The Stanford Venture Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded one-week fellowship in the Stanford area, California, bringing together 10 exceptional fellows from around the world to explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem.

The program welcomes students and early professionals aged 14+ who want to gain firsthand exposure to startups, venture capital, research, and the Stanford innovation community.

Key Details

• Host: Stanford Venture Fellowship

• Location: Stanford Area, California, USA

• Program Duration: 1 Week

• Expected Dates: May 2026

• Number of Fellows: 10 participants worldwide

• Funding: Fully Funded (Travel reimbursed)

• Eligibility: Open to applicants aged 14+ worldwide

• Participants: High school students, university students, graduate students, and early professionals

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive a fully funded experience, including:

• Travel reimbursement from anywhere in the world

• Accommodation in the Stanford area

• Access to structured sessions, workshops, and discussions

• Networking with Stanford students, founders, and faculty

• Exposure to Silicon Valley startups and venture capital

• Connection with a global cohort of fellows

Additional logistical details will be shared with selected fellows closer to the program.

About the Stanford Venture Fellowship

The Stanford Venture Fellowship (SVF) is a one-week in-person program created by Stanford students, alumni, and mentors.

The fellowship aims to bring ambitious individuals from around the world into the Stanford and Silicon Valley ecosystem, allowing them to learn directly from founders, researchers, venture capitalists, and innovators.

Participants will engage in workshops, mentorship sessions, discussions, and startup visits designed to provide insight into how innovation is built within one of the world’s most influential technology hubs.

What Fellows Will Experience

During the fellowship week, participants will:

• Stay in the Stanford area throughout the program

• Participate in structured workshops and discussions

• Visit startups and innovation spaces in Silicon Valley

• Interact directly with Stanford researchers and founders

• Collaborate with a small cohort of global fellows

The program is designed to simulate what it feels like to live and learn inside the Stanford entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Example Fellowship Week

Sunday – Arrival

• Arrival and check-in

• Welcome dinner and introductions

Monday – Entering the Ecosystem

• Opening session on the Stanford ecosystem

• Campus walk and orientation

• Workshop on building in ambitious environments

Tuesday – Founders & Startup Building

• Founder conversations

• Startup visits

• Cohort working sessions

Wednesday – Research and Venture Capital

• Faculty conversation

• Venture capital insights session

• Palo Alto exploration

Thursday – Mentorship and Skills

• Technical or strategy workshop

• Mentorship roundtables

• Speaker dinner

Friday – Program Synthesis

• Fellow presentations

• Ecosystem discussions

• Closing dinner

Saturday – Departure

• Final gathering

• Departures

The final schedule will be shared with selected fellows.

Fellowship Origins

The Stanford Venture Fellowship grew out of selective initiatives within the Stanford ecosystem.

Members of the team have previously led and contributed to programs including the Stanford Cowell Fund, Stanford’s student-led quantitative investment fund, which runs a highly selective analyst program, as well as initiatives connected to ASES (Stanford’s entrepreneurial society).

After several years of running similar initiatives within the United States, the program is now expanding globally to welcome fellows from around the world.

Industry Engagement

Past events organized by members of the Stanford Venture Fellowship team have included individuals from organizations such as:

• OpenAI

• Google

• Tesla

• Microsoft

• Y Combinator

• Jane Street

• Goldman Sachs

These engagements provide fellows exposure to leaders in technology, finance, and entrepreneurship.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be 14 years or older

• Open to applicants from any country

• Students and early professionals are encouraged to apply

Eligible participants include:

• High school students

• Undergraduate students

• Graduate students

• Early-career professionals

Applicants under 18 may be able to attend with parent or guardian accompaniment, with travel support provided where appropriate.

Why You Should Apply

The Stanford Venture Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to:

• Experience Silicon Valley innovation firsthand

• Connect with global entrepreneurs and researchers

• Build entrepreneurship and leadership skills

• Expand your global professional network

• Learn inside the Stanford ecosystem

With only 10 fellows selected worldwide, the program is highly competitive.

How to Apply

Applications will open soon. Click here 

Interested applicants can sign up to receive a notification when applications become available.

Still have questions? Visit our FAQ.

Partnership inquiries: partners@svfellow.com

For more scholarships, fellowships, and global opportunities, visit:
https://opportunitiesforyouth.org