The Ideation Fellowship.
Designed to help you launch a successful company with global impact.

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 €1BN+ 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.

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.

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.
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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 it.

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.

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.
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During the fellowship, you’ll work closely with one of the EWOR Partners, e.g. the founders of SumUp (€8BN) and Adjust (€1.2BN exit), whom you have access to every day if necessary, and who will coach you on key strategic business decisions and personal development topics.
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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.
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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 an Ideation Fellow, you’ll join a vibrant community of outlier founders and get invited to both online and in-person EWOR Community events.
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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-month San Francisco residency, and 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.

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.

There are no additional equity allocations to third parties.

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 €1.0M post-money cap and up to an additional €265k 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.

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  €265k is being invested through a Luxembourg-based investment fund.

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.