Build Consequential Systems.
Zero Equity Taken.
The IBA Fellowship is a 12-week, equity-free institutional residency providing $15,000 to $25,000 in non-dilutive living grants, $10,000 compute stipends, and dedicated faculty mentorship for undergraduate builders, open-source hackers, and technical researchers accepted into Cohort '26.
Capital Designed for Pure Technical Velocity
Traditional incubators demand significant equity before you have verified your system. IBA Foundation provides unconditional, non-dilutive grant capital so ambitious builders can pursue high-risk, consequential work with complete autonomy.
Living Grant (Zero Equity)
Disbursed upfront in three monthly tranches directly to fellows. No equity taken, no warrants, no debt, and no strings attached. You focus 100% on building.
Compute & Lab Prototyping
High-throughput GPU clusters (H100/A100 instances on AWS, GCP, and Modal), specialized hardware lab budgets, sensors, CNC, and PCB manufacturing credits.
Residency Housing & Lab Access
Subsidized private accommodations during the 4-week in-person residency, with 24/7 keycard access to our hardware fabrication and systems engineering labs.
EIR & Faculty Advisory
Direct technical counsel from principal architects, university research chairs, and open-source pioneers with deep domain expertise in your specific stack.
From Problem Teardown to Working System
Twelve structured weeks engineered to eliminate friction, instill disciplined engineering velocity, and place your work in front of institutions that can champion its progress.
Applications Open & Rolling Review
Submissions evaluated on a rolling basis. Early submissions receive expedited review within 10 business days.
Technical Review & System Whiteboard
Shortlisted candidates participate in a 45-minute live code walkthrough and architectural whiteboard with IBA technical fellows.
Cohort '26 Final Selection
24 fellows across 8–12 teams announced. Initial grant disbursement and travel logistics arranged.
Residency Kickoff & Sprint 1 (Weeks 1–4)
In-person residency. Deep problem validation, architecture locking, and rapid hardware/software prototyping in shared labs.
Deep Execution & Alpha Testing (Weeks 5–10)
Distributed sprint with weekly milestone check-ins, compute allocation scale-ups, and user trials.
Symposium & Demo Showcase (Weeks 11–12)
Final on-site demonstration in front of top research chairs, deep-tech venture partners, and institutional grantmakers.
Who We Are Looking For
We select builders based on verifiable capability, curiosity, and relentless agency—not the prestige of your credentials or how well you rehearse a pitch deck.
Undergraduate & Graduate Builders
Students in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Design, Applied Physics, or Mathematics who prioritize shipping real systems over theoretical coursework.
Independent Hackers & Tinkerers
Self-directed developers and autonomous builders with a track record of building prototypes, deploying tools, or modifying firmware on nights and weekends.
Open-Source Contributors
Maintainers and core contributors advancing foundational developer tools, operating system components, distributed protocols, or machine learning infrastructure.
Early-Stage Technical Researchers
Scientists and inventors transitioning experimental lab research, pre-print papers, or hardware patents into functional real-world deployments.
Rewarding More Than Polished Presentations
As articulated in the IBA Foundation Creed: “Evaluation should account for problem understanding, critical thinking, originality, execution, and the quality of the solution. Otherwise, an institution risks selecting for presentation ability rather than identifying genuinely promising talent.”
Problem Understanding & Depth
30%Did you identify a consequential, authentic problem? Nuanced understanding of domain friction and physical constraints over surface-level market slides.
Technical Rigor & Execution
30%Verifiable proof of capacity to build working systems. Algorithmic soundness, clean architecture, and tangible artifacts over slide decks.
Originality & Critical Thinking
20%Unconventional inquiry questioning standard industry dogma. Rejecting derivative wrappers in favor of foundational advances.
Agency & Resourcefulness
20%Demonstrable shipping velocity, high grit, and the rare ability to overcome dead ends without waiting for external permission.
Everything You Need to Know
Direct answers to common queries regarding equity, residency commitments, and intellectual property.
Does the IBA Foundation take any equity, intellectual property, or board seats?+
Can I apply as a solo builder, or do I need a co-founder?+
Is the fellowship in-person or remote?+
Can I participate if I am currently enrolled in university or employed?+
What domains and technical disciplines are supported?+
What happens after the 12-week fellowship ends?+
Apply for Fellowship Cohort '26
We evaluate applications continuously. Priority review is given to submissions completed before November 30, 2025. What you build here can take you further.
- ✓GitHub profile or portfolio of built systems
- ✓1-page problem teardown & technical spec
- ✓2-minute unedited demonstration or architecture outline
Direct inquiries: fellowship@ibafoundation.org • 0% Equity • 100% Builder IP