Mozilla Foundation Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort 2026 (up to $50,000) – YOA

Deadline: March 16, 2026

Applications are open for the Mozilla Foundation Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort 2026. Mozilla Foundation believes that higher tech futures are attainable—and they’re proving it by investing in initiatives that can make them actual. They again technologists which can be constructing alternate options that work—instruments which can be open, clear, and designed to serve everybody. They help applied sciences that give energy again to folks and communities, they usually plant seeds of radical change by funding initiatives that push ahead new tech paradigms.

Mozilla Foundation’s Incubator is a catalyst for this motion. All too usually, promising alternate options launch, however fail to bridge the “valley of death” between prototyping and sustainability. They assist construct a neighborhood round promising concepts, discovering the best customers, contributors, mentors, and funders to maintain the work of technologists with out compromising their values. They name this “product-community fit.”

Every sustainable different they assist construct turns into proof that expertise can work otherwise. By serving to viable alternate options attain their full potential, they modify what’s attainable: one profitable different at a time.

Democracy x AI Cohort

They are searching for technologists who have a look at the present state of democracy and see alternatives to strengthen it. How would possibly AI contribute to the web info ecosystem in a manner that’s clear and accountable? How might expertise be used to advance a shared understanding of details? What new areas is likely to be constructed to assist domesticate dialog and consensus slightly than polarization?

In specific, they’re searching for:

• Systems that assist folks entry high quality info and that guarantee numerous voices may be heard.
• Technologies that make authorities and institutional determination-making seen, trackable, and accountable to the folks affected by these choices.
• Technologies that shield and broaden civic house the place folks can set up, interact, and construct actions with out worry of surveillance or repression.

By supporting initiatives that embody and promote democratic ideas, they hope to display that AI may be leveraged to create a strengthened democratic ecosystem, the place expertise helps advance mutual understanding, allow institutional accountability, and broaden civic engagement.

Benefits

They anticipate funding 10 initiatives at $50,000 every for 12 months of intensive help.

In addition to challenge funding, you’ll obtain the next helps:

• Monthly cohort calls with friends dealing with comparable challenges.
• Expert mentorship from advisors who’ve navigated the issues you’re dealing with—from AI accountability to sustainable enterprise fashions to early-stage funding.
• Skills workshops tailor-made to what your cohort wants most (previous matters: funding panorama navigation, impression measurement, pitch growth).
• Network entry to Mozilla’s world ecosystem of technologists, activists, and funders.
• Regular 1:1 check-ins with Mozilla employees to focus on milestones, obstacles, and help wants

Eligibility

You ought to apply if in case you have:

• A working expertise that folks can truly use — not simply an thought or wireframe. You’ve constructed one thing purposeful, even when it’s at a really early stage, and also you’re prepared for what comes subsequent.
• A dedicated group who can execute over 12 months. If you might be chosen for this grant, try to be ready to hit the bottom operating with out having to do any important hiring.
• A dedication to openness that can broaden the impression of your work. At least a few of your code is open supply (e.g., you employ an open core mannequin, your codebase is closed however you publish open datasets, and so forth.) or you might have a transparent roadmap for open sourcing at the least part of your codebase and can commit to doing so in the course of the grant interval. You’ll share learnings publicly, make datasets out there the place applicable, and doc your course of for others to be taught from. You imagine transparency and neighborhood stewardship will make your challenge stronger. If you’re new to working open, we’ll offer you the sources and consultants to allow you to navigate issues like licensing and creating on-ramps for participation to exterior contributors.

You should additionally:

• Be legally ready to obtain funds from Mozilla Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit group. Please fastidiously overview Mozilla Foundation’s grant eligibility pointers earlier than submitting an application.
• Submit purposes in English. Translation instruments are welcome. They consider your concepts, not your language high quality.

Evaluation Criteria

Every application is assessed throughout six standards:

• Technical viability: Is this a purposeful expertise with actual momentum? Does the group have the capability to execute? Are the technical method and scope applicable for the issue, price range, and grant time period?
• Problem/neighborhood readability: Does the group have a transparent understanding of the issue they’re fixing and who they’re fixing it for? Is there proof they’re in dialogue with potential customers? Are they pursuing an actual want slightly than an answer looking for an issue?
• Impact potential: Does this challenge have clear potential for charitable/public profit? Could this create significant change for the communities it serves? Does it tackle the cohort’s theme in a compelling manner?
• Values alignment: Does this challenge provide a expertise that permits extra transparency and company for folks? Is the group dedicated to openness—whether or not by means of public code, shared learnings, open datasets, or clear practices?
• Sustainability potential: Has the group began fascinated by lengthy-time period viability? Is there a believable path to sustainability that aligns with their values—whether or not that’s income, neighborhood help, institutional partnerships, or one thing else? Is the group open to exploring totally different fashions?
• Theme match: Is the challenge possible to create measurable enhancements in civic participation, institutional transparency, info high quality, or collective determination-making inside their goal communities?

Application

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort.