply for the beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship
Follow these steps to complete your submission before the deadline:
- Register on the Portal: Create your applicant profile on the official beVisioneers application platform.
- Complete the Written Sections: Fill in your personal details, upload your government-issued ID, answer the project questions, and complete the self-assessment.
- Record Your Interview Video:
- Navigate to the Interviews section on the platform menu.
- Click Start the interview and grant camera/microphone access.
- Test your audio and video using the unlimited 20-second practice runs. Practice videos are discarded immediately and not evaluated.
- Move to the official recording page when ready. Recording begins automatically 120 seconds after opening the page.
- Speak for up to 3 minutes detailing your environmental problem, local insights, evidence, and project progress.
- Review your attempt. You have up to 5 attempts to record a final version before clicking Finish. Once submitted, the Interview section will disappear from your left menu.
- Submit Financial Verification (If Applicable): Fill in your household income details and enter the email addresses of your two employed referees. They will receive an automated link to complete their recommendation.
- Final Submission: Confirm all sections display as complete and submit your application prior to the cutoff.
Application Deadline
The absolute deadline to submit your written application, references, and video interview is January 31, 2027, at 23:59:59 Central European Time (CET).
Because evaluation begins as soon as an application is submitted, you should finish your video recording and reference requests well in advance to avoid technical disruptions or portal congestion near the deadline. Applications missing the video recording or referee responses will be disqualified automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of project development do I need to qualify?
The fellowship accepts projects at multiple stages. You can apply with an early-stage concept backed by local research, an existing product/service prototype, or an early venture that has already generated preliminary revenue.
Do I need to be a native English speaker to apply?
No. Assessors focus on the clarity of your ideas, your understanding of the environmental problem, and your motivation rather than native fluency or formal accent. Working proficiency in spoken and written English is sufficient.
How is economic disadvantage defined for the living stipend?
Economic status is assessed using the World Bank’s Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) criteria. You qualify as economically disadvantaged if your household income falls below the national median income or below the PIP poverty line for your country.
What happens if I make a mistake during the video interview recording?
The portal grants up to 5 attempts to record your final 3-minute video interview. You can review each attempt and re-record before hitting the final submit button. Unlimited practice recordings are also available before you start.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of September 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official beVisioneers website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with beVisioneers or The DO School Fellowships.
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