FAQs
What are the eligibility criteria for the fellowship?
The fellowship is open to adults worldwide, regardless of their background.
When do applications open and when do they end?
Applications open on 1st January 2026 and close on 30th April 2026. There will be no deadline extensions.
Who can apply?
Individuals who are looking for support in putting a dent in the universe. Our youngest applicant last year was 13, and the oldest was in their 70s.
Fellowships and your Job
Do I have to start a company to be part of the program?
No. The fellowships are aimed primarily at individuals.
I’m starting a venture-backed startup. Can I apply?
If you’ve already started a startup or plan to raise outside investment to build a venture-scale company, please apply to Infinite Adventures - our venture capital arm, using the contact form.
Do I have to quit my job to join the fellowship?
No, you don’t have to quit your job, but we prefer candidates who are willing to go all in for one year. If you can dedicate at-least 40 hours a week to their work during the Fellowships period. The ideal is north of 60 hours a week.
I'm in college pursuing my undergraduate degree / masters / Phd. Do I have to drop out?
No.
About the Program
How many fellows and grantees will be selected?
About 10 fellows and 20 grantees each year.
What is the O’Shaughnessy Grants program?
O'Shaughnessy Grants is a sister program to O'Shaughnessy Fellowships. Grantees receive at-least $10,000 to work on their project. We plan to award up to 20 grants in addition to the Fellowships.
Can I be a part of the fellowship remotely?
Yes. The Fellowships and Grants are entirely remote.
What are some examples of what people can work on as part of the fellowships? Does it have to be a company?
You can decide the project you want to pursue as part of the fellowship. Ideally, it would be something you are uniquely suited to do and want to make your life’s work. It can include (but is not limited to) art pieces, like Davinci or Michelangelo, music, a computer program, new products, deep scientific research, stellar pieces of journalism, documentaries, sculptures, and more.
The ideal output would be something that could eventually resemble something iconic that can stand the test of time, like the Sistine Chapel, a breakthrough scientific discovery like penicillin, and other similar results.
How will OSV collaborate with the fellows?
There would be monthly / quarterly events planned for the fellows to help them during their fellowship. This would include, but not limited to - Online sessions, in-person catch-ups and other community events. OSV will connect fellows & grantees with industry experts whenever possible who can help them with specific areas/business problems where they need help.
IP And other questions
Who retains the IP of the work created during the Fellowships and Grants?
You do. OSV makes no claims to any of the output created by you either before, during or after the program.
Can I use the funds for personal purposes?
Our belief is that the Fellows & Grantees are best placed to decide where to allocate the funds. If you're selected and decide that the best use of funds is to rent a new place near work, then that is fine. You can use the funds for reasonable living and other expenses as long as it helps you with the work you're doing. For e,g., spending money on a beefier laptop for 3D modeling your designs is fine, spending money on a gaming console is not.