The EWOR Fellowship
Outliers know this already.
Your path won't look like anyone else's. It never does for founders building what others can’t imagine. This is why we created a support system that helps founders build paradigm-shifting companies without generic milestones, fixed timelines, or a standard curriculum.
Your path doesn’t follow fixed routes? Neither do we.
The EWOR Fellowship provides what you actually need…
They are full-time with EWOR and ready to work with you.
Our ecosystem bends to you.
Not the other way around.
We curate the EWOR ecosystem to be most helpful for you, no matter where you are on your journey or geographically. Next to the individual support from our partners, your co-hustlers, this also contains a handpicked network of 10,000+ experts and advisors we match precisely to your field and challenges. The EWOR Platform has been developed to getting you to escape velocity when it comes to learning as a founder. This contributes to reaching your milestones faster and rising more funding from the right investors.
Significant capital from day one. We provide up to €500,000 to give you the runway to think big and execute without distraction, while preparing you for the next financing round.
Access a curated network of experts, operators, and VCs who can solve niche problems in a single phone call.
From deep tech validation to GTM strategy, we tailor our network and resources to meet your exact need, right now. One dedicated partner will always be by your side.
A borderless fellowship for global ambitions. We connect you to talent, customers, and investors in every market you need to win.
Your personal transformation journey
Become the best founder-version of yourself – from tailored personal development and entrepreneurship insights to joining a one-of-a-kind network of outlier founders.
Two Modes. One Fellowship.
We meet you where you are. Whether you’re mind-wrestling with a groundbreaking concept or scaling a validated product (with up to €2m ARR), your journey atinto EWOR starts here. What mode are you in?
Frequently Asked Questions
Still figuring things out? We gathered the most common questions (and honest answers) about our fellowships, application process, funding, and what it's really like to be part of the EWOR Community.
More FAQsFor those who already launched their startup with initial (revenue) traction, the EWOR Traction Fellowship is designed to help them scale their startup.
During the fellowship, you’ll work closely with one of the EWOR Partners, e.g. the founders of SumUp (€8B) and Adjust (€1.2B exit), whom you have access to every day if necessary, and who will coach you on key strategic business decisions and personal development topics.
You’ll also gain access to our in-house-built modules which help you hire the best talent, get more customers, and raise more money. For example, we run a Grand Pitch that is designed to help you raise your first funding round, with Fellows typically raising between €1-€11M afterwards. Only 3 months into the EWOR Fellowship, Jörgen Tveit has raised a €11M funding round, the largest-ever pre-seed round in Europe by a first-time founder.
There are hundreds of resources and templates, exclusive discounts, credits for top software and service providers, and direct connections to our co-founder network and mentoring platform. As a Traction Fellow, you’ll join a vibrant community of outlier founders and get invited to both online and in-person EWOR Community events.
Once accepted into the Traction Fellowship, EWOR invests €500k. We will invest €110k at a €1.5M post-money cap, along with an additional €390k through an uncapped SAFE Note – or a similar instrument – with a MFN (most-favored-nation) clause.*
* €110k is being invested through EWOR GmbH, Berlin, our operational entity running the EWOR Startup Academy. An additional €390k is being invested through a Luxembourg-based investment fund.
We strive to respond to your application within two weeks. During the application cycle, we can dedicate more resources to reviewing your application.
Yes, the Traction Fellowship is designed for those who have already launched their startup.
The EWOR Ideation Fellowship is built for founders who haven’t yet hit early traction. It helps you take your idea from concept to launch. Selected fellows can receive up to €300k in funding, and if we invest, we take 3% equity as a tuition fee.
The EWOR Traction Fellowship is for founders who already have early traction – whether that’s revenue, active users, pilot projects, initial patents, or built hardware.
If accepted, you’ll receive €500k in funding right from the start. There’s no tuition fee.
If you're still validating your idea or looking for product-market-fit, apply for Ideation.
If you're ready to grow fast and raise the first financing round, apply for Traction.
Please use the application form on our website to apply for our Fellowships. Applicants typically take 15 to 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
Sure! We encourage you to choose one person to apply (preferably the CEO or CTO) and list all other co-founders in the application form. There is no need to apply twice for the same startup. Once admitted, your co-founder(s) are able to join the fellowship as well.
We provide as much value as an experienced full-time co-founder by blending scientific insight, real-world experience, and deep empathy for a founder's journey.
During the fellowship, you’ll work closely with one of the EWOR Partners, e.g. the founders of SumUp (€8B) and Adjust (€1.2B exit), whom you have access to every day if necessary, and who will coach you on key strategic business decisions and personal development topics.
You’ll also gain access to our in-house-built modules which help you hire the best talent, get more customers, and raise more money. For example, we run a Grand Pitch that is designed to help you raise your first funding round, with fellows typically raising between €1-€11M afterwards. Only 3 months into the EWOR Fellowship, Jörgen Tveit has raised a €11M funding round, the largest-ever pre-seed round in Europe by a first-time founder.
There are hundreds of resources and templates, exclusive discounts, credits for top software and service providers, and direct connections to our co-founder network and mentoring platform. As a Traction Fellow, you’ll join a vibrant community of outlier founders and get invited to both online and in-person EWOR Community events.
We foster an active community and regular in-person gatherings around the world, up to two months of co-working each year at scenic spots, a two-months San Francisco residency, and exclusive invite-only events. Every fellow gets hands-on support through a virtual-first model that includes 1:1 mentorship, tailored learning modules, and access to a curated network of 1,500+ mentors, investors, and industry experts.
We welcome founders from all industries and tech sectors. Our focus is on early-stage startups with the potential for rapid growth and large-scale impact.
Each year, we select roughly 35 to 40 new startups to join EWOR.
The EWOR Grand Pitch is a bi-annual event where you’ll pitch your startup to a curated audience of top-tier VCs, family offices, and superangels. Fellows typically raise between €1M and €11M, typically pre-seed and Seed.
The event is hosted both online and in-person. Past live editions have taken place at major conferences like Bits & Pretzels and START Summit, while the online version regularly draws over 400 high-profile investors.
To help you shine, you’ll be coached by your EWOR Partner along with a public speaking expert, pitch deck designer, and someone from our investment team. For many fellows, the Grand Pitch has been a game-changer – leading to oversubscribed rounds and cutting fundraising time by over 80%.
There is no tuition fee for the Traction Fellowship. EWOR is investing €500k once accepted to the Traction Fellowship. All Traction Fellows receive an investment.
If you don’t yet have initial (revenue) traction, the EWOR Ideation Fellowship is designed to help you find product-market-fit, determine the right ICP, make smart pivot decisions, and to get you ready for the first angel/institutional funding round.
Our partners – who’ve built some of Europe’s most successful startups such as SumUp and ProGlove – know what it takes to launch and scale a company. During the fellowship, you’ll work 1:1 with one of them to ideate a venture that can, in theory, achieve €1B+ in valuation and kick-off the first steps, such as raising a huge funding round and onboarding first customers.
Example:
Within 12 months of the Ideation Fellowship, we have ideated an accounting automation case with our fellow Ariel Harmoko and helped him scale the business, Artifact AI, to €1M ARR and raised a €4M round, led by A16Z and followed by 8 unicorn and decacorn founders.
You’ll also get access to our custom-built learning modules, a library of resources and templates, exclusive perks like software discounts and service credits, and direct connections to our co-founder network and mentoring platform. As an Ideation Fellow, you’ll join a vibrant community of exceptional founders and get invited to both virtual and in-person EWOR events.
No, but existing ideas are a great starting point to ideate from. 99% of our selection will be focused on you as a person and your ability to launch a venture of great global scale.
Once accepted into the Ideation Fellowship you can receive up to €300k in funding. EWOR has the option to invest up to €65k at a €1M post-money cap and up to an additional €235k on an uncapped SAFE Note – or a similar instrument – with a MFN (most-favored-nation) clause.* Our investment option expires 18 months after you’ve been accepted to the fellowship.
If we decide to invest, EWOR will receive 3% of the equity in the (future) startup entity as a tuition fee. If the founder does not establish a startup entity within 18 months from the start of the Fellowship, and if EWOR does not exercise its investment option within that same period, the tuition fee will be waived. If EWOR exercises its investment option the founder must establish a startup entity within 30 days of notice. The 3% tuition fee is payable only once, regardless of the number of co-founders.
Please note that not all Ideation Fellows receive investment.
* Up to €65k is being invested through EWOR GmbH, Berlin, our operational entity running the EWOR Startup Academy. An additional up to €235k is being invested through a Luxembourg-based investment fund.
No. If you have not incorporated a startup entity yet, we ask you to take the necessary steps within 18 months after being accepted into the EWOR Fellowship. EWOR will not cover the costs associated with this company formation.
Please use the application form on our website to apply for our fellowships. Applicants typically take 15 to 20 minutes to complete it.
If we decide to invest, EWOR will receive 3% of the equity in the (future) startup entity as a tuition fee. EWOR GmbH will acquire the shares either at nominal value or through a Convertible Loan Agreement (or a similar instrument) that will convert into shares of the most senior class of equity in the startup entity during a subsequent financing round.
If the founder does not establish a startup entity within 18 months from the start of the fellowship, and if EWOR does not exercise its investment option within that same period, the tuition fee will be waived. If EWOR exercises its investment option the founder must establish a startup entity within 30 days of notice. The 3% tuition fee is payable only once, regardless of the number of co-founders.
If you do not end up founding a company, our 3% tuition fee is waived and you do not receive investment from EWOR.
If EWOR decides to exercise its investment option the founder must establish a startup entity within 30 days of notice.